GE has established its presence in the region especially in relation to gas flaring reduction. GE Energy currently has more than 325 Jenbacher gas engines installed in 15 countries producing up to 470 megawatts (MW) through capturing associated petroleum gas and using it as feedstock for power generation. The Jenbacher gas engines have also enabled companies to generate electricity and heating on-site sparing the cost of diesel deliveries to remote areas. In addition, the engines provide an excellent way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, resulting from the consumption of diesel fuel. GE's presentation at the Gas Flaring Reduction Day at the four-day Gas Arabia Summit 2011 in Muscat, Oman starting today (Dec. 11) will focus on various operational, economic and environmental benefits of using Jenbacher gas engines for generating power through utilizing gas flare. In an interview earlier with the Energy Exchange to discuss Gas Flaring in the Middle East and how to successfully mitigate the catastrophic environmental and economic impact of wasting this value natural resource, Sami Kamel, General Manager, Regional Marketing, Middle East and Africa for GE, said: “GE Energy has a long track record in working with governments and national and international oil and gas companies on gas flaring reduction. We have executed several projects and established intimate knowledge of this high-specialty sector and gained solid experience in identifying, structuring and developing power generation projects based on gas flaring reduction.” The Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership estimates that at least 150 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas is flared or wasted every year out of which, the Middle East and North Africa account for 50 bcm with obvious environmental consequences. According to satellite data released by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) in August 2009, there has been a significant decline in gas flaring in the Middle East from countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Syria and the UAE.
