More than 200 companies from across the region are taking part in the fourth Middle East Process Engineering Conference & Exhibition (Mepec) 2017, which opened in Bahrain on Monday (October 9).

Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Mepec is organised by the Middle East Energy Events in collaboration with the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga).

HRH Prime Minister deputised Deputy Premier Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa to open the event. He conveyed greetings from HRH the Prime Minister to the event organisers, as well as his appreciation of the efforts they are exerting to ensure its success and prove anew the kingdom’s progress in the exhibitions and conferences industry, a BNA report said.

Minister of Oil Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and other senior government officials and top executives of leading companies including Sabic, Saudi Aramco, Shell, Bapco and Tasnee were present at the inauguration.

Shaikh Ali affirmed the Prime Minister’s unwavering support for the exhibitions and conferences industry, given its role in boosting the kingdom’s economic status.

The deputy premier asserted that Mepec, which has been patronised and supported by HRH Premier ever since it first began in 2011, has become a major international platform where knowledge, opinions and expertise in the fields of oil and gas are exchanged among experts and specialists from many national, regional and world oil companies.

Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa toured the exhibition, and expressed admiration for the showcased products which are related to latest products in the oil, gas and petrochemicals sector.

He lauded the outstanding organisation of the exhibition, stressing that its distinguished status has attracted mega world and regional companies to it.

The deputy premier affirmed that the oil industries sector is making quantum leaps thanks to the constant support of the leadership.

He extended sincere thanks and appreciation to Mepec 2017 organisers and participants, wishing them further success.

Themed "Sustainable Growth through Process Innovation & Downstream Integration", Mepec is expected to draw more than 5,000 visitors representing 250 companies and institutions from 35 countries.

With an exciting line-up of industry initiatives and thought-provoking content, industry leaders and participating process engineers will engage in technical conversations over the next two days and find solutions to current industry challenges.

Mepec’s technical sessions will feature four main topics - Process Design and Development, Process Excellence, Sustainability and Downstream Integration for Value Creation.

The programme focuses on key priorities for the region, whilst bringing synergy and collaboration between industries, said the event organisers.

There will be 48 technical presentations delivered by leading regional and international key players including Sabic, Saudi Aramco, Shell, Bapco, Tasnee, Honeywell, Sadara Chemical Company, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Rexa Inc, AspenTech and ExxonMobil Chemical at the event.

One of the key highlights of the Mepec will be the workshops facilitated by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Academy.

The workshops titled ‘The Keys to Managing a Capital Project Successfully’ and ‘Spreadsheet Problem-Solving for Chemical Engineers’ will run concurrently from 9am to 5pm on October 10 and 11.

Special emphasis will be placed on detail planning, monitoring and controlling a capital project, and the use of quantitative risk analysis as the basis of cost and schedule contingency.

The attendees will get to join chemical engineer and Excel expert David Clough and learn tips and techniques unknown to many engineers that will help solve chemical engineering problems faster and accurately, said the organisers.

Additionally, Mepec aims to bring together industry leaders, students and professionals alike for a high- impact scientific exchange during the iPoster sessions.

On all the three days, there will be 42 digital posters displayed, providing an interactive platform for authors and visitors to engage and transfer knowledge.

Also a not-to-be-missed event is the second AIChE Middle East Regional Chem-E-Car Competition, the only competition of its kind in the region, which challenges undergraduate students to develop and construct a car powered by a chemical or a biochemical energy source, which will safely transport a specified weight over a given distance and then stop. Five universities from the region will compete for the top spot on October 10.

ChemME another key initiative of Mepec gives graduates, undergraduates and young professionals in the region a chance to learn from leaders in their industry, solve design challenges, attend technical debates and join in a plant tour of Bapco.

Mepec’s ICZ - Innovation & Commercialisation Zone gives start-ups a platform to showcase their creative solution, proof of concept designs and working prototypes to the region’s premier audience of process engineers.

The innovation zone offers a lively, interactive experience to all participants demonstrating solutions, applications, and technologies on specific industry challenges.

With over 27 exhibitors coming from countries including Portugal, Saudi Arabia and UAE, the 2017 Innovation and Commercialisation Zone is restricted to new companies with limited revenues and a promising idea, said the organisers.

Because of this, the ICZ initiative forms a unique ecosystem for the celebration of the cutting-edge. With this feature, visitors across all three days of the Mepec will have the opportunity to see potentially ‘the next big thing’ before it hits the mainstream.

A major attraction at the event is Lewas (The Leadership Excellence for Women Awards), an award programme dedicated to recognising professional excellence in women from the oil and gas industry.

Women engineers are among some of the most distinguished contributors to the engineering community. The award programme honours achievements in academics, corporate excellence, women in achievement and a male corporate champion who’s made a significant contribution in promoting women diversity in the workplace.

This year saw a remarkable increase in nominations across every category. With over 200 applications across seven categories, the judging panel had a daunting task of deciding on the final shortlist given the high calibre of achievements, said the organisers.

For the first time, Lewas will present its 'Illuminating Your Path Workshop' on October 10 and the Women Symposium the next day where women academics, engineers and technical experts will get to share their challenges and engage in an open dialogue that addresses issues on gender gap, corporate excellence and woman empowerment.

Apart from Lewas, two other co-located events will take place alongside Mepec for the very first time. These are The Middle East Fine and Specialty Chemicals Conference and Exhibition and the Middle East Process Safety Conference.

Combining these four shows makes for an un-missable, world-class networking event for visitors, delegates, investors, and government related organisations, said the organisers.

Over 103 expert speakers and moderators, high-level dignitaries, CEOs and process-engineering professionals are expected to attend the event, they added.-TradeArabia News Service