The second Middle East Process Engineering Conference and Exhibition (MEPEC 2013) will be an even larger, more comprehensive event than the first one, organisers said.

This was prompted by the extraordinary success of MEPEC 2011, according to a report in the Gulf daily News, our sister publication.

It will be held under the patronage of HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

MEPEC 2013 promises to be a vital forum where process engineering technology providers, oil, gas and petrochemical companies and end-users, can share best practices, discuss the challenges faced by the oil, gas, refining, chemicals and petrochemicals industries and explore potential solutions to some of their most pressing concerns.

The event will be held from September 29 to October 2 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

MEPEC's theme this year is "Overcoming future challenges through engineering excellence".

It will focus on how 'smart' engineering, together with manufacturing and operational excellence, can create value in process industries.

MEPEC 2013's scope, content and special features were highlighted at a Press Conference yesterday at the Gulf Hotel.

Speakers included Nogaholding chief executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, conference chairman Audah Al Ahmadi and Middle East Energy Events managing director Alexis Neron-Bancel.

The technical programme will include a wide range of topics including manufacturing and operational excellence, capital project efficiency, process automation and optimisation, process safety and risk mitigation, clean fuel, environment and sustainability, process and molecular modelling, and skills, talent and technology development.

MEPEC 2013 spokesperson confirmed having already received 350 abstracts for the programme.

"The event will feature technical sessions in plenaries and keynote talks, roundtable discussions and during social events," said Mr Al Ahmadi, who is also a board member of the Saudi Arabian section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (SAS-AIChE), the main organiser of MEPEC 2013.

"With over 220 industry experts participating, this year's conference offers a great opportunity for delegates and visitors to share innovative ideas and feasible solutions to the challenges faced by the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas, petrochemicals, and hydrocarbon processing industries," he added.

There will be six plenary sessions chaired by key industry decision-makers, and a digital poster plaza, where selected session speakers will present their research using electronic media.

Confirmed keynote speakers include Saudi Governmental Investment Authority (Sagia) governor and chairman Abdulatif Al Othman, Shaikh Mohammed, Saudi Aramco's former president and chief executive Abdullah Juma, Sabic executive vice-president for technology and innovation Dr Ernesto Occhiello, GE Oil & Gas vice-president for engineering Eric Gebhardt, Saudi Aramco vice-president Samir Al Tubayyeb and Total Refining and Chemicals safety division vice-president Pol Hoorelbeke.

AspenTech executive vice-president for products Manolis Kotzabasakis, Sadara chief executive Ziad Al Labban, ORPIC chief executive Musab Al Mahruqi, CB&I executive vice-president and group president of technology Daniel McCarthy, Shell Global Solutions Downstream vice-president for licensing Suleyman Ozmen, Invensys EMEA president Franco Restelli, Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association secretary general Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, PCMC chief executive GasemSaleh Al Shaikh and others will also be keynote speakers.

Prominent amongst the event's new initiatives is the leadership excellence awards for women (LEWA) - an award programme dedicated to recognising excellence among women in the oil and gas industry with a focus on innovation, leadership, achievement and talent.

It also features a new student programme to foster participation by youngsters in the process engineering sector.

A number of initiatives designed to attract students from the region to attend MEPEC 2013, to meet with industry leaders and to network amongst themselves will be developed and implemented by the student committee.

The event's conference programme was put together by a 28-strong technical committee of experts under the leadership of King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals professor Halim Hamid Redhwi.

While the 2011 event was a huge success attracting over 1,000 delegates and 60 exhibitors, MEPEC 2013 is expected to be a bigger draw with over 1,500 delegates, 150 exhibitors and thousands of trade visitors expected.

The event also has the backing of high-profile sponsors like Saudi Aramco continuing as prime sponsor, with Sabic, Nogaholding, Bapco, GPIC and Banagas, GE, Ma'aden and Sadara as diamond category sponsors.

The platinum sponsors are UOP, Aspentech, DuPont, Invensys, CBI and Tasnee.

Alba, Emerson, KJO, Sipchem and Yasrefare the Gold Sponsors. The silver sponsors are Samref, Sasref, Aveva, Axens, HaldoTopsoe, Jacobs Zate, Linde, Siemens and Yokogawa.

MEPEC 2013 also enjoys the support of leading industry associations, including SAS-AIChE, Sagia, as well as premier regional and global associations like the World Petroleum Council, GPCA and American Institute of Chemical Engineers. – TradeArabia News Service