Karachi: The first Shell Technology Leadership Event (STLE) concluded in the UAE, marking the brand’s first technology event in the Middle East, Central Asia and Pakistan (MECASTAN) region. The two-day event was held on the 7th and 8th of May at Dubai’s Mina A’Salam Hotel, bringing together leading industry experts to discuss the “Future of Energy Supply” in the region and showcase energy efficient models as well as innovative ways of implementing alternative and renewable power solutions.
Hosted under the theme of “Future of Energy Supply,” the event focused on how emerging technologies can be brought together to achieve efficient energy consumption. Attended by more than 120 delegates representing key Oil, Fleet, Construction, Power, Technology and Industry sectors from across the region including top business leaders from Pakistan such as Naeem Ahmed Malik, COO Agility, Farjad Ahmed, Technical Manager Daewoo and Shehzad Nabi, GM Engro Power, the conference seeks to address the interconnected challenges of economic development, energy and climate change that affect the widespread acceleration and adoption of sustainable development and clean energy.
Inaugurating the event, Amr Adel, General Manager for Shell MECASTAN said, “I am proud that the first Shell Technology Leadership Event is being hosted in the UAE and in this region. As the world’s leading producer of oil and gas, it is critical that this region takes the lead in developing solutions for the future of energy supply as demand rises. Around the world, people are increasingly relocating to urban areas which has resulted in a growing need for energy supply. At the Shell Technology Leadership Event, we want to work with industry leaders and innovative minds to develop solutions that will help manage the world’s future energy needs.”
Reflecting on the significance of this conference for Pakistan’s corporate sector, Omar Sheikh, General Manager Lubricant business and Managing Director of Shell Pakistan Ltd said, “Shell Pakistan has earned the respect and credibility of corporate sector in Pakistan because we work closely with them to help them run their businesses smoothly with our world class lubricant products so they can continue to grow. Businesses are not geographically limited today; most Pakistani businesses have a strong presence in the region especially Middle East. Shell’s Technology Leadership initiative is a step towards a collaborative approach to find better solutions to the changing energy needs of these high-growth Pakistani businesses.”
In addition to Shell executives, the Shell Technology Leadership Event also hosted leading industry experts and government leaders from the region, who delivered insightful workshops covering three main sectors – Power, Cement and Industry (Fleet, Construction, Mining, and Quarry).
Mounir Bouaziz, Shell Vice-President for Commercial/New Business Development – Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, said: “At Shell, innovation and research & development are core to how we create energy solutions for the future and we adopt innovative approaches to help deliver more, cleaner energy and find ways to use energy more efficiently. We want to take forward the region’s vision for the energy industry to a new level, shaping the future through innovation which positively impacts our society, the environment and the energy industry at large.”
Companies routinely monitor the factors that influence their business prospects and try to predict what may lie ahead. Presenting the company’s Technology Leadership credentials, Luca Borgarello, Global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) & Technical Service Manager at Shell Global Commercial, stressed on the importance of sharing knowledge and working with industry organizations in order to address some of the challenges of energy efficiency, emissions legislation and the operating costs control.
Shell’s cutting-edge technology – Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) – is a revolutionary process developed to convert natural gas into products used for transport fuel, lubricants and the raw materials for chemicals and detergents. Shell’s experience includes building Pearl GTL in Qatar which is the world’s largest gas-to-liquids facility.
Speaking about this path-breaking technology, Louis van Eijk, Vice President Pearl GTL Marketing, Shell Qatar said: “Natural gas offers an affordable, available and environmentally acceptable option to power people’s lives today. We have spent over 40 years researching technology to convert natural gas-to-liquid into products used for transport fuel, lubricants and the raw materials for chemicals and detergents. Now with world’s rising demand for more, cleaner energy into the future, we are confident that our innovative GTL technology presented through our product portfolio will help reduce local emissions, thereby contributing to cleaner air and environment.”
Innovating for the future of energy, Shell continues to support initiatives toward new energy production, through the development of cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas and biofuels, while using new technologies and an innovative approach to limit the impact of industrial pursuits on the environment.