THE 16th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) 2013 taking place at the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from November 10 to 13 marks the first year the show will turn to an annual programme.

The region’s leading industry event will also feature a new look and expanded format and will spotlight the evolution of energy and the growing role of gas in the energy mix.

To be held under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, under the theme ‘Energy for All in a Changing World’, the third largest gas and oil event in the world, is set to highlight the evolution of energy and shift in the balance of hydrocarbon power from oil to gas in the region.

The four-day event will also feature new components including a dedicated business conference, an expanded technical conference, a focus on the role of women in the gas and oil industry, and the addition of ‘Young Adipec’ – a comprehensive programme designed to encourage the industry’s future leaders.

The event will also include an expanded Adipec Awards featuring two new categories – the ‘Empowerment of Women in Gas and Oil’ and ‘Young Adipec Engineer’, both of which are integral to the future of the industry.

Al Suwaidi ... it is the right time to address the needs of the gas sector

Currently, the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region is home to more than 52 per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves, and 42 per cent of the world’s proven gas reserves. With natural gas considered a cleaner alternative to coal as a fuel for energy production, its demand is set for continued growth as governments adopt policies to reduce the environmental impact of energy generation.

Mohammed A Sahoo Al Suwaidi, director of Gas Directorate at Adnoc and Adipec 2013 chairman, says: “Amid rapid growth in energy demands across the region, gas offers a cheaper, cleaner and abundant solution to our energy supply chain challenges. We believe it is the right time to address the needs of the burgeoning gas sector given the need to diversify our energy mix and cater to domestic demand.”

“To underscore our commitment to expanding our capacity, Adnoc has invested nearly $40 billion in oil, gas, refining and petrochemical projects of which $25 billion is dedicated to gas. This is a reflection not just of a regional trend but of a global one towards gas as a source fuel for energy and its importance to the future of the UAE along with oil, nuclear and renewables,” Al Suwaidi adds.

GROWING EXPONENTIALLY
Started as a biennial event in 1984, the show has gone from strength to strength over the years and has grown exponentially in stature, significance and size with every exhibition since.

A new larger venue delivered in 2008, the Adnec enabled the event to double in size very quickly. The additional conference suites allowed the technical programmes to double in speaker numbers. All twelve exhibition halls have been filled with international companies keen to engage with the region’s producers. And – the visitors and delegates – have attended in larger and larger numbers each year, reaching a record in 2012 of more than 50,000.

Adipec has played a significant role in positioning Abu Dhabi as a key destination for the oil and gas industry. Abu Dhabi has seen a significant investment in city infrastructure with new roads, an expanding airport and numerous hotel and resorts opening properties across the city in the past three years.

These include Jumeirah Etihad Towers. The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal; Hyatt Capital Gate; The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, as well as the Rotana Centro close to the venue, allowing more choice and capacity to host the growing event.

Even with the additional capacity and new infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, demand to attend Adipec has continued with more than 1,100 experts and engineers seeking to speak, as well as approaches from many companies seeking to exhibit at Adipec. This edition sees first time international pavilions from Singapore, Denmark and Scotland.

Simon Mellor, senior vice-president of dmg::events, says: “Adipec seeks to facilitate the development of the oil and gas sectors by offering an unrivalled platform for discussion and interaction. The sheer volume of activity in the sector made the transition to an annual event both necessary and inevitable.

“In addition, the establishment of a business conference, the expansion of the technical conference and the introduction of Young Adipec demonstrates the holistic nature of Adipec’s role within the industry.

“2012 was a record year for Adipec and we expect to register record attendance at this year’s edition too. More importantly, this event is known for its peerless ability to advance the sector, facilitate growth and create opportunities. At a time when the industry is witnessing heightened activity, we anticipate the event to live up to its promise and exceed expectations,” adds Mellor.

RECORD SIZE AND SCALE
Adipec 2013 this year, once again, promises to set records in size and scale. The 2013 programme will be the largest on record for Adipec with 53 technical sessions over the four days, offering 256 speakers. With all twelve exhibition halls occupied, including international pavilions, leading regional distributors and local companies will be offering all manner of goods and services, covering more than 30,000 sq m in total.

“The quality of speaker submissions was very high this year, with requests from across the region and the wider international community. This has helped create a very strong programme for delegates to enjoy,” comments Claire Pallen, Adipec’s conference director.

Pallen says the technical poster sessions have been made far more available this year, spread across the exhibition hall, with improved access and focus. “These sessions allow additional speakers to present their findings and share their experience with delegates,” she says.

Adipec’s new look format will include a technical conference which will feature noted presenters

With Adipec 2013 entering its first annual edition, a major new feature for 2013 is the Adipec Business Conference a new two day platform dedicated for executive visitors at Adipec. The first edition of the Business Conference will be held on November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi under the direction of Al Suwaidi and the executive committee members of Adipec 2013.

“The Business Conference programme will offer access to insight from more than 24 leading regional and global CEOs which we are very excited about,” Pallen adds.

It sets a regional stage for international business leaders, government ministers and heads of state to share their vision and strategies and encourage debate on global challenges relating to the pas and oil sectors.

The platform will also encourage debate on global challenges relating to the gas and oil sectors, whilst underlining Abu Dhabi’s role not only as a global hub of the energy industry, but as a seat of intellectual debate for the industry’s most influential thinkers.

Says Al Suwaidi: “We will not just focus on the Mena region. At this conference, we intend to examine important issues pertinent to the industry on an international scale through several panels that will be headlined by international executive speakers.”

Adipec’s business conference will examine the emerging role of gas as a primary energy source in the region, in addition to other critical topics. The conference will gather a strong line-up of global C-suite executives from across the hydrocarbon industry’s full value chain seeking to address the industry’s strategic and commercial challenges and opportunities. With huge strides being made in retrieving shale gas and oil, and a string of significant recent finds, shale’s potential will come under review at this year’s business conference.

Adipec’s new-look format will include an expanded technical conference. The segment will promote the exchange of knowledge and experience among industry professionals as part of a priority to facilitate the technical development of the hydrocarbon industry globally through addressing oil and gas field development, drilling and completions, maintenance, integrity, HSE and security, as well as geosciences and gas processing technologies.

Amongst the special features of this year’s packed schedule is the Women in Industry event. Sheikha Lubna AI Qasimi, UAE Minister of Development and International Co-operation, is heading the panel discussion entitled ‘Women in Industry’.

At Adipec 2012, more than 9 per cent of visitors were women, an increase over previous editions, and a topic that will feature at the 2013 event. Increasingly across the world more and more women are entering the gas and oil workforce.

As a global industry, gas and oil companies face a common challenge, the workforce is aging and there is a real requirement to recruit young engineers. Traditionally, the energy industries have been male dominated, but that is changing, especially across the Middle East region. Highly skilled and qualified women are increasing looking to join the workforce.

The Middle East region can demonstrate its readiness to embrace this change in the workforce with successful female senior executives leading large producer companies. These are inspirational figures: their stories are often tilled with valuable experience that can help other develop. Gaining access to such leaders isn’t easy and as a result Adipec thought we might be able to offer a little help.

On November 11, Adipec will host an evening reception, for women to meet inspirational leaders such as Sheikha Lubna, and allow them to share their stories of inspiration. The evening offers a relaxed atmosphere, with an informal panel session, hosted by Elthne Trainor, herself a successful business woman working within the Middle East’s gas and oil market as a media specialist. Eithne, along with her three special guests, will create an opportunity to meet, listen to and question the speakers.

TARGETING YOUTH
Adipec will also examine the worldwide challenge of attracting and inspiring today’s youth to enter the oil and gas sector through the launch of ‘Young Adipec’ – a programme of initiatives and workshops that will run before, during and after the event itself.

The Young Adipec programme will include a three-phase approach to engaging and inspiring young students to understand the industry. Beginning in the classroom, the programme will bridge the knowledge-gap through focused field trips culminating at Adipec where youngsters will experience the full value and supply chain.

An experiential and edutainment-focused Young Adipec stand will also enable students to engage and explore different aspects of the industry, inspiring them to pursue a career within the sector.

“The response to the annual frequency has been very strong, we’ve seen new pavilions from Singapore, Denmark and Scotland as well as growth from the UK, China and Korea this year,” says Salman Abou Hamzeh, Adipec’s senior project manager. It will once again be a very large event, by far the region’s largest, and presents an ideal opportunity for the region to enjoy the warm hospitality of Abu Dhabi and surroundings,” he concludes.

Jean Philippe Cossé, Adipec event director, says: “As a project this year, it has been an extraordinary experience. Annualising an event like Adipec is a rare challenge. The response has been amazing, confirming the Government vision to make this step. We look forward to welcoming delegates and visitors to the event in November.”

Organised by dmg::events, Adipec is supported by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it hosts more than 1,600 exhibitors and attracts more than 50,000 attendees.