Environmental Excellency awards and Amateur Photography contest launches in January

Speaking to the press H.E. Said these significantly important Awards are geared towards enhancing, supporting, and encouraging the total environmental efforts to expedite economic development and growth for the benefit of Energy , Environment and sustainability.

These Awards are living example of the vital role of Energy in the process of economic development.

The role of energy sector is fundamental in securing and protecting environment by introducing and employing the best international industry practices, quality standards, and quality for environment protection.

Energy and oil sector initiations and participation in these awards is a distinctive contribution that definitely boosts planning and substantiating the social responsibility for a secured and productive friendly environment.

He declared that companies, corporations, and personalities engaged effectively and with excellence are judged for their excellence, efforts, dedication, and sustainability of environment.

He added "Offshore Arabia 2009 "Environmental Awards are classified into six Categories"
Excellence in Environmental Applications

Excellence in Environmental Technology
Excellence in Capability & Response
Excellence in Incident Command Structure
Excellence in Environmental Projects and Products
Regional Environmental Personality

Awards are judged to companies, corporations, organizations, groups, government department's individuals, according to specified set of criteria, standards, and measures and after meeting all qualifying requirements.

A special nine members committee was set up comprising the best and knowledgeable experts in the industry including three from the UN specialized agencies , three representing International Environment agencies and three representatives of National Oil and Gas companies.

The second Offshore Arabia Amateur Photography Contest has also been announced by H.E. the minister with a vision to involve national and expatriates and the society at large in arising awareness and desire for a cleaner and more sustainable environment in our region.

The Amateur Photography awards to be judged on the six categories. Awards will be judged on the following six categories namely Wildlife, Coastal, Arid, / Landscape, Aerial Landscape, Under Water, Above Water and Urban.

Special judging committee of specialized professional in photography and environment was set up to select the best photographs that meet the requirements of the AWARD.

H.E. the minister thanked the Regional Clean Sea Organization "RECSO", INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions Organizing Establishment and the regional and international organizations.

He also thanked the Platinum sponsor en - Park Dubai and Kuwait Oil Company and other sponsors and supporters.

We are confident that our region is capable of finding solutions for Energy and Environment constrains by involving all concerned and by supporting national, regional, and international initiatives in this feild.

Speaking at the press conference Mr. Khamis Jumma Bu Amim Chairman Offshore Arabia 2009 said: " Energy and environment are the foundation for the sustainable economic development defined as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

He added, "Offshore Arabia 2009 is a scientific, social, and economic event that addresses a number of pressing and dividing issues from a scientific perspective to the best practices and solutions for the benefit of energy and environment. It is vitally important that economic and social development in our region should be based largely on environment for any sustainable development efforts. We have to find the best means and most effective to curtail these problems and to secure sustainable and secured environment.

According to estimates, the world population will reach 9 billion by the year 2050 against 6 billions today.

The world population increase will be mostly in developing countries.

With per capita annual increase in the GDP at the rate of 2% in the developed countries and at the rate of 3.3% in the developing and less developing countries this will lead to an increase in the world income.

It might exceed us $135 trillion in the year 2050 against us $35 trillion today.

The energy sector in the developing countries requires about us $165bn investments for development projects according to World Bank report.

More billions of dollars needed annually to cover capital or investment expenses to shift to a friendly economy with less carbon dioxide gas emissions and to adapt with the requirements of environment protection and climate change.

There are over 120 oil production development projects in OPEC ( in spite of the high construction costs) the cost of which may exceed $160bn as cumulative investment up to the year 2012 just to add about 5 million b/d to the existing production capacity", Said Bu Amim.

He added "Offshore Arabia 2009 is creating opportunities and enhancing the potentials of oil and gas industry, global market and researches on the planet's environment.

It focuses on sharing industry knowledge, builds the momentum forward towards a secured global energy supply drive environmental awareness, and manages climate challenges.

Speaking at the press conference Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani President of INDEX holding the organizer of Offshore Arabia declared that the third round of Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition will be staged under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President, prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

The venue of this significant event will be Dubai International Conventions, Exhibitions Center, and it will run from 11 to 13 January 2009.

Al Madani confirmed the participation of 72 speakers in the conference with the presence of 2300 professionals representing oil and gas companies from the Gulf Region, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and America.

Regional and International oil and gas companies, logistics services, oil and gas tankers, supply and chandelles, companies operating in sea cleaning, pollution control and environment protection from oil and chemical spills.

"The previous round of Offshore Arabia was extremely successful on the light of the customer's satisfaction survey organized by INDEX which showed that 83% of the participants are fully satisfied with out come of the event and they will participate in the coming event. Regarding the business success of the event 83% have succeeded in concluding contracts, business deals and signing representation agreements" Mr. Al Madani Added.

Al Madani confirmed that the up coming Offshore Arabia 2009 will have more participants in the Conference as well as in the Exhibition.

We expect the participation of over 212 companies from 60 counties extending from the Gulf Region to the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, North and South America.

Al Madani said, "Offshore Arabia 2009 is organized in cooperation with the Regional Clean Sea Organization RECSO and the support of the Ministry of Environment and water, Dubai Municipality, the United Nations Environment Program, UNESCO, OPEC, AOPEC and have forged strategic alliance with the Department of Naturalization and Residency. The platinum sponsor is en- Park Dubai and the Kuwait Oil Company beside many other organizations coming forward either for the support or for sponsorship.