Top regional oil companies, tank terminal operators, traders, financiers and regulators are confirmed to speak at StocExpo Middle East Africa, the region’s leading exhibition and conference to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre on April 26 and 27.
 
The Middle East and African tank storage sector is developing at a rapid rate, thanks to continued large scale investment, with the UAE alone set to double its storage capacity in the next few years.
 
The event is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy, alongside many oil majors, ports, terminals and institutions including Enoc, Fujairah Oil Terminal, GPS Chemoil, Gulf Refining Co, Gulf Petrochem, Horizon Terminals, Siddco, Socar Aurora and Star Energy OilTanking.

Attendees will have the opportunity to visit an exhibition with more than 100 international and local suppliers showcasing the latest equipment and state-of-the-art technologies. Exhibitors will include CTS Middle East, Protego, Emco Wheaton, Loadtec Engineered Systems, Mascoat, and Kanon Loading Equipment to name just a few. These span the entire supply chain, from tank design, construction and maintenance, through to innovations in metering and measuring, pumps and valves, automation and loading equipment and inspection and certification services.

At the core of this year’s event will also be a two-day conference, addressing the most significant trends, challenges and opportunities facing the tank storage industry in the Middle East and Africa.

Topics for the conference sessions will include growth and expansion opportunities across the Middle East, financing, oil price trends and their impact, improving safety, efficiency and resilience, Fujairah's role as a trading hub and many others.
 
Among the industry leaders taking part will be:
• Ghassan Alakwaa, analyst, energy research, Apicorp;
• Kamel Al-Harami, independent oil analyst and former president, Kuwait Petroleum International;
• Tushar Bansal, director, Ivy Global Energy Pte;
• Bora Bariman, head of energy and marine, corporate and institutional banking group, National Bank of Fujairah;
• Edward Bell, commodity analyst, Emirates NBD Bank;
* Paul Collins, global leader for productivity optimisation
• Aydin Erdmir, vice-president, Toros Terminal;
• Waddah Ghanem, executive director, EHSSQ & Corporate Affairs, Enoc;
• Patrick Kulsen, managing director, PJK International;
• Capt. Tamer Masoud, harbour master, Port of Fujairah;
• Zaid Mohammad, general manager, Beydal Petroleum;
• Erwin Mortelmans, commercial director, Port of Duqm;
• Paul Young, head of energy products, Dubai Mercantile Exchange

Nick Powell, StocExpo and Tank Storage Portfolio event director, said: “One look at this year’s programme shows how serious we are about delivering world-class content, finely tailored to global and local needs and the interests of terminal operators in the region. Delegates can expect a stellar mix of regional, international and highly technical content, delivered by world authorities.”

Attendees will also be able to attend a variety of networking events which will be a chance to share experiences with peers, building new professional relationships and strengthening existing ones. In addition to the Networking Lounge at the heart of the show floor, there will also be official exhibition networking reception on the first evening of the event. - TradeArabia News Service