Middle East Electricity 2011 opens today in Dubai

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, accompanied by HE Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, today opened Middle East Electricity 2011.

The show, which is the region’s largest trade show for the power and energy sector, hosted the global launch of an important new integrated water extraction and distribution solution from British firm Lister Petter.

The significant savings in terms of cost and time are achieved through enabling a single shaft to be used for the exploration, testing and pumping phases of the process. Lister Petter’s technology enables a single bore to be sealed off in various sections, preventing contamination of lower aquifers, which is a problem commonly associated with conventional methods.

With this new technology, the practice of boring four or five holes before potable water is found becomes unnecessary. Through the more efficient mapping of aquifers, it also provides better water management and reduces the risk of upper aquifers being exhausted.

For bore holes as deep as 400 metres, as each aquifer is reached, the water is tested, the aquifer resealed and the drilling allowed to continue. Conventional methods of drilling require a new hole to be drilled each time in order to prevent cross contamination.

 “This holds huge implications for a range of organisations that rely on underground water for a variety of applications, from drinking water through to a vast array of commercial applications,” said Bob Bell, Director, Lister Petter Group.

“Already, we have had intense interest from companies across the Middle East and North Africa, ranging from those involved in humanitarian aid, agricultural organisations who need water for irrigation of crops and numerous other commercial requirements, because of the spiraling energy costs and water shortages widely recognised across the region,” he said.

Now in its 36^th year, Middle East Electricity 2011 comes at a time when the UAE is expecting primary energy demand to increase by 71% by 2019. Across the Gulf, Kuwait also plans to double power capacity to 20,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020 and Saudi Arabia’s power consumption is set to rise 57% to 65,000 MW by 2018.

“This is a significant breakthrough for many countries within the MENA region that suffer from water shortages. Indeed compared with the sustainability and cost of traditional desalination units, makes a compelling business and environmental case for new technology like this,” said Anita Mathews, Exhibition Director, Middle East Electricity 2011.

The event organiser, IIR Middle East, is expecting a trade visitor attendance of over 50,000 and has confirmed that all available exhibition space has been sold. In total over 1,000 exhibitors from 58 countries covering 45,000 square metres of exhibition space are participating this year.

Other features of this year’s event include the inaugural Leaders’ Forum and Lighting at Middle East Electricity. 

Middle East Electricity is the region’s largest trade show for the power and energy sector. The event is regularly rated by exhibitors and visitors as the leading event of its kind anywhere in the world. The main focuses include power generation, transmission and distribution; commercial, industrial and residential lighting; water; new and renewable energy; and nuclear energy.

For more details, visit www.middleeastelectricity.com.