Oman Power and Water Summit highlights key projects in addition to energy policy review and PAEW’s HSE requirements

Held in co-operation with the Public Authority of Electricity and Water (PAEW), the third annual Oman Power and Water Summit organised along with IQPC Middle East and GEC, attracted over 70 local and international expert speakers and panellists.

The Summit was also attended by over 350 local, regional and international utility industry professionals, whose main interest was to discover the latest projects and tenders, benchmark best practice asset management strategies and determine how the energy policy review and PAEW’s HSE policy could affect the way they conduct business in the Sultanate.

The three-day event also had the official support of Ministry of Regional Municipalities & Water Resources (MRMWR), Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER), Electricity Holding Company (EHC), and Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP). His Excellency Dr. Rasheed bin Al Safi Al Huraibi, Chairman of the Tender Board officially inaugurated the exhibition and led the tour as the Chief Guest of the Summit. He was joined by H.E. Ali bin Mohammed al Abri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources and Board Member of PAEW; and H.E. Nasser Khamis Al Jashmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas and Board Member of PAEW.

The Summit’s opening keynote speech was delivered by John Cunneen, Executive Director and Board Member from AER on the subject of ‘a regulatory perspective on Oman’s Energy Policy Review’. This preceded an executive panel discussion to examine the potential impact of the Review within Oman. The panellists included : Omar Al-Wahaibi, CEO, EHC;  Graeme Sims, Executive Director, Regulatory & Supervisory Bureau (RSB) Dubai; Mark Preece, Director of Electricity Networks and HSE, RSB Abu Dhabi;

Ramani Hariharan, Head of Strategy & Communications, GDF SUEZ Middle East, Turkey & Africa and was moderated by: John Cunneen. Questions on the implementation of the new framework, regulation, incentive programmes and potential investment opportunities for the private sector were all evaluated by the panel.

Dynamic modelling of future power system operations was introduced by Matti Rautkivi, GM – Marketing and Business Development at Wärtsilä, and was followed by a live onstage interview with Shankar Krishnamoorthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ Middle East, Turkey & Africa and Mayank Singh, Group Editor, Oman Economic Review and UMS Group of Publications. Following the official exhibition tour and networking break, Ahmed Al Jahdhami, Chief Executive Officer of OPWP provided an industry update on their 7 Year statement and projects outlook.

The three-day event also received the support from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and its ‘Knowledge Partner’ – Knowledge Oman. In addition, the exhibition showcased over 30 key sponsors including: the Platinum Sponsor – Terranex, Gold Sponsors – GDF Suez, Stomo, Utico, Towell and Wärtsilä ; Silver Sponsors – Acwa Power and Malakoff, Associate Sponsors – Abengoa Solar, Oracle Primavera, Oracle Utilities, Haya Water and Oman Cables.

Organised by International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC) and Global Exhibitions and Conferences (GEC) the Oman Power and Water Summit is scheduled until 7 May at the Al Bustan Palace, Muscat.