Downstream oil and gas professionals are making preparations for Middle East Petrotech 2008 (the 6th Middle East International Refining and Petrochemicals Conference and Exhibition) due to take place from May 26 to 28, 2008, at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.

Held under the patronage of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, this landmark event will focus on the technical and business challenges – and equally extensive opportunities – the Middle East faces in managing what have become the world’s most important energy reserves.
The high-level technical conference, which runs parallel to the exhibition of products and services, takes place this year under the theme Refining/Petrochemical Integration: The Way for Future Growth.
The programme’s content is being developed by a carefully chosen committee chaired by PIC Kuwait, and drawn from the senior ranks of national and international oil companies, market leaders, professional societies and academia.
More than 1,500 delegates are expected to attend the conference, which will thoroughly explore issues relating to the integration in design; health, safety and environment; energy efficiency; reliability improvements and process technologies of refining and petrochemicals.
The conference’s keynote and plenary sessions will assemble high-profile executives and technical experts from refining and marketing organisations worldwide, as well as representatives from associated industries, who will address current issues of widespread importance to the refining industry.
The latest products and services available in the quest to maximise the region’s full potential will meanwhile go on display at the associated 8,000 sq m exhibition. In total, more than 150 companies from more than 20 countries will be in attendance.
Key participants making a return appearance at Middle East Petrotech include local refining and petrochemical giants Abu Dhabi National Company; Bapco, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Saudi Aramco and Qatar Petroleum.
They will be joined by well-known international names including Baker Petrolite, Foster Wheeler, JGC Corporation, Shell, Sinopec, and Yokogawa amongst others. Smaller specialist suppliers and distributors will also be in attendance, in addition to a dedicated UK pavilion.
Since its inauguration in 1996, the Middle East Petrotech series has established itself as a key industry forum for these highly significant sectors of the region’s economy.
In 2006, a record total of 4,990 trade visitors and conference delegates attended the event, marking a nine per cent increase over Middle East Petrotech 2003.
The exhibition of products and services attracted 139 companies from 21 countries worldwide.
Middle East Petrotech 2008 is organised by Arabian Exhibition Management of Bahrain in conjunction with London-based Overseas Exhibition Services, both members of Allworld Exhibitions.