Offshore Arabia 2009 experts meet to protect the environment

It comes at a time when the International Community is actively engaged in extensive dialogue geared towards facilitating and managing energy for sustainable economic and social development, also finding solutions to existing and future environmental changes and challenges.

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 of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The venue of this significant event will be Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center and it will run from 11 to 13 January 2009.

The aim of this scientific, social, and economic event is to create opportunities and enhancing the potentials of oil and gas industry, global markets and researches on the planet's environment.

This year two Pre-conference workshops are taking place before the event at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Dubai, on the 7th & 8th of January 2009.

• The first workshop is; "An Introduction to the Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIA) in the Oil Industry, Shipping and Ports & Harbor Operations".

This 2-day workshop has primarily been developed for personnel with an environmental responsibility and particularly who are involved in the development or the implementation of EIA's, as it focuses on the growing concern over environmental issues amongst the media, public and various stakeholder groups.

It is essential for the environmental impact of projects and activities to be fully evaluated prior to commencement, that's why the workshop will also benefit managers who need to have a basic understanding of environmental assessment as part of their work, and explain to them the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and how it should be utilized in support of operations and activities.

• The second workshop is entitled "Crisis Management & Oil Spill Response / Development of Regional Oil Spill Contingency Planning".
This workshop is developed for personnel with responsibility for the managing crises during major oil spill accidents. It helps attendees to raise their knowledge and competence to prepare for managing major business interruptions during oil spills.

Offshore Arabia is a remarkable opportunity for highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals to meet under one roof and provide a wider range of environmental solutions. It is the place where Leaders of Business, Energy and Environment Industry share their views on environment and the future prospects and impacts of oil and gas industry, and discuss Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS), which is an urgent regional and international socioeconomic issue of the conference.

The conference will also contain visionary sessions where high profile speakers will discuss current issues within the environment and the oil and gas industry.

Around sixty speakers will participate in the conference with the presence of 2300 professionals representing regional and International oil and gas companies, logistics services, oil and gas tankers, supply and chandlers, companies operating in sea cleaning, pollution control and environment protection from oil and chemical spills from the Gulf Region, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the United States.

Complete listing of the speakers can be found on the website www.offshorearabia.ae
Some of the topics that will be addressed in the conference are related to Energy Challenges, Climate Change, Sustainability, Offshore and Onshore Protections, managing Resources and the Environment, health, Safety, Security, and rescue besides Global Environment and the Role of Government.

Besides the conference Offshore Arabia will host the 2nd Offshore Arabia Environmental Awards, to felicitate environmental excellence in our region and the world at large. The categories of the award are:
• 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
Nominations are open to all sectors. Deadline for submission of the award is 30th November 2008.
Offshore Arabia 2009 will focus on sharing industry knowledge, builds the momentum forward towards secured global energy and developing a sustainable environment.