HE the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada with other dignitaries during the opening of the 3rd Middle East Turbomachinery Symposium (METS - 3) at the Sheraton Doha yesterday.
The energy sector has been tightly linked with turbo-machinery, said HE the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada.
He was delivering the opening address at the 3rd Middle East Turbomachinery Symposium (METS) at the Sheraton Doha yesterday.
Al-Sada pointed out that the entire industrial spectrum was paying increased attention to the role of technology in enhancing highly reliable and more economic and safer operations.
Most power plants, he pointed out used turbines in the production of electricity. Almost 98% of the world’s electricity is generated by gas, steam and hydro turbines.
Out of these, 67% is generated by conversion of coal, oil, gas and nuclear fuels, amounting altogether to one-third of the world’s primary energy.
“With such pivotal importance in the energy industry, one can comfortably say that turbines are at the centre of enabling new energy technologies. Therefore, developing the next generation of gas and steam turbines is paramount to the further development of wide array of industries, ranging from power generation to aviation, and from gas processing to marine transport,” al-Sada said.
At a time of rapidly growing interest in clean energy there is always a place for cutting-edge technological innovation to help develop this sector, particularly in wind energy, which is a fuel-free source of energy, the minister said.
Al-Sada said it was quite pleasing to note how the METS had developed since 2011.
When the METS technical advisory committee was formed, it was made up of six members from Qatar Petroleum. Today, it has expanded to include representatives from regional national oil companies, multinational oil and gas companies and manufacturers of rotating equipment. “This event has now become the perfect industry meeting place for leading specialists from the Middle East and all over the world and the premier forum for identifying issues in the purchase, operation and maintenance of turbo machinery.
“Most importantly, this symposium is a unique opportunity that helps advance education for rotating equipment professionals as well as for engineering students and young professionals, just starting their careers,” he said.
The minister also said METS drew its importance from two significant facts. First, Qatar’s position as home to some of the largest operating equipment trains in the Middle East and the world.
Second, Qatar’s special emphasis and commitment to education, science and technology and research as major pillars of advancement and diversification, a commitment that formed the corner stone of the vision of HH the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
