News

Key points

•    Maintenance plays a vital role in ensuring safe and efficient operation of the equipment in the oil and gas sector

•    Investment in the training of cadres working in the maintenance sector a top priority of the National Oil and Gas Authority

•    Ensure proper maintenance practices to preserve the use of natural resources at sustainable levels to serve the interests of future generations



His Excellency Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and Minister in Charge of Oil and Gas Affairs inaugurated on Sunday evening, December 2, 2012 the Second Middle East Maintenance Conference and Exhibition (MaintCon 2012) at the Gulf International Convention Centre, Gulf Hotel. The conference was attended by more than 800 participants - from senior executives to experts, consultants, specialists, engineers and other professionals as well as representatives of local and regional companies and global leaders in the field of maintenance.



The minister stressed in his opening speech the vital role played by maintenance in ensuring safe operations, and higher efficiency of the equipment and infrastructure in the oil and gas sector besides ensuring reliability and compliance with appropriate environmental regulations and safety standards.



H.E. Shaikh Ahmed pointed out the strategic dimension where the Arabian Gulf, the home to the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, was fast becoming a major refining hub with several refineries and expansions being anticipated over the next few years.



The Minister also hailed the scientific progress in the field of maintenance over the past few decades. This he said, would bring about a positive boom in this sector in the various oil and gas industry facilities, allowing technology to take over tasks previously carried out by humans. However, proactive, preventive and predictive maintenance applications still require a new generation of highly trained and skilled professionals. He pointed out that rehabilitation of cadres working in the servicing sector was one of the key priorities of the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA). In an effort to attain the highly specialized skills necessary to operate technologically advanced equipment, NOGA encourages the oil industry in Bahrain to invest heavily in training its maintenance staff to ensure that the energy sector in Bahrain retains its role as a provider of wealth for the national economy.



The minister said that we need to constantly remember that the oil and gas industry may have devastating implications for environmental in the event of error, but thanks to proper maintenance and good precautionary safety procedures, such instances can be curtailed if not eradicated.



Healthy practices in maintenance operations also ensures that the exploitation of our natural resources is kept at manageable and sustainable levels so that our future generations will continue to benefit from the region’s natural resources. The Minister praised the diligent effort of maintenance workers in the oil and gas sector, which contributes to enhance the strength and competitiveness of this vital sector, in addition to dedicating to the environmental aspects.



Also speaking at the opening session was Mr. Ahmed AlSa’adi, Vice President of Gas Operations at Saudi Aramco, and Dr. Jouo R. B. Lafraia  Excellence General Manager Corporate Refining Area of Petrobras in Brazil, Mr. Abdul Majeed Al Gassab President of the Bahrain Society of Engineers, and Mr. Nezar Al Shammsi, Chairman of Maincon2012.



Later, the minister inaugurated the exhibition which showcased the products and services of more than 40 companies specializing in oil and gas, petrochemicals and maintenance services support. Among them companies like Saudi Aramco, Flowserve a US company specializing in maintenance, Kuwait Oil Company, ADNOC, Qatar Petroleum, Petroleum Development Oman, Zamil Steel, in addition to the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and the Bahrain National Gas Company (Banagas), which offered the latest advanced technologies in the field of maintenance.



The MaintCon 2012 was organized by Gulf Society of Maintenance Professionals (GSMP) in cooperation with Bahrain Society of Engineers, and the support of the Global Forum on Maintenance and Asset Management and in coordination with NOGA.