A HIGH-LEVEL forum to address challenges of the energy sector will be held next month (September 2 and 3) in Bahrain.

The Project Management Institute Arabian Gulf Chapter (PMI AGC), in co-operation with marketing specialists for the energy sector DMS Global, is organising the third edition of PMI AGC/DMS Global Energy Forum Debates at the Gulf Hotel.

“The event aims at tackling problems and finding the best solutions for projects within the energy sector – the main driving force behind the Gulf economy,” said Mohammed Loch, president and CEO of DMS Global.

The forum will serve as a platform where key personalities from the engineering and construction and financial and legislative sectors meet annually in different GCC countries.

“PMI AGC/DMS Global Energy Forum Debates will bring together heads of major projects from both national oil companies (NOCs) and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies to discuss project management challenges the energy industry in the region faces daily,” said Loch.

According to Loch, some of the important questions to be addressed at the forum will include: who is responsible for environmental pollution, who should provide insurance for the project – the owner or the constructor, and is the cost-plus approach better than the lumpsum turnkey?

“With every challenge there is always more than one solution which is why we chose a debate format for this event: we did not want to have a monologue typically present at conferences,” said Abdul Majeed Al Gassab, president PMI AGC Bahrain Region.

“The Project Management Institute is the world’s leading professional authority in the project management field and their technical expertise on general project management issues is impeccable. That is why we have teamed up in support of PMI-AGC,” said Loch.

Commenting on the growth of the forum, Al Gassab said the attendance at the second edition held in Kuwait doubled in comparison with the first in Abu Dhabi.

This year’s edition is expected to feature experienced participants representing project owners, engineering and construction companies as well as service providers.

The variety in the delegate make-up ensures well balanced debates, said the organisers.

The forum will benefit project owners, technology and licensor providers, engineering contractors, construction contractors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, trading companies, banks and investment houses, project management specialists and government and legislation officials.

The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) will be the diamond sponsor for the event. “The event is an opportune moment for Bahrain, which is currently managing a large number of strategically important projects such as the Bapco modernisation programme and the Bapco A-B pipeline,” said Loch.