Minister: MEOS 2011 a vote of confidence for Bahrain

The Middle East Oil Show (MEOS) 2011 gave a thumbs up to Bahrain with the heavy participation that one saw at the three-day exposition, said the minister of Energy. The show was a vote-of-confidence in Bahrain and the government of Bahrain,Dr Abdul-Hussain Ali Mirza, Minister for Energy told the Bahrain News Agency. “This year’s show was perhaps the most successful, being the largest in size, in the number of papers discussed, the seminars, the projects and the innovations that it brought in,” said the minister. MEOS 2011 was the first show to which participation was sought from schools and universities and workshops were also conducted, In addition lady engineers in the hydrocarbons sector were also seen participating and there were wokshop sessions held for them, added Dr Mirza. Among the organisations offering students a chance to be a part of the hydrocarbon world was the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) called on students interested in geoscience at all levels – higher school level to professionals – to join the team. EAGE student chapters provide a platform for geoscience students to meet,exchange ideas and initiate activities supported by the association. The association offers scholarships and awards to its student members, said a representative of the association at their stand. Turning to the promotion of geoscience among the youth and the number of organisations wanting to recruit fresh or experienced staff, the minister said the world of oil and gas was going through a new phase. “The sector,” he said, “is very active. Taking Bahrain as an example, I can say that the creation of the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) is one step in the rejuvenation of the sector in the country.” The creation of Tatweer – formed as a result of the amalgamation of Mubadala Development Company, Occidental Petroleum Corporation and Noga Holding, the expansion seen in liquefied natural gas sector, the expansion in the GPIC to name only a few has resulted in the need for more hands on board, he said. “Hydrocarbon industry is a playhouse of technology and this in turn is attracting youth who earlier opted for banking and finance and other occupations,” the minister said. The right people with matching aptitude and quality need to be infused into the industry, said Dr Mirza. Bahrain oil sector was not the only one looking for youth. Singapore was aggressively promoting its oil and gas industry with career offers, learnt BNA. MEOS also proved to the one expo where national companies from Africa and other countries, with blocks to explore were exhibiting their potential,said the minister. Sudapet, Sudan’s petroleum organisation was among the key players here. A representative told the agency that they were in the process of finalising deals, but considering the sensitiveness of such deals the partners could not be divulged. If the countries were there with the blocks for exploration, then so were the service giants such as Schlumberger, the finance companies and the legal entities all ready to make MEOS 2011 and must remember for those who signed the deals, said Dr Mirza. For Bahrain, he said, this was an opportunity to see and show the potential. The international companies brought in new technologies and the latest in their research and development and the local companies offered their potential to tap, he said.