Final count down to Power-Gen Middle East and WaterWorld Middle East 2012

This was announced at the event's latest press conference headed up by speakers Mr. Abdulla Anbar Al-Jassim, Public Relations and Communication Department Manager, KAHRAMAA, Mr. Rashid Naser Al-Hajre, Public Relations & Shareholders Manager, QEWC, Mr. Abdulsattar Al-Rasheed, CEO Ras Abu Fontas Power Plant, QEWC, Mr. Glenn Ensor, International Events Director, PennWell Corporation and Mr. Nigel Blackaby, Conference Director, POWER-GEN Middle East, PennWell Corporation.

Organised by PennWell in partnership with KAHRAMAA and Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) as Co-Host and Platinum Sponsor, the event will kick off with the Opening Keynote Ceremony led by H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry on Monday 6 February followed by an official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and opening of the exhibition floor.

His Excellency will be joined by other keynote speakers H.E. Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari, President, KAHRAMAA, Mr. Fahad Hamad Al-Mohannadi, General Manager, Qatar Electricity and Water Company and Mr. Glenn Ensor, Director of Events, PennWell Corporation, UK.

All up, the event hosts an impressive line up of more than 120 eminent international chairs and speakers and nearly 140 exhibitors from 23 countries. Regional and international perspectives about topical power and water issues and opportunities for future growth and development will be presented along with new and innovative solutions using pioneering technology to overcome the financial, resource and environmental challenges facing today's power and water industry.

The power sector in the GCC region has seen exponential growth ranging from 10 to 15% annually in many of its member states, with demand for electrical power to triple over the next 25 years. Similarly, the water industry is expected to be worth $70bn over the next ten years. Such developments in the power and water sectors of the GCC countries underline the fact that the region is not only one of the fastest growing but also holds the most potential of global electricity and water markets.

Power-Gen Middle East Conference Director, Nigel Blackaby said, "Over the years the event has grown in size and stature and is now recognized as the principle meeting place for delivering a formidable conference programme that tackles head on important strategic management and technical issues concerning the power generation business in the GCC and wider Middle East region. Together, Power-Gen Middle East and WaterWorld Middle East will continue to grow significantly as the region's leading event in the power generation and water industries."

WaterWorld Middle East Conference Director, Tom Freyberg said, "The inaugural WaterWorld Middle East event will enable participants to learn about future opportunities and take advantage of the promising market dynamics as forecasters predict a total of 39 million cubic metres per day of desalination capacity to be added between 2010 and 2020 in the Middle East region alone."

Highlights of the event include Power-Gen Middle East's Country Spotlights session including a presentation by H.E. Karim Aftan El Jurnaily, Minister of Electricity, Iraq. This session will look at opportunities and challenges presented by established and developing regional power markets including Iraq, Oman, Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

WaterWorld Middle East will also feature a spotlight session, MENA Spotlights. This session will be chaired by Khaldon Khashman, Secretary General, Arab Countries Water Utilities Association, ACWUA, Jordan, which will discuss regulatory changes, financing and water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in different countries including Qatar, Oman and Algeria, Bahrain and Jordan.

Other sessions expected to attract great interest include Power-Gen Middle East's Project Issues-Encouraging Successes and Avoiding Pitfalls which will examine compensation issues related to major energy infrastructure delays in the Middle East and Trends in Finance, Risk & Investment, a look at how events in Europe and the US mean the fall-out of the credit crisis on major project finance is still being felt.

Similarly, WaterWorld Middle East's popular sessions are likely to include Desalination Future Trends which will look at new wind and solar membrane powered processes that are being trialed in the region and Water Reuse with case studies from the Middle East and internationally demonstrating how wastewater technologies are helping to meet water reuse standards.

Aside from the conference, the dual exhibition has see a multitude of pioneering power and water technologies on display by leading players such as KAHRAMAA, Qatar Electricity & Water Company, MAPNA Group, Foster Wheeler, Balcke Duerr GMBH, Xylem, German Water Partnership; Metito (Overseas) Ltd and Protec.