Abu Dhabi, 22nd April 2015: 11th Middle East Energy Security Summit, commenced yesterday at the Le Royal Meridian Hotel,  Abu Dhabi - UAE.

In today's dynamic global scenario of threats to critical infrastructure, the security operations has to deal with everyday challenges to conform to ever changing geo-political, social and security demands. The risk of attack to the region's energy assets and infrastructure is prevalent now more than ever, with security spending in the energy sector expected to be more than double over the next 4 years. Understanding the regional conflicts and political crisis, 11th Middle East Energy Security (MEESEC) Forum will look into how the government and industry will safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure operational continuity.

Through policies and regulations, government is striving to ensure energy efficiency and security as a prime focus for the future. According to Faisal Rashid, Director, Demand Side Management - Supreme Council of Energy, UAE, " The supply side and demand side strategies are meant primarily to address energy security and sustainability. We believe that the planned reduction in share of fossil fuels for power generation, as well as the expected savings on demand coming from our strategy will strongly address energy security requirements.."

Faisal Rashid, Director, Demand Side Management - Supreme Council of Energy,  inaugurated the conference as a Keynote Speaker,  where he will elaborate on the geopolitics of energy and Gulf's development future, with focus on prospects for balancing demand and supply. An exclusive keynote presentation was conducted by Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes , Vice President - European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF), who emphasized on the importance of transition towards an energy system based on renewables

One of the highlight at the event was the Government Panel, which focused on comparing and contrasting the security approaches across GCC. Along with Faisal Rashid and Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes, this panel discussion was joined by Mohamed Nagib Omara , Technical Advisor to the President of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation & Head of Strategy, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corp.(Kahramaa), Khamis Al Shamsi, Head of Safety and Security - ADNOC .

The most concerning aspect of National Security (and the corresponding economic security) lies in our National Critical Infrastructure. It is analyzed & acknowledged  that the next cyber war could revolve around a nations critical infrastructure. Understanding the underlying principles is extremely important - education around the criticality and the areas of vulnerability stands of prominence before embarking on a ICS Security initiative. IT security experts and the accountable teams in the OT undergo a good hands-on SCADA/ICS Security trainings understand the facets of engagement and more importantly, the why of the criticality.

Paramount Computer Systems, in association with Red Tiger Security (USA) has devised a 360° strategy to address this concern (with the people, process and technology approach). Jonathan Pollet, CISSP, CAP, PCIP, Founder, Executive Director, Red Tiger Security, will elaborate on the proven methodology for securing national critical infrastructures.

Paramount Computer Systems and Red Tiger Security are both Gold Sponsors for this event and would be presenting and sharing their unique services and solutions, exclusively for the participants.

Fast Protect is also Gold Sponsor for MEESEC.   Udo Riederle, VP Global Sales and Marketing, Fast Protect - UAE, l presented on the topic of  Energy Management & Security, where he focused on  CEMSs role in making efficient use of energy by exchanging information with other systems, including the HEMSs that manage electric power use in individual homes, the BEMSs and FEMSs that do the same for buildings and factories respectively.

The first day of the conference concluded with panel discussion titled "Securing Operational Security", which was moderated by Rainer Hinrichs- Rahlwes, and joined by Marcel Kramer, Energy Consultant, Senior Counsel to the Management of OAO -  Gazprom; Keith Tupman , Principal Security Advisor - Kuwait Oil Company; Sherif Amin, HSE Advisor, Pico International Petroleum,  Development Coy Nigeria.

Today, the second day of the conference will feature exclusive speaker presentations from Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources - Turkey,  Baker Hughes,  Pak-Arab Refinery Limited,  Kuwait Oil Company,  ConocoPhillips,  Muscat Electricity Distribution Company and more.

Media Contact:
Mohor Mukherjee
T: +971 46091570
E: mohor.mukherjee@fleminggulf.com
W: security.fleminggulf.com/me-energy-security-summit

© Press Release 2015