The Offshore Arabia conference and exhibition concluded today in Dubai after three days of intensive courses and lectures presented by 23 specialists and experts from 13 countries. Topics discussed this year concentrated on the Oil Spill and the Innovative Technology applied to oil spill response.
Members of the organizing committee were keen this year on tackling the international cooperation in terms of crisis management and quick response in order to decrease the negative effect that might arise to the marine life when such a disaster occur.
Mr. Ali Ashkanani, member of the Organizing Committee and Manager of Oil Spill and Emergency Response in Qatar Petroleum said: “the GCC Countries are always keen on coordinating and cooperating with each other when it comes to emergency cases especially in the oil and gas field. There are also a number of organizations located in different parts of the gulf to help in fulfilling this harmony in cooperation such as the Regional Protection of Marine Environment (RPMOI) located in Kuwait. The (RPMOI) is responsible for imposing laws and regulations for all organizations working in the oil and gas field in the GCC, Iraq and Iran. The organization is also responsible for addressing any environmental disaster that may occur in the GCC seas”.
Mr. Ali also said that: “all GCC countries follow the rules and regulations of the (RPMOI) which in return coordinate with the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC) in Kingdom of Bahrain, and then (MEMAC) transfer all the information to all members in order to take precautionary measures to prevent oil spill from reaching the shorelines”.
The GCC countries follow a number of precautionary measurements in order to reduce the negative impacts resulting from oil spills through identifying the risks then develop a contingency plan especially to deal with oil spills and to find qualified personnel and equipment which are necessary for exercises patrol and enforcement of laws and regulations in the world.
Mr. Ali also mentioned that the major challenges that come up is the trouble and obstacles that the people working in this field counter during transportation from one country to the other, which consumes a lot of time and effort especially at the borders and custom departments.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, Qatar Petroleum had signed and agreement with Lamor corporation from Finland worth $8.1 million. The duration of the contract is three years and it indicates providing four of Qatar’s Central Oil and Gas Centers with the most updated tools, equipment, expertise and training in order to be fully prepared in time of crises or emergencies. From their side, Qatar Petroleum shall share the knowledge and experience provided by Lamor with other organizations displayed among GCC.
Moreover, Qatar Petroleum (QP), Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) had respectively received an award of Excellence in Environmental Projects and Products. The American Elastec and Egyptian Badran & Bardan received an award of Excellence in Environmental Technology, and finally Kodit of UK received an Excellence in Environmental Applications.
