Stavanger contacted potential member cities. Several of these cities already had individual contacts and agreements based on common interests in the energy sector.

Representatives from Aberdeen, Perth, Houston and Stavanger met in Houston to prepare for the preliminary WECP meeting in Stavanger.

At the preliminary meeting in Stavanger, Aberdeen, Calgary, Houston, Perth, Stavanger and Vung Tau agreed to form the WECP and the official signing ceremony was scheduled in May 1995.