ID :
342146
Mon, 09/22/2014 - 21:34
Auther :

Al-Sada Inaugurates SPE MEHSE Conference and Exhibition

Doha, September 22 (QNA) - HE Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Petroleum (QP), formally inaugurated today the SPE Middle East Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainable Development Conference & Exhibition (MEHSE), a major industry event that is supported by QP as the host organization. The inauguration ceremony was attended by many senior QP officials, the top management of oil & gas companies operating in Qatar, as well as by the conference delegates consisting of HSE experts and industry professionals from all over the Middle East region. Held under the patronage of HE Dr. Al-Sada, MEHSE 2014 focuses on a comprehensive range of topics related to health, safety and environmental issues, social responsibility and sustainable development. Organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the three-day event is scheduled until Wednesday at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). Addressing the participants, HE Dr Al-Sada said: "It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the opening of the '2014 Society of Petroleum Engineers Middle East Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development Conference and Exhibition'. We are very proud to host such a prestigious event, as it returns to Doha .. the place from which it started, back in 2008. This event provides a valuable opportunity for industry professionals to engage in constructive dialogue on innovations and advanced solutions, whilst enabling a platform for business networking and knowledge sharing, HE the Minister said. "This years theme captures what the industry needs to do in the face of evolving global HSE trends, and how to overcome the technical challenges at present. It is a theme that is brought to the front by the changing balance of priorities across a wide spectrum of global industries, foremost of which is oil and gas. Therefore, the question remains: How can we optimise our business performance and accommodate technological advances, yet at the same time manage to reduce the risks associated with our industry; protect the people -both our workers and the communities within which we operate; and preserve the local, regional, and global environment. "As petroleum engineers and experts in various aspects of this industry, I am sure you all know how important that is. Our industry is taking the search for new hydrocarbons into more intricate areas, hence creating an unprecedented need for higher levels of planning and performance. There is no doubt that our success is contingent upon our ability to integrate technological advances with safety, risk management, and environmental protection. "We, in the State of Qatar, are very much aware of the challenges we have to meet as we manage the rapid growth of not just our industry, but also our national economy. We are undertaking a number of complex mega projects as well as an important redevelopment of the existing Bul Hanine, Dukhan, and al-Shaheen oil fields. Such projects place the energy sector at the heart of our country's development, and direct its potential towards achieving our National Vision and Development Strategy, which are guided by the vision and leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani." HE the Minister of Energy and Industry reiterated that the strategic importance of Qatar's oil and gas sector has been the driving force behind many initiatives designed to maintain a robust and safe industry ... An industry that implements and promotes the strictest adherence to the highest international safety regulations and standards, adding "Our objective is the safety of people and the environment through a safety culture that constitutes the backbone of all our operations - be they offshore, onshore, upstream, or downstream". HE al-Sada said that Qatar's commitment in this endeavour has been demonstrated on numerous occasions. "It was just last week, that I had the honour to join Oryx GTL in a celebration to mark 3 years with a Total Recordable Injury Rate of ZERO, and almost 20 million hours without a lost time incident. This came on the heels of other similar achievements, including Pearl GTL's 77 million hours without a Lost Time Incident, the Qatargas Jetty Boil-off Gas Recovery Projects15 million man-hours without an LTI, and Qatar Petroleum's 17 million man-hours without LTI on its Gas Sweetening Facilities project. "But to top them all, I must not forget to mention Barzan project's historic achievement of 100 million man-hours without a lost time incident. This was a moment to remember for RasGas and the entire Energy and Industry sector in the State of Qatar as it involved a melting pot of more than 30 thousand workers from 45 countries, with various languages and diverse cultural backgrounds." HE Al-Sada said "the recognized successes of Qatar's oil and gas industry underline safety as a basic component and a valuable characteristic of our business. It is so much so that our industry holds an annual Health, Safety and Environment Excellence and Innovation Awards in recognition of the sector's performance and contributions. Such an unwavering commitment by both the State and the Sector set the dynamics for the development of the HSE discipline ... and it also ensures that we meet the health, safety and environmental demands of today, while creating sustainable conditions for tomorrow". HE the Minister of Energy and Industry called upon the participants to help promote and develop a deep-rooted safety culture and a safe working environment for all ... and to use an important platform like this conference to heighten preparedness for the unexpected, and to be ready to protect "the People, Environment, Assets, and Reputation". It is admirable that an SPE Regional University Student Programme is being held in conjunction with this conference, HE Al-Sada said, adding that it is very encouraging to note the objectives of such a programme, foremost of which is developing local talent and encouraging young Qatari students to pursue careers in the energy industry. QP has a strong presence in MEHSE 2014 in line with its commitment to effectively address all HSE issues related to its operations as well as to continuously improve the sustainability performance of Qatar's oil and gas industry. Many QP officials, led by Saif Saed Al-Naimi, Conference Chairman and Director of QP's HSE Regulations & Enforcement Directorate, played a key role in the development of the event's conference programme. Speakers at the event will discuss an extensive range of topics, including oil spill management, effective safety programs, climate change, water conservation and occupational health management. In addition to its contribution in the conference, QP is also taking part in the exhibition that is being held on the sidelines of the conference. The QP stand highlights the corporation's comprehensive operations, including the activities of its Industrial Cities Directorate and the training programs of the Ras Laffan Emergency & Safety College (RLESC). (END)

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