Doha to host 11th Middle East Gas Summit

Qatar intends to be the world's largest exporter of LNG by 2012, as well as a pioneering centre for Gas-To-Liquids technology. It is therefore no surprise that Doha is the host for the 11th Middle East Gas Summit this year.

'MEGAS will feature a comprehensive and high profile programme aimed at informing delegates of the strategic direction and investment opportunities that exist in the Middle East gas industry,' said a statement about the event which is to be held in Doha's InterContinental Hotel.

'MEGAS will also provide companies with a chance to achieve maximum exposure to major decision makers within the region, as well as the chance to develop new contacts and see existing clients.'

A pre-conference workshop on Gas-To-Liquids economics is also being held on February 18 to provide 'an understanding of the key technical and economic issues in developing gas reserves for the production of marketable liquids and chemicals.'

Impressive sponsor list

The MEGAS summit is sponsored by Qatar Petroleum as gold sponsor, and has country focus sessions on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Egypt, UAE, Oman, Iraq, Yemen and Syria. Taking part will be gas advisers, energy purchasing and distributing agencies, gas marketing companies, government policy makers, financial analysts, economists, business development managers, energy consultants and gas traders.

The silver sponsor of MEGAS is ConocoPhillips and the bronze sponsor is Shell, while the official official media partners include Pipeline Magazine, LNG Journal, Petroleum Africa, and Arab Oil and Gas Magazine.

Invited guests include: Qatargas Managing Director Faisal Al Suwaidi, Qatar Petroleum's director of oil and gas ventures Nasser Jaidah, Shell GTL project country chairman Andy Brown, Sasol Chevron Qatar country manager Pat Butcher, as well as delegates from the US, UK, UAE, India, Singapore, Belgium, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Italy, Denmark, Oman, Iran, Iraq, , Egypt, Australia, Pakistan and China.

Apart from the Qatari Government, senior government officials from the US Department of Energy, the European Commission, Cyprus Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Lebanon's Ministry of Energy, Oman's Ministry of Oil and Gas and Iraq's Ministry of Oil are all expected to take part in the three-day summit.