Integration of upstream and downstream activities for increased efficiency was the focus of the Middle East Petrotech 2008 Conference, and Saudi Aramco executives and employees shared the company's ambitious plans and its industry-leading experiences with participants during the four-day event. More than 1,000 people representing 156 companies from 22 countries took part in the conference held recently here and associated exhibition, where the future of the energy industry was laid out on the table for experts to discuss. “We are clearly focused on the downstream as the area of greatest potential for future growth and impact, and indeed, I believe the entire Gulf is set to enter a golden age when it comes to downstream activities,” Saudi Aramco executive vice president of Operations Khalid A. Al-Falih told delegates at the opening session. “The Gulf's strong oil and gas reserve position, its growing supply of fuels and feedstocks, and its vast hydrocarbon infrastructure have positioned it to become a more significant global player further down the value chain with the world's largest investments in refining and petrochemicals,” Al-Falih said. In 2008 and 2009, the Gulf region will add more than 20 million tons per year of chemicals to its production base. And now, he said, the region is expanding its refining base, which will grow by about 3 million barrels per day by 2015, to roughly 10 million bpd. --MORE
