Power generation to take centre stage at Mid East's leading energy show

Organiser IIR Exhibitions says the event's new vertical power generation arena will plug into strong international interest in the region's energy sector, especially from the Far East.

The announcement comes in the wake of figures from the World Energy Council (WEC) forecasting the six Gulf Co-operation Council states alone will have to invest in excess of US $150 billion, to provide an additional 100 gigawatts of electricity capacity, before 2020.

'Adequate power generation is critical to the continued economic and social development of the region,' said Sarah Woodbridge, Exhibitions Director, Power and Energy Division, IIR Exhibitions.

'According to the WEC, the Gulf Arab states will have to invest an average of US $8 billion every year to meet the predicted demand for electricity, with over half needed in Saudi Arabia alone.

'Middle East Electricity will provide the world's biggest power industry players with a window of opportunity to tap into one of the fastest growing energy markets in the world.'

The Power Generation forum will be one of three vertical arenas at Middle East Electricity 2004. The other two will focus on the lighting industry and new and renewable energy.

'The industrial and commercial lighting sector is expanding in tandem with the billions of dollars being spent on Middle East infrastructure projects. The Lighting arena will provide a much needed sector specific forum for the latest technology and brands, many of which will be new to the region,' said Woodbridge.

Increasing regional interest in alternative energy sources will be reflected in the New and Renewable energy arena. According to the US Government's Energy Information Administration, alternative power use in the Middle East and Africa is expected to double to 2.4 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) by 2020, as governments expand investment in renewables to supplement gas or oil fired generating stations.

Among Middle East and North Africa countries planning to supplement electricity supplies with wind, solar or hydro-electric projects are the UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Iran and Turkey.

'Although renewable energy has long been a poor cousin of traditional power sources in the Middle East, an increasing population and industrial base is forcing suppliers to look to alternatives,' said Woodbridge.

'Examples are the proposed wind farms in Fujairah, the first in the GCC, Turkey's US $32 billion Southeastern Anatolian Water Project and Egypt's 30-megawatt solar power plant at Kureimat.'

IIR have reported that over 80% of this year's participants have confirmed their presence at Middle East Electricity 2004. With 14,000 square metres of space booked, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC), the exhibition will be the largest in the event's history.

The show will again host the Middle East Electricity Ministers Summit on the first day of an expanded three-day conference programme running alongside the exhibition. The conference will bring together key players and decision-makers in the region's power industry to discuss how new strategies and technologies can meet the rapidly expanding demand for energy.

Middle East Electricity 2004, which has the support of the UAE's Ministry of Electricity and Water and the Federal Electricity and Water Authority, will take place at the DIEC from February 15-18.