‘Oil industry will remain a major contributor to national economy’

Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Oil Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa yesterday inaugurated the 21st Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Exhibition (MEOS 2019). Organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the Arab Exhibition Management Company and in co-operation with the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) and supported by a number of regional and international oil companies, the expo will run until March 21 and is expected to attract over 8,500 delegates.

 MEOS 2019 is co-hosted by UBM AEM and the world’s largest individual-member organisation serving professionals worldwide in the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry, the SPE. The event is supported by NOGA and a committee of NOCs, IOCs, academia and service providers co-chaired in 2019 by Saudi Aramco and Petroleum Development Oman. Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa’s message was read out at the inaugural ceremony, in which he thanked HRH the Premier for patronising the conference and the related exhibition. “The oil industries sector is of great interest to the government under the leadership of HRH the Prime Minister, who spares no effort in upgrading it and bringing it up to date with the latest international systems and maximising its returns for the benefit of the national economy,” Shaikh Khalid said. Speaking to Tribune, Oil Minister said that despite current challenges, oil sector is one of the best industries that have bright future.

“The Kingdom of Bahrain’s keenness to develop the oil industry to enhance its ability to achieve returns that contribute to promoting the national economy,” Shaikh Mohammed said.

Speaking at the event , Waleed Al Mulhim, MEOS 2019 Co-Chairman and Chief Petroleum Engineer at Saudi Aramco, said: “MEOS represents a strategic industrial event in the Middle Eastern region, focusing on innovation, opportunities, and breakthroughs, addressed by senior industry leaders. It provides an opportunity looking beyond the industry; focusing on collaboration with business, educational institutions, governments and society. “We need joint development of new technologies that will increase discovery and recovery, reduce cost, enhance safety and protect the environment.”

The MEOS 2019 theme ‘Resilience through Talent and Technology Transformation’ focuses on the challenges the oil and gas industry faces in meeting world energy demand efficiently, safely, and responsibly in a fluctuating market, and the many emerging solutions available to those operating in this sector. The opening was attended by over 200 exhibitors from various international oil companies from 25 countries including Australia, Canada, China, Brazil, Denmark, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, USA, Turkey, Russia and Malaysia.