MEPEC 2024 will bring together bright minds of the industry to share their thoughts, insights, and pioneering solutions to the most pressing industrial challenges of our time

The Middle East Process Engineering Conference and Exhibition (MEPEC) will make its debut in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the Kingdom's pivotal role as a global hub for advancing process engineering and sustainable energy solutions.

The Kingdom’s hosting of the event underscores its commitment to driving innovation, fostering knowledge exchange, and shaping a greener, more resilient energy landscape on an international stage.

MEPEC is considered the premier gathering for process engineering professionals in the Middle East.

This is the 6th edition of the event and will be held from May 6-8, 2024 at the Dhahran Expo. The last edition was held in 2019 in Bahrain.

MEPEC 2024 will feature an exhibition space spanning 10,000 sq m, with more than 150 exhibitors and over 200 speakers providing a dynamic environment for industry professionals to connect, network, and explore the field’s latest technologies and innovations.

The event is set to attract an estimated 5,000 attendees over three action-packed days, fostering invaluable connections and knowledge-sharing among a diverse and influential audience. More than 50 countries will be represented at the event.

Organised by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), this year’s theme, ‘Digitalizing Process Engineering for a Sustainable Future’ will see the conference bring together some of the brightest minds of the industry to share their thoughts, insights, and pioneering solutions to the most pressing industrial challenges of our time.

Major discussions will describe how the manufacturing process industry is leveraging digitalisation to optimise operations, improve efficiency and reduce emissions to meet sustainability targets.

Commenting on the event, Wail Al Jaafari, Executive Vice-President, Technical Services at Aramco, and Advisory Committee Chairman of MEPEC 2024, says: "MEPEC has consistently played a key role in fostering collaboration and facilitating knowledge transfer among industry experts. And I look forward to another successful edition, where technical pioneers will engage and collaborate to address critical challenges, showcase technological advancements, and inspire sustainability and digitalisation in the field of process engineering."

THREE DAYS PACKED WITH KEY DISCUSSIONS

MEPEC is known for its industry-leading content, featuring eminent speakers, insightful panel discussions, technical sessions, and interactive workshops.

The conference will see three days of intense and important educational sessions enhanced by productive discussions.

The event will be set in motion by key keynote speeches by Aramco officials on all three days.

Walid Al Naeem Vice President & Chief Engineer, Dr Khalid Al-Qahtani Senior Vice President, Engineering Services, and Dr Ali Abdullah Al-Meshari Senior Vice President, Technology Oversight and Coordination, will provide invaluable insights into Aramco's strategic vision and its commitment to driving sustainable progress on a global scale.

On Day 1, Elise Nowee President, Shell Catalysts and Technologies will take the stage on the first day to unveil the company's trajectory towards its sustainability goals, underlining the company's core beliefs and its revamped energy transition strategy.

The session will offer a nuanced understanding of the region's unique challenges and opportunities as it navigates the energy transition while remaining steadfast in its commitment to driving energy security.

PROCESS EXCELLENCE

This will be followed by a strategic panel discussion titled, 'Role of Process Excellence in Driving Sustainability'.

Sultan Albigishi, Acting CEO of Adnoc Refining and Ebubekir Koyuncu, CEO of Air Products Qudra, will talk about ways to leverage the power of process excellence to cope with the upcoming storm of global climate risks.

The timely discussion is set against a backdrop of mounting climate-related challenges and as organisations confront the urgency of reducing their carbon footprint and enhancing environmental stewardship.

Day 2 starts with a discussion that will weigh heavily at the event. It will be about how the energy sector navigates the energy transition.

Leon de Bruyn's, President and CEO, Lummus Technology, will talk about, 'A Balancing Act: Current and Future Realities in the Energy Transition Through Process Technologies and Innovation'.

The intersection of digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and energy transition presents a compelling frontier for innovation.

What also is crucial for success is connecting individuals and organisations possessing diverse yet complementary capabilities and talents, thereby catalyzing transformative change in the energy sector.

The strategic panel on 'Accelerating the Energy Transition with Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence' will look at the best use cases in the field and how to connect with the right capabilities and talent.

Some key Ideas will be shared by Tim McMinn Vice-President Process Engineering and Products, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company (EMTEC), Bart Boesmans Chief Technology Officer, ACWA Power, and Dave Parillo Vice President of R&D, Dow Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure R&D in this discussin.

On the final day of the event, industry leaders, such as Dr Rajesh Gattupalli, Vice-President - Energy and Sustainability, Solutions (ESS), Honeywell UOP, Menahi Al Utaibi Vice-President of Manufacturing, Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery Company (SASREF), and Mariano Delpozo, Vice-President, Engineering and Technical Services, SATORP, will take the stage to explore the hydrocarbon plant of the future.

They will examine what the next generation of refineries and chemical plants look like, what they produce, where will they be, in addition to how they will decarbonise.

The dialogue will attempt to unravel the blueprint for the future, offering insights into the transformative technologies, processes, and products that will characterise the next wave of hydrocarbon plants.

MEPEC 2024 will also feature nearly a hundred informative technical presentations, on a wide range of topics in process excellence, new energies, decarbonisation and energy transition, and digitalisation.

In addition to the thought-provoking sessions, the exhibition will provide a platform for leading companies, technology providers, and service providers to showcase their cutting-edge products, solutions, and services.

The event is backed and trusted by key brands in the industry. These include Aramco (Exclusive Host); satrop, Sasref, S-Chem (Platinum Sponsors); Honeywell, luberef, slb, Yasref (Gold Sponsors); Atlas, Axens, CLG and ART Hydroprocessing, EnergyTech, naizak, NITI, Shell, Grace (Silver Sponsors); and ASTM International (Standards Partner).

Other supporting organisations include AACE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chemical Research and Innovation Society, Gas Processors Association - GCC Chapter, Gulf Downstream Association, Project Management Institute - KSA, Society of Petroleum Engineers - KSA Section, World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), WPC Energy

OGN energy magazine of Bahrain’s Al Hilal Group is the Official Regional Publication for MEPEC 2024.

By Abdulaziz Khattak