World leading expertise, innovation and solutions from the global energy industry on show at Middle East Electricity Exhibition 2006

The 2006 event, which runs from February 5th to 8th at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, is the largest and most comprehensive ever staged.

"The development and enhancement of the region's energy capability and infrastructure is of critical importance, and Middle East Electricity will once again this year play a major role in bringing the region's decision makers and the cream of the global energy industry together,"

said Sarah Woodbridge, Exhibition Director, Middle East Electricity. "More efficient generation and use of energy are top of the agenda for governments throughout the Middle East - having recognised that the intense energy demands they face today are only the tip of the iceberg, they are investing billions of dollars into energy related projects, and this is where the real business is done."

A combination of incredibly rapid population growth plus the expansion of the commercial, industrial and manufacturing sectors across the region has placed great stress on current infrastructures, and projects such as the US$1.25 billion Gulf Power Grid are designed to ensure greater power supply stability and eliminate the risk of blackouts.

"Over the last 30 years, the population of the MENA region has doubled to about 386 million - with the current growth level running at 2% per year (equivalent to c.7 million people per year), the WEO predicts that primary energy demand will more than double in the MENA region by 2030." added Woodbridge. "To meet this demand, the WEO believes that the countries of the MENA region will have to invest on average, $56 billion per year in energy infrastructure alone."

Power generation is just one of the focus areas of Middle East Electricity, which showcases all areas of the energy industry, from generation to transmission and distribution, new and renewable energy to lighting and gas (a new focus area of the show for 2006).

"The successful introduction of dedicated, sector-specific areas within the show resulted from in-depth discussions with our colleagues throughout the industry, consultation with governments and ministries and research to establish the precise needs and requirements of our visitor audience, which this year will comprise over 25,000 key decision makers," said Woodbridge.

Lighting Middle East, which offers the widest range of pure lighting solutions (industrial, outdoor and specialist lighting) ever seen in the Middle East and North Africa, has rapidly grown to the stage where it now fills an entire hall this year, and will feature world leading lighting innovators Osram (one of Middle East Electricity's main sponsors), who are celebrating their 100th anniversary at the show. Martin Goetzeler, President and CEO of Osram, which is now one of the world's largest lighting manufacturers with annual global sales in excess of €4.3billion, will be one of the VIP guests at Middle East Electricity 2006.

"We have developed into a high-tech company in the lighting industry," said Goetzeler. "Opto electronic semiconductor light sources now account for 11% of our total sales, and electronics are also playing a more and more important role". According to the Goetzeler, electronic control gear can not only extend the life of lamps by as much as 50%, but significantly also reduces the energy consumption of lighting systems by up to 30%.

Gas is a new focus area at Middle East Electricity 2006. The Middle East has huge reserves of natural gas, (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE account for 42% of the world's proven gas reserves, with Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE having the second, third, fourth and fifth largest natural gas reserves in the world) - vastly increased domestic consumption of electricity throughout the region, plus the growing demand for domestic hydrocarbons for power generation, petrochemicals and desalination mean that there has been a significant increase in the use of natural gas - Saudi Arabia, for example, has made increased natural gas production a priority, and aims to triple output to 15 billion cubic feet a day by 2009.

"The gas sector is becoming increasingly important," said Woodbridge. "Based on research undertaken with the industry and taking into account the needs of the region, we saw the addition of a dedicated gas area as a logical and essential expansion of the show."

Abu Dhabi's Dhs. 1 billion (est.) natural gas distribution network initiative is just one example of the importance being placed on natural gas as an alternative energy to oil.

"The introduction of this dedicated sector for the natural gas industry has boosted interest in the show by a massive 16%," added Woodbridge.

Visitors to Middle East Electricity 2006, which covers over 25,000 square metres of space, will be able to see over 800 world leaders from the energy industry, including Ducab, Lucy Switchgear, Coopers, Areva, Hyundai, Danway, LS Group, GE Energy, Perkins, Panasonic, Al Babtain and Cummins. 51 countries are participating at the event, and the 18 country group pavilions include the largest ever participations from Germany (which occupies the entire Hall 5), Italy and Spain.

A record 20 French companies, all of whom are considered leaders in their respective fields of the energy industry, will also display their global industry experience and promote their diverse ranges of services and products at the event.

Many companies will also use Middle East Electricity as the platform to launch new products - among these is Zensol, who will be unveiling the first equipment entirely dedicated to HV Circuit Breaker vibration measurement - using a new method of vibration analysis developed by Hydro-Quèbec and commercialised under license by Zensol, this innovative new instrument allows maintenance crews to detect and identify mechanical anomalies in circuit-breaker drive mechanisms.

Further expanded for 2006, the annual series of Middle East Electricity industry seminars, which are now established as an integral part of the event, will once again cover a wide range of highly topical and relevant subjects and will be presented by regional and international industry experts -due to popular demand, the seminar programme will now take place in two rooms to satisfy the number of requests for places; attendance is free for industry trade professionals.

Organisers IIR Middle East have announced the addition of a new dedicated sector for the water industry at the 2007 event. "As with the dedicated sectors for power generation, new and renewable energy and gas, we see this as a vital extension to the show - the production of sufficient water to sustain rapidly growing populations is another area of concern for governments across the MENA region," said Woodbridge. "This is fully in line with our on-going commitment to support the development of the regional energy industry."

"In 1955, the list of water-scarce countries (less than 1000cm/capita) comprised seven countries, including three - Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait - from the Middle East. By 1990, 13 more countries had been added, with eight from the Middle East - Algeria, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The latest UN studies anticipate that a further 10 countries will be added to the list by 2025 seven of which (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Libya, Morocco, Oman and Syria) will be from the MENA region."

Strongly supported by FEWA (the Federal Electricity and Water Authority) and the UAE Ministry of Energy, Middle East Electricity 2006 takes place at Dubai International Exhibition Centre (Halls 1a, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) from Sunday February 5th through to Wednesday February 8th. The event's main sponsors are Osram and Eaton. Opening hours are from 10.30am to 6.00pm Sunday, 10.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Wednesday. "Middle East Electricity 2006, which comprehensively covers the entire spectrum of the energy industry, will see the event further reinforcing its position as the power behind the Middle East energy industry," concluded Woodbridge.