DUBAI, January 24TH  2012—CommScope, Inc., a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communications networks, will demonstrate how its SYSTIMAX® iPatch® Intelligent Infrastructure Solution can enhance the energy saving potential of EnergyWise®, Cisco’s energy management architecture, at the Qatar National Convention Center in Doha during the Cisco Expo January 24th, 2012.

The SYSTIMAX iPatch solution provides IT managers improved network visibility, allowing them to track the physical locations of all networked devices, such as desktop and laptop computers, wireless access points, internet protocol (IP) phones and IP cameras, in real-time. As the IT industry strives to reduce its carbon footprint, the integration of iPatch location information and EnergyWise power management capabilities can further reduce energy consumption, whilst also improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.

“Enhancing Cisco’s industry-leading EnergyWise solution with iPatch provides greatly expanded ability to apply energy management policies based on the real-time location of devices,” said Ciaran Forde, vice president, Enterprise, MEA, CommScope. “In addition to providing vision, knowledge and control over the physical layer infrastructure, by optimizing EnergyWise capabilities the iPatch solution can become an invaluable tool for energy management.”

Taha Mohsen, Regional Manager, Cisco Qatar, added: “With a considerable proportion of the world’s electricity consumed inside office buildings, reducing that share is an important objective for the IT industry. EnergyWise enables companies to measure, monitor and manage the power consumption of network infrastructure and any network-attached devices. By using the network as a platform for energy management, companies can manage power consumption with specific policies, reducing power consumption to realize increased cost savings, potentially affecting any powered device. When combining iPatch with our own Cisco EnergyWise Technology, IT and building facilities operations personnel can understand, optimize, and help control power across an entire corporate infrastructure, potentially affecting any powered device.”

This marks the first time these two solutions will be demonstrated in Qatar. For business and government enterprises, CommScope offers a complete portfolio of network infrastructure solutions that enable customers, regardless of size, industry or IT budget, to take advantage of business and technology opportunities. CommScope’s SYSTIMAX® brand offers voice, data, video and converged solutions ranging from mission-critical, high-bandwidth and emerging applications to those that demand unrelenting reliability and quality for everyday needs.

CommScope’s Wired for Wireless® solution provides new buildings and campuses with the wireless infrastructure necessary to eliminate weak or blocked signal areas from the outset and prepare them for better wireless coverage. CommScope’s iPatch Intelligent Infrastructure Solution is an upgradable solution designed to add vision, knowledge and control to the physical layer infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi, UAE: The combined value of renewable energy projects confirmed for the Project Village at the 2012 World Future Energy Summit has reached more than US$4 billion, it was announced today.

Those projects are on top of the large-scale investments in renewable energy under development by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company and host of WFES, and other companies exhibiting at the summit in January.

Twenty five projects, spanning photovoltaic power, wind energy, solar thermal, waste-to-energy, concentrated solar power and other technologies, have already confirmed for the Project Village, which highlights selected projects from MENA countries, India and other international markets.

Introduced at WFES 2011 as a business and networking platform for project owners, developers and solutions providers, the Project Village complements a growing pipeline of renewable energy initiatives – from the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant Shams 1, located in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, to the 1,000-megawatt London Array wind farm.

WFES Exhibition Director Naji El Haddad said: “The increasing interest in the Project Village component of the summit demonstrates the success of WFES as a marketplace for technology suppliers, investors and other stakeholders committed to the realization of clean energy.

“Through the Project Village, we bring together the decision makers that can action real progress on existing partnerships and agree new collaborations. Confirmations for the Project Village for 2012 indicate the growing involvement of the private sector in the renewable energy space and reflect Abu Dhabi’s leadership in developing renewable projects in the Middle East and overseas markets.”

Countries represented at the Project Village so far include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, India, South Africa, Sudan, the UK and US.

Supported by IRENA and held in association with Ernst & Young and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the initiative highlights both new and planned developments, helping to source technology, secure financing and enter into business partnerships.

El Haddad said: “Five years after the first WFES, the Summit is now established at the centre of the global renewable energy industry. That’s the reality as we prepare for the 2012 edition of WFES. With another 10 projects expected to participate, the value of developments within the Project Village for 2012 may easily surpass US$4 billion.”

Flagship projects already confirmed for the Project Village include a 200-megawatt wind farm under development on the Gulf of Suez, led by Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority; a 160-megawatt solar power plant in Morocco; and the US$400 million Shams Ma’an photovoltaic power plant under way in Jordan.

Now in its fifth year, the World Future Energy Summit is the world’s foremost annual meeting committed to promoting advancement of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the water and waste sectors.

The annual summit engages political, business, finance, academic and industry leaders to drive innovation, business and investment opportunities in response to the growing need for sustainable energy.

On the theme Powering Sustainable Innovation, WFES 2012 will stage both a high-level conference and exhibition, with companies from all over the world promoting their latest products and services.

Over 26,000 attendees, including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies and 20 national pavilions, are expected to participate in the summit.

To be held under the patronage of H.H General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and hosted by Masdar, the World Future Energy Summit 2012 runs from January 16-19 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Doha - Qatar: Qatargas Chief Executive Officer, Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, today stated Qatargas would continue to seek, for now and well into the future, increased energy efficiencies across its facilities to ensure stability and  a better tomorrow for future generations.

Presenting a paper on “Supporting the objective of creation of a stable source of income for the State of Qatar,” in the Qatar Ministerial session of the 20th World Petroleum Congress, the Qatargas CEO Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani stated:

“For Qatargas through the vision of His Highness The Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and under the guidance of His Excellency Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry for the state of Qatar, our track record as a secure and reliable supplier, coupled with our unique geographical positioning and world class facilities in Qatar, allows us to serve both the Pacific basin as well as the Atlantic basin LNG markets. Qatargas now supplies 19 of the 24 LNG importing countries worldwide.  We have delivered over 2300 cargoes to date. We can be certain that the geographical spread of our markets will continue to develop and, through this, we can realise our goal of supporting a stable source of income for the state of Qatar. We’ve established and maintained a proven record and will continue to supply our customers on a safe and reliable basis.”

The Qatargas CEO noted that Qatargas has been transformed in the space of just a few years; from what was a two country-supplier, ranked some way below the industry leaders, to the largest LNG producing company in the world, with a production capacity of LNG at 42 million tonnes per annum (MTA). The company has extended its customer reach to one of truly global proportions, both through its long term customer base and through relationships and contracts established to facilitate short term trades.

“Today we have grown into a best practice operating company model. The concern for safety and the environment are core values, and today we are at the leading edge using technologies which, whenever possible, minimise the impact on the environment.”

Qatargas manages its offshore operations which include a total of 85 wells that send an average of 7.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day for onshore processing. The company also manages four joint ventures, Qatargas1, the world’s first fully integrated value chain Qatargas2, Qatargas3, Qatargas4, G2), four world class mega liquefaction Trains each with a production capacity of 7.8 MTA of LNG, and Qatar’s first condensate refinery, the Laffan Refinery, which is designed to be one of the largest condensate refineries in the world.

In addition, Qatargas is currently undertaking the “Jetty Boil-off Gas (JBOG) Recovery Project” which aims to recover gas currently being flared during LNG ship loading at the Port of Ras Laffan, and the Plateau Maintenance Project (PMP) that will ensure the production capacity of Qatargas 1 is maintained at 10 MTA of LNG. Besides, the company is also a stakeholder in the Qatar Helium 2 Project, which is a joint venture owned by Qatargas 2, Qatargas 3, Qatargas 4 and Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (3).

Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani  went on to state: “We are fortunate to have built over the past 27 years a trust and understanding, which has developed into strong relations, with our globally recognised shareholders – all leaders in the global energy industry –  namely  Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips, Total, Marubeni, Mitsui, Cosmo, and Idemitsu. All have contributed remarkably to the realisation of the state of Qatar’s vision to be the largest LNG producer in the world.”

Abu Dhabi, UAE (November 28, 2011) – Following two days debate, the Selection Committee of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, comprising 11 of the world’s foremost energy experts, have chosen the final 14 candidates out of a record 425 entries, who will get a chance to compete for the award in January 2012.

The candidates shortlisted demonstrate a wide geographic coverage in their activities and represent the potential in addressing the global demand for energy efficiency, sustainable and equal access to energy and novel approach to policymaking. The Selection Committee closely scrutinised candidates on areas such as their carbon footprintand the impact of their projects on local communities

The awards are based on three new categories for exceptional candidates in the renewable energy and sustainability field: Large Corporations, Lifetime Achievement, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) & Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs). Candidates are judged on The four keystones of the Zayed Future Energy Prize :Innovation, Impact, Leadership and Long-term vision.

Commenting on the selected candidates, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize said: “What the Zayed Future Energy Prize is constantly on the lookout for is the strength of commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. After all, any endeavour to improve our world is only as strong as the human spirit that is behind it, this alone is what is worth celebrating and encouraging.”

He added: “I strongly believe the UAE – a major energy player with a visionary leadership – holds a unique position on the world stage and continues to break new ground in renewable energy, emissions reduction and renewable energy and sustainability policymaking, the fourteen shortlisted candidates for the Prize reflect and serve to underline these efforts.”

The experts on the Selection Committee range from industry experts, renewable energy policymakers, strategic thinkers to academics and sustainability activists and commentators. Given the new award categories this year, they debated extensively on the ability of candidates to lead by example and with the greatest impact on society and environment.

Razan Al Mubarak, Chair of the Selection Committee commented: “As a returning member of the Selection Committee for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, I have the distinct honour of witnessing how the candidates have grown both in number and quality since 2009. We have had quite a few returning candidates who perhaps did not make it to the final stage, this to me demonstrates, the growing significance and influence the Prize has garnered over such a short period. I also think there is much potential for greater participation from women not only for the Prize but in science and technology more generally, I look forward to this being reflected in the future.”

Another returning member of the Selection Committee, Jonathon Porritt added: “The new Award categories have certainly helped in decision-making and in the scoring of each candidate.  One thing that continues to improve is the quality of the candidates, which always make for great and passionate debate between members of the Selection Committee! More excitingly, the whole process provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of this extraordinarily dynamic industry.”

This is the penultimate stage of a four-stage process in candidate selection for the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Of the total 425 entries received from 71 countries this year, 62 were selected in the first stage by a reputed international research & analysis firm and then reduced down to 33 by the Prize’s Review Committee in October. In the final stage, world-renowned personalities will meet in Abu Dhabi next month to select the finalists and runners up in each of the award categories for the Prize.

Jeddah-Saudi Arabia: – The need to optimize energy management in the next generation of healthcare amenities was highlighted by Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, during its participation at the Healthcare Facilities Design and Development 2011, an initiative aimed at highlighting key solutions to resolve the latest challenges in Saudi Arabia’s health infrastructure industry.

Organized by IQPC, the event held at the Park Hyatt in Jeddah from 19-21 November featured technical presentations from key experts demonstrating best practices in the area of health facility design and development. Schneider Electric supported the event as a Platinum sponsor.

Michael Sullivan, Vice President-Healthcare Solutions, Schneider Electric, delivered a workshop on ‘Implementing state-of-the-art health facility designs to maximize ROI’. The session examined design features that improve efficiency. It also underscored the rise in demand for health services driven by a growing population in Saudi Arabia. The workshop additionally recorded the development of the healthcare sector with the coming up of several new infrastructure projects including small-sized medical clinics as well as large-scale teaching and research hospitals.

Mohammad Al-Hajjaj, Healthcare Solutions and Segment Manager at Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia, said: “The design of these new facilities is of utmost importance.  A major challenge for the health sector today is combining continuity and quality of healthcare whilst optimizing building investment and operating costs. Ensuring smooth functioning and deriving increased ROI from these new projects is essential. However, this has to be accompanied with patient satisfaction, safety and security through the provision of international standard services.

“The workshop helped us explore design perquisites to develop a health facility that increases revenue, improves staff productivity, maintains a longer operational lifecycle and provides world-class services to patients.”

Michael Sullivan additionally delivered a presentation on ‘Build a Better Hospital’, focusing on the areas of patient safety, financial performance and patient satisfaction.

The Healthcare Facilities Design and Development event provides a forum for industry specialists including government representatives as well as hospital and medical directors to learn from regional and international case studies in health infrastructure. The event also offers a platform to evaluate the latest software in health facility design and facilitates participants to network with key figures and government officials in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector.

Schneider Electric’s intelligent hospital infrastructure that improves an existing hospital or enables the construction of a new efficient facility are based on the EcoStruxure approach that complies with the latest LEED requirements for developing green buildings.

Schneider Electric’s integrated hospital solutions can improve margins by up to 25 per cent through improving energy efficiency. Mitigating risks of electrical incidents, advanced power management, reducing hospital-acquired infections with environmental controls, and securing the pulse of a hospital with integrated security solutions are some of the benefits of the application.

Abu Dhabi: French petroleum major Total, one of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (Adnoc) oldest exploration and production partners, has been witness to the UAE’s spectacular rise on the global energy scene since the country’s formation. Jean-Luc Guiziou, President of Total UAE takes Gulf News through the long journey.

“Forty years have passed since the UAE’s formation and we are proud to say that Total has been part of that remarkable success story every step of the way. The partnership with the UAE has seen Total tirelessly bring to the Emirates a rich heritage of innovation and ingenuity, especially on the energy landscape. Besides, Total has the largest presence in the Middle East among all international oil companies.

“Total has been developing long-term partnerships in the Middle East region since 1924, and has been present in the UAE since 1939. Since our modest beginnings to manage an onshore oil concession in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, our activities have evolved across the UAE to include upstream oil and gas, liquid natural gas processing and shipping, power generation, fertilisers, renewable energy and extensive operations in retail and marketing.

“A symbolic long standing industrial partnership between Total and the emirate of Abu Dhabi is Total Abu Al Bukhoosh (Total ABK). The late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan granted the concession to Total in December 1972. President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, had formally inaugurated the production facilities in December 1974. Total holds a 75 per cent interest in the Abu Al Bukhoosh field (as an operator), 9.5 per cent in the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco), which operates the five major onshore fields in the Emirate, and a 13.3 per cent interest in Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco), which operates two major offshore fields while additional fields are being developed. Total also has a 15 per cent stake in Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited (Gasco), which produces LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and condensates from the associated gas produced by Adco, and a 5 per cent stake in Abu Dhabi Liquefaction Company Limited (Adgas), which produces LNG, LPG and condensates.

Total joined Mubadala in 2000 as a visionary partner to develop the Dolphin project, the first integrated gas project in the Middle East.

Top priority

The constructive partnership with national operating companies is an ever-evolving feat of utmost priority for Total. This consistently seeks to position Total as a long-term trusted partner of choice for the government of Abu Dhabi, in all aspects of its energy ventures and challenges. Guiziou said: “Total is laying the groundwork for the future of a diversified energy mix, to help meet growing demand and address climate change. We are now supporting the development of renewable energies such as solar through Shams 1 in partnership with Masdar. We joined the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) in 2001 to develop power generation and desalinisation at Taweelah Plant, one of the biggest cogeneration plants in the world.

“In the long run, oil and gas resources will not be enough to meet global energy demand and the nuclear power remains an option which allows meeting the growing energy needs. Total sees nuclear energy as an integral part of the future energy mix, since the nuclear power is a low-CO2 emission energy.

“One of the top priorities of Total is to minimise its impact of operations on the host community and the environment.

“Total associated with Petroleum Institute formed in 2001 to facilitate imparting industrial expertise to Emiratis. Total ABK -VEDC Academy established with active support of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in association with the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education Training Institute (ADVETI) in 2008, is a capacity building programme exclusively for Emiratis. “Since 1999, we have collaborated with Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) in the Dugong Conservation programme. We also collaborated with National Geographic to publish a book, Abu Dhabi: Nature Preserved.

“Looking forward to the years ahead, Total is committed to leveraging on our historical presence and expertise in the region to continue to develop its activities.”

Riyadh-Saudi Arabia: 08 October, 2011 – Schneider Electric today launched EcoStruxure™ solution architecture, which unites its wide-spectrum expertise in power, data centers, process and machines, building control, as well as physical security to deploy intelligent energy management solutions for customers in Saudi Arabia seeking to optimize energy efficiencies across multiple domains of their business.

Capacity constraints, efficiency losses due to poor system design, lack of standardization, low adoption of renewable energy are some of the factors that contribute to the ongoing energy obstacles companies face in Saudi Arabia.

Christophe Campagne, Country President in Saudi Arabia, Schneider Electric, said: “Most companies are seeking to maximize their efficiency levels. By providing our customers with clear and comprehensive reference architectures across key environments and applications, we intend to reduce inefficiencies and increase a company’s ability to make invisible energy waste both visible and actionable. With EcoStruxure, we are able to leverage our world-class competencies to deliver solutions to our customers at all levels of energy utilization.”

The promise of EcoStruxure relies on two main principles:

Firstly, EcoStruxure is based on the most comprehensive portfolio of purpose-specific applications in five domains of expertise that are essential to solve the energy equation:

-       Power: Complete power management solutions for facilities, plant and large sites operations that enable efficient, safe and reliable electrical distribution

-       Data centers: APC by Schneider Electric’s award-winning InfraStruxure™ architecture for data centers uses a modular, scalable approach to optimize power and cooling utilization and mitigate inefficiencies from overbuilding

-       Process and Machines: Automation solutions dedicated to industrial and infrastructure companies or machine builders with focus on flexibility, scalability, performance and ease of use

-       Building Control: Management solutions that focus on reducing installation and operational costs while enhancing end-users’ comfort through real time temperature, lighting and shutter control

-       Physical Security: Architectures include Pelco by Schneider Electric, with industry leading technology in access control, intrusion detection and video surveillance to minimize costs and efficiency losses from unplanned downtime while providing comprehensive risk analysis

Secondly, EcoStruxure is able to connect these five domains of expertise within an open and flexible ecosystem of technology that relies on the use of IP and web services, allowing purpose specific applications to connect whenever needed, at the right level.

Campagne added: “Through EcoStruxure we aim to develop and deploy an integrated architecture that ties together Schneider Electric’s five key domains of expertise to make energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green. Our offering answers customers’ needs for connecting solutions that create an intelligent energy management system across all application areas – Schneider Electric is building such architecture.”

With EcoStruxure, businesses can anticipate better results and improvements in operations through systematic energy visibility and real time control of any energy usage. It is also possible, for example, to embed video surveillance in any applications, enhancing safety while cutting operating costs. Energy waste in all forms – from electricity and water to mechanical and human – can be captured and mitigated to achieve improved efficiency.

Leveraging Schneider Electric’s strong understanding of operating processes within buildings, data centers, industry and infrastructure, EcoStruxure is the perfect tool to adjust any business process real time, in close coordination with energy inputs. The company will be rolling out EcoStruxure reference architectures as well as corresponding training throughout the following year in Saudi Arabia.

For more information on EcoStruxure and how Schneider Electric can be your complete, one-stop solution provider, please visit www.schneider-electric.com/sa

‘Arab Oil & Gas 2011′ to gather energy producers, service providers and technology vendors in Dubai

May 15, 2011

Arab Oil & Gas (AOGS) 2011, the premier biennial showcase for the region’s oil, gas and petrochemical industry, has so far confirmed attendance of over 150 suppliers of equipment, services and technology to support the growth and development within the energy sector in the Middle East.

With oil and gas estimated to account for 47 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively, of the USD 470 billion energy investments in the GCC from 2010 to 2014, AOGS is now poised to serve as the ideal networking platform for key players in the oil and gas industry to discuss fresh opportunities that have now emerged in the region.

AOGS 2011 will run from 18th to 20th September 2011, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, gathering over 300 exhibitors from more than 25 countries and thousands of trade visitors.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), the organisers of AOGS, said, “The oil and gas industry is expected to account for up to 83 per cent of the total energy investments in the region within the next few years. AOGS 2011 will thus serve as a suitable venue for key industry players such as investors, decision makers of oil and gas producing companies, contractors and even technical and procurement teams, to meet and discuss various issues, opportunities and challenges with potential business partners in the region and overseas. We have developed a full range of business facilities and interactive forums that will help boost the business and networking potential of all trade participants, particularly in light of the exciting long-term prospects in the GCC’s energy sector.”

AOGS will be attended by technology vendors and global suppliers in the oil and gas sector, who will be demonstrating their latest innovations and launching new products and technology, while seeking opportunities to sign contracts with regional distributors and agents. The event will also host in-depth discussions about market trends and provide a platform to learn about tender opportunities and network with industry players already trading in the region.

AOGS 2011 will also host the “Excellence in Engineering Forum”, an exclusive event that is organised to help bridge the gap between education and industry. The forum will feature high-profile speakers from the academe as well as prominent personalities from the oil and gas sector.

Yet another feature of AOGS 2011 is the Oil & Gas Job Fair where the focus is on Training, Professional Development and Employment within this sector. “The region’s energy producers and leading service providers are always on the look-out for skilled manpower and quality professional development programs”, the organisers added.

Saudi Energy 2011 to complement Kingdom’s efforts to utilize renewable energy resources to meet electricity demand

May 7, 2011

Mohammed Al Hussaini

Solar energy is being seen as an important alternative power resource that will generate over five gigawatts of energy for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by 2020. The utilization of solar energy is part of the Kingdom’s continuous efforts to target renewable energy in a USD100 billion spending drive aimed at meeting a predicted increase in electricity demand and reducing its dependence on crude. The country’s demand for energy is expected to peak at 120 gigawatts by 2012 mainly due to key factors like an expanding and highly-diversified industry base that accounts for 61.9 per cent of the Kingdom’s GDP and a fast growing population, which is expected to double by 2032.

To help meet this demand, the Kingdom is now looking towards solar power and other non-hydrocarbon sources as strategic options to bolster energy generating capacity by 50 percent within the next ten years. Expert analysts have stated that the region’s oil producers will need to produce more electricity to sustain a regional economic growth rate averaging about 10 per cent per annum. The search for key alternative power resources has generated an interest among Middle East economies for new ways to generate power; marking the preference to export crude to maximize income and allocate natural gas to make petrochemicals. Reports also show that the demand for electricity in Saudi Arabia is steadily increasing, with the demand in 2010 reaching 40 gigawatts and is expected to reach 120 gigawatts in 2032.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is currently spearheading solar initiatives, with the aim of opening the world’s largest solar powered desalination plant by 2012 in the city of Al-Khafji. When completed, the project will supply 30,000 cubic meters of clean water per day and will use newly developed membrane technology and ultra-high concentrator photo-voltaic technology.

Saudi Energy – The 14th International Show for Electricity, Lighting, Power Generation, Water Technology, and HVAC for Saudi Arabia – will showcase the latest equipment, services and best practices to help the Kingdom formulate efficient solutions to its energy challenge. Taking place from May 29 to June 1, 2011, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the latest edition of Saudi Arabia’s leading energy trade fair will comprise four concurrent events collectively referred to as ‘ELAW.’

“Saudi Arabia is currently looking at various alternatives that can help boost its power generation to meet rising demand. We are now seeing solar energy as a likely solution that can meet this jump in electricity demand, with experts predicting that it will be able to generate at least five gigawatts of power towards the end of the decade. ‘Saudi Energy’ aims to act as a strategic platform to showcase key energy-related solutions. This year’s edition promises to be a key event for stakeholders in several inter-connected industries to network and take advantage of business and sales opportunities not only in the Kingdom but throughout the Middle East as well,” said Mohammad Al Hussaini, Deputy General Manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

Saudi Energy 2011 will include Saudi ELENEX, The 14th International Electrical Engineering, Power Generation and Distribution Exhibition; Saudi Luminex, The 11th International Trade Show for Lighting Equipment; Saudi Aircon, The 12th International Exhibition on Air Conditioning, Heating, Ventilation and Refrigeration; and Saudi Water Tech, The 9th International Exhibition for Water Technology, Desalination Plants and Accessories. Also to be held under the show is the Electricity Efficiency Forum – the International Conference on Energy Conservation – which will run under the patronage of H.E. Abdullah Al Hussayen, Minister of Water and Electricity.

Event organizer Riyadh Exhibitions Company is increasing exhibition space by 20 per over the 2010 show, which welcomed 15 participating countries and posted growths of 25 and 20 per cent for exhibitor and visitor footfall, respectively. Saudi Energy 2011 is accredited by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. Complete event details are available at http://www.saudi-energy.com.

The culture of conservation, smart technology and green buildings within the activities of the exhibition

Dubai, UAE – 8th March, 2011: The activities of the 13th Water, Energy, & Environment Exhibition 2011 (WETEX) being held from 8 to 10 March at Zabeel Hall and Halls 1 and 2 at Dubai International Convention Centre, kicked off today.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) inaugurated the exhibition in the presence of top figures and officials in Dubai. 

The opening ceremony was attended by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy, HE Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), HE Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, HE Matar Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman & CEO of Road & Transport Authority, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Kindi, Chairman of Lease Committee - Dubai Municipality, HE Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, HE Hilal Al Marri, Executive director of Dubai International Convention Centre, HE Abdullah Al Karam, Director General of Knowledge and Human Development Authority, HE Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman of Nakheel, HE Fahd Hamad Al Mohannadi, Director General of Qatar Electricity & Water Company, as well as senior officials of Dubai Departments, senior DEWA staff and representatives of big companies.

After opening ceremony, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by HE Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of DEWA, and HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of DEWA and  top officials of DEWA made a tour all over the Exhibition to look at the displays, exhibits and equipment shown by different participating authorities from 25 countries all over the world. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum listened to a presentation by HE Saeed Al Tayer on the Exhibition, DEWA’s projects and achievements through the year 2010.
 
On this occasion, HE Al Tayer stated: “This occasion also coincides with DEWA’s celebrations of its 50th Anniversary – Golden Jubilee. Also, this year’s edition of the Exhibition is characterized by the continuation of the country’s blessed march towards development. It gives due attention to projects compatible with the environment through a special platform dedicated for promoting the concept of green buildings which aim to conserve the consumption of energy and water via designs and eco-friendly materials.”

Within the context, Smartech Exhibition, which is regarded as the first gathering of its kind in the region, will be also held during WETEX 2011. Smartech aims to promote communications between business sector and customers through showcasing technologies which can provide energy supporting the concept of products and eco-friendly services,” HE Al Tayer further added.

The Dubai Global Energy Forum (DGEF), which will be held from 17 to 19 of April 2011, will participate in the Exhibition with its own pavilion, for the first time. This is a good opportunity for the DGEF to be introduced as a platform to exchange expertise and the best practices concerning energy demand management and its diversification to include a peaceful nuclear technology, clean coal and the challenges that the energy sector faces as well as the opportunities for a sustainable future.

HE Al Tayer hailed the great participation in the exhibition, which reflects the high position of the United Arab Emirates in general and the great position of Dubai as a centre for finance and business and a destination for different activities. HE also said that this Exhibition being hosted by Dubai is an important annual event to be added to the great world economic and business events hosted by Dubai all the year round.

“This year’s session is characterized by the wide participation of ministries, government departments and organizations, municipalities, national and international companies and organizations, and public interest organizations concerned with the water, energy and environment issues.

HE Al Tayer hailed the participation of many countries all over the world including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Hashemite kingdom, Morocco, USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Bosnia, Croatia,, France, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, Spain, Malaysia, Turkey, china, Taiwan, Japan, India, Sri Lanka.

The number of the sponsors has increased from 11 last year to become 19 this year. This is an indication of the success of the exhibition as one of the specialized exhibitions in the fields of water, energy and environment not only in the region but also al the international level.

He Al Tayer also pointed out the  importance of the displays and the issues tackled by this Exhibition which are all related to the march of sustainable development in all the different sectors. Throughout its march to serve national economy, DEWA has promoted and circulated the Exhibition in different countries of the world, and it got a good response. It has also succeeded in attracting wide range of participations due to the facilities given, in a way to help those participants to put forth their ideas and showcase their products.

Big local and international companies will showcase their best solutions and products including agricultural equipment as well as desalination systems and modern systems of irrigation, water pumping equipment, boilers, cables, electric transformers, conductors, energy saving products, pipes, valves, generators, energy and water distributing equipment, etc.

This year’s participants exceeded 715 organizations from 25 countries from all over the world compared with 500 ones last year. Also the number of the international pavilions reached 8.

HE Al Tayer called on specialists in the field to attend the symposia and lectures related to the topics of electricity, water and energy as well as the worldwide developments in these fields. The visitors, engineers, technicians at different government sectors will be briefed on modern technologies and developments.

During the Exhibition, there will be raffle draws events for visitors, as three winners among the visitors will be given the opportunity to participate in the draw and win some electronic prizes such as iPad, Laptop, Blackberry. Besides, there will be daily raffle draws on the names of the visitors and participants in the symposia and lectures being held as part of the Exhibition. Also, there will be the e-competition where three of the participants via the website: www.wetex.ae, will be chosen.