Two senior officials have joined a list of distinguished experts who will address the annual Saudi Water & Power Forum (SWPF) taking place this October in Jeddah. 

Dr Hashim A Yamani, president of the newly established King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), will give delegates an insight into the transformation of the energy sector and Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy for sustainable growth during a keynote presentation at the SWPF inauguration ceremony on October 3.

KA-CARE has the mandate to tackle the growing energy demands of the kingdom. Dr Yamani is a former minister of commerce and industry in Saudi Arabia.

Dr Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, president of the Arab Water Council and also the honorary president of the World Water Council, will be looking at Saudi power and water in a regional context as the forum focuses on the policies, projects and projects determining the future of the industry.

Dr Abu-Zeid, a former minister of water resources and irrigation in Egypt, is also a member of the UN Advisory Board on Water Supply and Sanitation and former president of International Water Resources Association (IWRA).

Other key speakers joining the line-up include:
* Prince Khalid Bin Faisal Bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Makkah Region,
* Abdullah Al-Hussayen, Minister of Water & Electricity 
* Prince Dr Turki bin Saud bin Mohammad Al Saud, vice president, KACST
* Fehied Fahad AlShareef, governor, SWCC
* Loay Al-Musallam, CEO, National Water Company
* Steve Bolze, president and CEO, Power & Water, GE
* Paddy Padmanathan, president and CEO, ACWA Power International

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from, meet and network with these industry experts at the many and varied functions taking place around the forum agenda.

The extensive programme of social events includes the exhibition opening tour and inauguration ceremony, the Marafiq and GE Oil & Gas corporate luncheons, the new networking roundtable discussions and the exclusive Gala Dinner featuring the prestigious SWPF Awards Ceremony hosted by ACWA Power International.

Nominations for the SWPF awards, including the SWPF Award for Innovation and the Marafiq Award for Sustainability have now closed and a shortlist of nominees is now being compiled.  A panel of leading industry experts will choose the recipient of each award and the winners will be announced at the SWPF 2010 Award Gala Dinner on October 3. 

The SWPF exhibition is now sold out three months in advance of the event. 

The popularity of SWPF has grown year on year since the inaugural event in 2005, with last year’s statistics revealing more than a 100 per cent rise in participation from the previous year, said the statement.

Visitor registration has now opened and due to high demand the organisers are encouraging visitors and delegates to register in advance. 

SWPF is organised by the CWC Group and the Bushnak Academy.  – TradeArabia News Service