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Exploration & Production Oil & Gas Review - Volume 6 Issue II -
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Why Offshore Arabia?
At a time when everyone is talking about global warming and environmental changes, we would like to take action and make a difference. That is why, in co-operation with the Regional Clean Sea Organisation (RECSO) and with the support of a number of governmental departments and cooperators, Index Holding is organising the third Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition, to be held in 2009.
Offshore Arabia 2009 is a scientific, social and economic event that addresses a number of pressing and dividing issues from a scientific perspective to identify the best practices and solutions to benefit energy suppliers and the environment. It comes at a time when the international community is actively engaged in extensive dialogue geared towards facilitating and managing energy for sustainable economic and social development, and is also trying to find solutions to existing and future environmental changes and challenges. The world population will reach nine billion by the year 2050 compared with six billion today. This population increase will mostly occur in developing countries. With per capita gross domestic product (GDP) increasing at a rate of 2% per year in developed countries and a rate of 3.3% in developing and less developed countries, this will lead to an increase in world income, which might exceed US$135 trillion in 2050 compared with US$35 trillion today.
There are over 120 oil production development projects being undertaken by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) despite the high construction costs, which may exceed US$160 billion as cumulative investment approaching 2012 just to add about five million barrels per day to the existing production capacity. Thus, the burden on the global resources will be further challenged. Offshore Arabia 2009 is creating opportunities and enhancing the potential of the oil and gas industry, global market and research on the planet’s environment. It focuses on sharing industry knowledge, building momentum forward towards a secured global energy supply, driving environmental awareness and managing climate challenges.
Welcome to Dubai
Abdul Salam Al Madani, President of Index Holding (the organiser of Offshore Arabia), declared that the third Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition will be staged under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is Vice President, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai. The venue of this significant event will be Dubai International Conventions and Exhibitions Centre, and the show will run from 11 to 13 January 2009.
Al Madani also confirmed the participation of 72 speakers at the conference and the presence of 2,300 professionals representing regional and international oil and gas companies, logistics services, oil and gas tankers, supply and chandlers, companies operating in sea cleaning, pollution control and environment protection from oil and chemical spills from the Gulf Region, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US.
It is a remarkable opportunity for highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals to meet under one roof and provide a wider range of environmental solutions. It is the place where leaders in business and the energy and environment industries share their views on the environment and the future prospects and effects of the oil and gas industry and discuss corporate social responsibility (CRS), which is an urgent regional and international socioeconomic issue of the conference.
Al Madani also declared: that “The previous round of Offshore Arabia was extremely successful according to the customer satisfaction survey organised by Index Holding, which showed that 83% of the participants were fully satisfied with the outcomes of the event and they will participate in the coming event”.
Conference
The conference will also contain visionary sessions where high-profile speakers will discuss current issues concerning the environment and the oil and gas industry. The tentative conference programme incorporates major topics related to energy challenges, climate change, sustainability, offshore and onshore protection, managing resources and the environment, health, safety, security and rescue, global environment and the role of governments.
The Gulf, Middle East and North Africa are experiencing significant environmental changes and energy challenges; the organisers and speakers at the event are focusing on chartering the uneasy seas with ease and bringing all concerned together as unified leaders to help attain energy and environmental security for the entire region and the world.
Anas Al Madani, Vice President of Index Holding, said: “The technical and logistic preparations for organising this highly important event are running according to schedule, and we target a wide and extensive participation from corporations and organisations involved in the energy industry, environmental organisations specialised in manufacturing and processing and services providers.”
Environmental Awards
HE Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of the Environment and Water, announced the launch of the second Environmental Excellence Awards and Amateur Photography Contest in conjunction with the Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition 2009 during a press conference held on 20 August 2008 at the Grand Hyatt Dubai. These awards are of great importance and are geared towards enhancing, supporting and encouraging environmental efforts to expedite economic development and growth for the benefit of the energy industry, the environment and sustainability.
The awards are an example of the vital role of the energy industry in the process of economic development. The role of the energy sector is fundamental in securing and protecting the environment by introducing and employing the best international industry practices, and quality standards for protection of the environment.
Energy and oil sector initiatives and participation in these awards is a distinctive contribution that definitely boosts planning and substantiating the social responsibility for a secured and productive friendly environment Companies, corporations and personalities will be judged on their excellence, efforts and dedication towards sustainability of the environment.
Offshore Arabia 2009’s Environmental Awards are divided into six categories:
• excellence in environmental applications;
• excellence in environmental technology;
• excellence in capability and response;
• excellence in incident command structure;
• excellence in environmental projects and products; and
• regional environmental personality.
The Amateur Photography Award will be judged on the following six categories: wildlife, coastal/arid landscape, aerial landscape, under water, above water and urban. A special judging committee of professionals specialised in the fields of photography and the environment has been set up to select the best photographs that meet the requirements of the award. We are confident that our region is capable of finding solutions for energy and environmental constraints by involving all concerned and by supporting national, regional and international initiatives in this field. It is vitally important that economic and social development in our region should be based largely on environment for any sustainable development efforts.
Acknowledgements
Offshore Arabia 2009 is organised in cooperation with RECSO and is supported by the Ministry of Environment and Water, Dubai Municipality, OPEC, the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), the International Association of the Drilling Contractors (IADC), the Regional Organisation For the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf Of Aden (PERSGA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Environment Protection (UNEP) and the United Nations University. The platinum sponsor is En-Park Dubai and Kuwait Oil Company, and the silver sponsor is the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA).
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