The eighth Middle East Refining and Petrochemicals Conference and Exhibition (Petrotech 2012), which begins in Bahrain on Sunday, is expected to attract more than 3,000 delegates, it has been announced.

The event, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, is being held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, on the theme 'Creating Value: Technology, Investment and People'.

More than 90 technical and poster presentations will be delivered during the course of the event where presenters will share successful case studies and innovative solutions for common challenges related to refining and petrochemical technologies, plants of the future and human resources, among others.

The schedule also includes a series of top-level guest speaker sessions which will focus attention on the technical and business challenges - and equally extensive opportunities - the Middle East downstream industry currently faces.

The exhibition will showcase products from more than 100 companies from 20 countries.

These include high-profile participation from the natural resource rich areas of the Gulf. Regional giants including Bapco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Borouge, Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Saudi Aramco, Qatar Petroleum, PetroRabigh, Sadara Chemical Company, Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company, Industrialisation and Energy Services Company and National Industrialisation Company are taking flagship stands.

International service industry majors will also maintain a strong presence at Petrotech 2012, with Baker Hughes, Dow, Foster Wheeler, UOP and Yokogawa occupying significant exhibition space.

The conference will open with a keynote session on Sunday with Petrotech 2012 chairman and Saudi Aramco's chemicals vice-president Abdulaziz Al Judaimi delivering the welcome address.

Other speakers at the event will be Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza, Sabic vice-chairman and chief executive Mohamed Al Mady, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation chief executive Farouk Al Zanki and US author Dr Graeme Codrington.

The event is organised by Arabian Exhibition Management in conjunction with London-based Overseas Exhibition Services.

It is set against a backdrop of ongoing refining and petrochemical expansion projects in the region and has always attracted highly respected individuals and companies from around the world, united in a common drive to exchange knowledge, transfer technology and seize business opportunities.

Arabian Exhibition Management's sales and marketing director Fawzi Al Shehabi said in order to continue to benefit from previous high oil prices, GCC countries were focused on expanding output by adding various new products.

'As a result, greater emphasis is being placed on investing in the downstream oil and gas sector both at home and abroad.'

He said according to Global Investment House, there are 147 upcoming projects in Saudi Arabia alone, worth an estimated $215 billion, with the main bulk destined for petrochemical projects.

Petrotech 2012 represents a timely opportunity for participants to initiate business, and at the same time, serve the needs of the industry as it seeks to progress through strategic collaborations, healthy competition and technological innovations.-TradeArabia News Service