The importance of collaboration between industry players was highlighted by experts as the second GDA International Conference and Exhibition began at the newly opened Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, Bahrain. 

 

The three-day event, which runs till February 15, is being held under the patronage of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. It focuses on the theme 'Downstream Turning Points - Capitalising on Transformation'.

 

More than 4,000 delegates and subject matter experts are participating in this key event for the downstream sector. Spread over 9,000 sq m of exhibition space, it is hosting 500 companies from across the globe. The event comes at a time when the world’s energy markets are being challenged by energy transition, sustainability, conflicts and price fluctuations.

 

Mohammed Al Shahrani, the Secretary General, Gulf Downstream Association (GDA), gave the opening address, which was followed by a panel discussion on business transformation in the downstream sector.

 

The speakers, who included Yahya Abushal, CEO of Sadara Chemical Company; Leon De Bruyan, President and CEO of Lummus Technology; Afaf Zainalabedien, Deputy Chief Executive Corporation Services of Bapco; and Sultan Albigishi, Senior Vice-President of Projects & Technical for Adnoc Refining, stressed on the importance of partnership, joint investment and issues of sustainability and the challenges it presents the sector.

 

They also highlighted the importance of the adoption of digitalisation, including AI and other data tools. 

 

The session was moderated by Naif Aldandeni, Senior Director of Baker Hughes.

 

The GDA conference and exhibition brings together key players in the GCC including international stakeholders from operators and technology providers to policy makers and academia to the leading event in the region for downstream industries.

 

The Gulf Downstream Association (GDA) was established by its founding companies Saudi Aramco, Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).