The World Refining Association today announced Middle East Chemical Week (MECW) will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in the U.A.E from 16-19 October, 2011.

The four-day conference and exhibition, dedicated to the petrochemical and fertilizer industry, will bring together leading players in the sector to address how the Middle East region can improve its competitive position in the global market.

Over four days, Abu Dhabi will play host to governments, petrochemical and fertilizer producers, EPC contractors, technology providers, consultants, investors, and converters looking to invest in the GCC.

The event will feature two independent conferences, Petchem Arabia (6th edition) and The Middle East Fertilizer Symposium (4th edition), which will run parallel to each other.

MECW’s 2010 edition attracted 239 individual participants, 113 companies, 29 countries, 26 speakers and 19 sponsors and exhibitors. The event brought together key personalities from companies and bodies, such as the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Sabic, Saudi Aramco, Pic, Fertil, Lanxess, Tasnee, Qp, Omifco, Alexfert, Total Petrochemicals and many more.

Dominica Andrews, Project Director, World Refining Association, said: "In 2010, Middle East Chemical Week proved beneficial to all who attended. This year, diversification, feedstock alternatives, operational excellence and supply chain optimization will dominate the conference’s discussions. We want to give participants the opportunity to understand how different sectors are tackling common issues such as developing feedstock alternatives, improving energy efficiency, turning supply chain management into a competitive advantage and improving production margins."

Prior to Petchem Arabia’s commencement, a pre-conference focus day will have industry experts explore the challenges and opportunities of building an environmentally friendly downstream petrochemical industry in the GCC, given the current growth in the region’s market.

Day one of the Petchem conference will provide a comprehensive analysis of the global petrochemicals market. Distinguished speakers will explain how the strategic location of the Middle East provides a unique opportunity to capitalize on lower costs and maximize production. A panel discussion will conclude the first day of the conference by highlighting the trend of utilizing naphtha instead of ethane, and the investment opportunities and competitive advantage the Middle East has compared to the rest of the world in petrochemical production.

The prime focus of day two is supply chain optimization. The advantages and disadvantages of in-house versus outsourcing options will be highlighted and speakers will demonstrate how use of efficient logistics and innovative technologies can lowers costs and raise margins. There is a trend of increasing the scale of crackers in the Middle East’s petrochemical industry to achieve economies of scales. Day two will end with a debate on whether the size of crackers can either maximize or inhibit profitability.

Day three will be the Catalyst Innovation Day, with technical staff and experts from petrochemical companies demonstrating the various reactions of catalysts and how to recycle the substances as well.

The Fertilizer Symposium will provide a holistic view of the fertilizer industry in the Middle East. A gasification innovation workshop will be held the day before the symposium commences to provide the latest gasification solutions and also explore feedstock options to take advantage of growth opportunities.

Day one of the symposium will see industry professionals explore how biofuels, biochemicals, natural gas, government regulation and other factors affect fertilizer production. In addition, a panel will discuss how the competitiveness of fertilizer producers will be affected in relation to organic and chemical fertilizers and the political landscape of the Middle East Region.

The second day of the conference will have speakers demonstrate how to improve productivity and efficiency in fertilizer production. They will highlight how new technologies in fertilizer plants can reduce energy consumption, improve product quality and maximize profits. Furthermore, fertilizer producers will discuss the challenges facing them and ways to improve the sector as a whole.

Similar to Petchem Arabia, the Fertilizer Symposium has a post-symposium catalyst innovation day. The technical staff of fertilizer companies can see how various catalysts can be used to improve product quality and meet environmental demands.

Key petrochemical and fertilizer companies that have already confirmed their participation include: Borouge, Fertil, Saudi Aramco, Total Petrochemicals, Tasnee, Fauji Fertilizer Company, Sipchem, MEGlobal, Adfert, Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals, PIC, Basell International, Reliance, and Oman India Fertilizer Company, among others.

 

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