ALI KHALIFA AL SHAMSI, Adipec 2015 chairman and strategy and coordination director at Adnoc, reveals the reasons behind the show’s continued success
Given the current market conditions, innovation and sustainability are fundamental to the progress of the energy sector, says Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, Adipec 2015 chairman, and strategy and coordination director at Adnoc, in an exclusive interview with OGN, while explaining the relevance of the theme of Adipec this year.
Indeed the refrain 'Innovation and sustainability in a new energy world' at Adipec 2015 could not be more relevant than ever in the current market conditions.
'Innovation sits at the core of sustainable energy production. It helps reduce costs, enabling companies to become more competitive in this economic environment. For example, developments in technology have allowed us to tap into very tight reserves – this was once not possible or very expensive to do. However, continuous innovation is allowing us to explore new resources both safely and economically,' he elaborates.
Sharing his thoughts on what tangible benefits does the UAE and Abu Dhabi hope to achieve by organising Adipec, he says: 'Being strategically located in the UAE, one of the world’s leading oil producing countries, further bolsters Adipec as the global meeting place for oil and gas professionals. Abu Dhabi is quickly becoming one of the world’s most influential energy hubs for the 21st century.'
'The industry is currently going through a transformation, and continuous innovation, research, and development is an absolute must to keep up with evolving market demands. It is projected that demand for energy will increase 37 per cent by 2035, and fossil fuels will continue to serve the majority of the world’s energy needs. By supporting Adipec year after year, we are offering industry experts, business innovators, and decision makers a common platform where they can come together and engage in productive discussions that will lead to a sustainable energy future,' he adds. Excerpts from the interview:
Adipec has carved a niche for itself as a leading oil and gas exhibition in the region. What according to you has led to the remarkable progress and the growth of Adipec into a world-class event over the years? What prospects do you see for the show in the coming years? What tangible benefits does the UAE and Abu Dhabi hope to achieve by organising Adipec year after year?
Adipec’s success would not have been possible without the ongoing support of all stakeholders involved, from the organisers and exhibitors, to the speakers and delegates. The event provides an ideal global platform for bringing the best and brightest minds to not only discuss impending challenges and opportunities in the oil and gas industry, but also to exchange valuable knowledge and information that can shape the future of the energy sector.
Being strategically located in the UAE, one of the world’s leading oil producing countries, further bolsters Adipec as the global meeting place for oil and gas professionals. Abu Dhabi is quickly becoming one of the world’s most influential energy hubs for the 21st century.
The industry is currently going through a transformation, and continuous innovation, research, and development is an absolute, it must keep up with evolving market demands. It is projected that demand for energy will increase 37 per cent by 2035, and fossil fuels will continue to serve the majority of the world’s energy needs. By supporting Adipec year after year, we are offering industry experts, business innovators, and decision makers a common platform where they can come together and engage in productive discussions that will lead to a sustainable energy future.
In its 31st year, what new features and initiatives have been added to the show this year? What is the expected number of exhibitors and visitors to the event this year? What will be the special highlights of the show this year?
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Al Shamsi (left) ... teamwork is imperative |
New to Adipec this year is a dedicated Offshore, Marine and Heavy Equipment Zone, making the event the first oil and gas exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region to dedicate an entire waterfront section to offshore, subsea, and marine products and services.
The exhibition will be complemented by the inaugural Adipec Offshore and Marine Conference, located in a purpose-built dedicated waterside theatre, where more than 40 industry experts will present valuable offshore oil and gas knowledge and information.
In addition to attracting senior level oil and gas professionals, energy ministers, and decision makers, Adipec 2015 will be bringing the world’s renowned energy experts, laureates, and thought leaders to the stage.
The world’s leading authority on energy and award-winning author Dr Daniel Yergin will be delivering the Adipec 2015 Keynote Address to offer his insights on the challenges and opportunities to meeting the ever-growing global energy demand.
Meanwhile, the exclusive VIP Conference Programme, organised for members of the prestigious Middle East Petroleum Club, will also welcome big names to the stage, including world adventurist, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and thought-leader on social engagement and future business, Jon Duschinsky.
Recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as ‘The World’s Greatest Living Explorer’, Sir Ranulph Fiennes will highlight the important values of endurance and resilience when facing challenges, drawing analogies between nature and the business world, while Jon Duschinsky will draw on the areas of innovation, leadership, and motivation as tools for creating change and fostering engagement within the business environment.
Adipec 2015 is expected to host more than 2,000 exhibitors from 120-plus countries, 85,000 attendees, and 7,000 delegates this year, building on last year’s remarkable success.
The event’s theme this year is ''Innovation and Sustainability in a New Energy World'.’ Can you reflect on why was this topic chosen? What is its relevance in the current scenario?
The UAE leadership has formally declared 2015 as the 'Year of Innovation', and ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all is among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 put forward by the UN. This, combined with current market conditions, make innovation and sustainability fundamental to the progress of the energy sector.
‘Innovation’ is a real focus at Adipec 2015 – how can the Adipec Awards help support this? What extra insight can Adipec bring to the Awards process – year after year?
Innovation sits at the core of sustainable energy production. It helps reduce costs, enabling companies to become more competitive in this economic environment. For example, developments in technology have allowed us to tap into very tight reserves – this was once not possible or very expensive to do. However, continuous innovation is allowing us to explore new resources both safely and economically.
With eight categories that span the most critical issues surrounding the energy sector, the Adipec Awards encourage and uphold organisations that champion forward thinking attitudes and value new ideas. The initiative brings to light milestone achievements in the industry and sets benchmarks for best practice which is essential if we are to continue meeting the growing global demand for energy in the context of today’s market conditions.
The Adipec Awards have continued their record-breaking streak this year, with 501 submissions from 247 organisations across 32 countries, underlining the accolades as a global platform for recognising excellence.
What has prompted Adipec to dedicate an entire new waterfront section of exhibits and knowledge exchange to the Offshore, Marine and Heavy Equipment industries? What preparation and changes did it need from Adipec’s end to organise this new feature?
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Adipec Conference ... insightful |
Globally, about 30 per cent of oil produced worldwide comes from offshore oil wells, and offshore resources are playing a greater role in supplying the rising demand for energy, with a growing interest in the potential of deep water reserves.
Extracting oil and gas from offshore reserves is a complicated and often expensive process, and therefore advancing the sector through developments in research and technology is becoming more critical to preserving it as a valuable energy resource.
The Offshore, Marine and Heavy Equipment Zone and the Offshore and Marine Conference offer experts the perfect platform to exchange knowledge to enhance the progress of the offshore sector.
To accommodate this new area and truly give participants and visitors a valuable experience, organisers had to set up an infrastructure that would allow exhibitors to showcase subsea and marine products in their native environment.
A purpose-built zone that provides water access, mooring, and quayside exhibition space will allow more than 200 exhibitors to showcase a host of offshore products and services, including ships, rigs, and vessels. The new area will cover 8,000 gross sq m of space, with a jetty that extends 500 metres long.
Adipec’s Technical Conference Programme over the years has seen phenomenal growth. What are the reasons for this success? What will be the hallmarks of the conference this year? What benefits does the conference programme bring to the industry?
The Adipec 2015 conference programme Call for Papers has broken the world record for the number of submitted abstracts in the oil and gas industry, with a total of 2,278 proposals submitted from 540 organisations across 65 countries. Nearly half of submissions this year were received from outside the Middle East, underscoring the Abu Dhabi event’s importance as the world’s new meeting point for the global oil and gas community.
The Adipec 2015 Technical Committee, which comprise 175 industry leading experts, meticulously evaluated each submission to select 559 quality abstracts across the nine categories. At almost a 25 per cent approval rate, the selection process qualified a 15 per cent higher number of abstracts than the previous year, and these papers will be presented across 79 technical sessions.
It is through knowledge-exchange that we can forge a path to a sustainable energy future, and this is precisely what the Adipec conference programme brings to the industry.
It has been three years since Young Adipec was established. What has been the response to the initiative and has its reach increased and how?
Homegrown talent is essential for the development of the UAE’s energy sector, and Young Adipec plays a valuable role towards that end by offering students from schools across Abu Dhabi an exciting line-¬up of events designed to encourage youth to choose a career path in the oil and gas industry.
More than 400 students from across the UAE have passed through the Young Adipec programme since its inception in 2013. The programme has proven to be a welcome and much needed initiative – the 2015 edition will host approximately 320 students from 16 private and government schools, a 33 per cent increase in the number of students compared to last year.
In addition to a series of industry-related competitions, students will have an exciting opportunity to get hands-on experience during trips to oil field sites, training centres, innovation centres, as well as workshop and manufacturing facilities belonging to leading oil and gas companies. A host of other experiential activities taking place at the Young Adipec stand during the event will raise the bar for edutainment, with five Experience Zones designed to keep students engaged and informed.
As the chairman of the event, what is your official role? How difficult is it to oversee the overall production including the technical conference?
My role is to provide strategic guidance to the organising committee, and to ensure that value is delivered to Adipec’s exhibitors and visitors through the rich content and experiences that the event presents.
Teamwork is imperative when it comes to streamlining all aspects of the exhibition and conference, and working with people who are committed to fulfilling their responsibilities helps alleviate any difficulties we might face in the process. The continuous growth of Adipec cannot be attributed to one single person, but rather to a devoted team and their relentless efforts towards making the event a success.
