Strategic three-day event to bring together key decision makers from across the region to develop sustainable water-energy balancing strategies

(Dubai, UAE) 1 August 2012

The CWC Group, leading experts on energy and infrastructure issues, will hold its inaugural Arabian Water & Power Forum from 24-26 September 2012 at Atlantis, The Palm resort hotel on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah, under the Royal Patronage of Hh Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum. Following the unprecedented success of CWC's Saudi Water & Power Forum over the past 8 years, this event has drawn the attention of senior government officials along with key decision makers from the energy industry and will explore strategies for balancing water and power demand with efficient use of regional resources. Prestigious Official Partners include UAE Ministry of Environment & Water and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.

The Arabian Water & Power Forum will feature the highest level of representation from across the region's water and power sectors, with keynote speakers including HE Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, the UAE's Minister for Environment & Water, HE Dr Saleh Alawaji, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Electricity Company and Deputy Minister for Electricity, Saudi Ministry of Electricity & Water, and Dr Hamda Ali Al-Thani, Director of the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority. The forum will provide delegates with three full days of workshops, roundtable discussions, and networking sessions to delve into those strategies and technologies required to drive forward advancement of the water and power sector.

"As the gap widens between power and water demand across the region, this Summit shall provide a timely opportunity to evaluate, debate and discuss those strategies and technologies so crucial to advancing the region's power and water market", said Melissa Rambridge, Event Director. "Through delving into key issues surrounding increased generation capacity, portfolio diversification and optimal resource management, this event shall enable an unprecedented level of regional knowledge-share and networking to help shape the future of the water and power industry".

Forum discussions will focus on strategies and technologies surrounding optimization of power and water management, close evaluation of the very latest IPP & IWPP project and the diversification of solutions to meet future water and power demand.

"We have brought together some of the sector's leading experts," said Rambridge. "Our panels are comprised of key decision makers from the private companies, along with prominent government representatives and influential thought-leaders from the academic field. Stakeholders from around the region will come away with a thorough understanding of the challenges facing the sector, along with opportunities to foster sustainable growth going forward."

The CWC Group will also host the Arabian Water & Power Forum Awards for Innovation in Sustainability after the forum's first day concludes. The ceremony will recognise and reward companies, professionals and students who have demonstrated exceptional talent and innovation through work on sustainable power and water projects.

The CWC Group has collaborated with the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water, the Dubai Government and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and has received support from the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, the Clean Energy Business Council, the International Desalination Association and the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Key speakers at the Arabian Water & Power Forum include: HE Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment & Water; Dr Hamda Ali Al-Thani, Director, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority; Christer Viktorsson, Deputy Director General for Operations, UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation; Einar Al Hareeri, Head of Electricity Demand Forecasting Section, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company; HE Dr Saleh Alawaji, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Electricity Company & Deputy Minister for Electricity; Suhaila Marafi, Director of Studies & Research, Kuwait Ministry of Electricity & Water; Nafa Abdulsada Ali Al-Humeadwe, Director General - Energy Distribution, Iraq Ministry of Electricity; HE Uday Awad, MP, Head of the Electricity Committee, Iraqi Parliament; Mark Preece, Director of Electricity Network, UAE Regulation & Supervision Bureau; Prof Pascal Saikaly, Associate Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Paddy Padmanathan, President & CEO, ACWA Power; Dr Nazar Hassan, Deputy Director & Science & Technology Unit Chief, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences for the Arab States; Dr Mustafa Al-Jarrah, Former DG Petrochemicals, Iraq Ministry of Industry; HE Dr Karim Hasan, Former Iraq Minister of Electricity; Christer Viktorsson, Deputy Director General for Operations, UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation; Gauri Singh, Director of Knowledge Management and Technology Cooperation, IRENA; Ahmed Al-Mazrouy, Director Majan Electricity Company; Dr Corrado Sommariva, Managing Director, ILF, President, IDA; Tauseef Farooqi, Commercial Director, Taweelah Asia Power Company; and Michael Waite, EMEA Business Development, Westinghouse Nuclear Power Plant.

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About The CWC Group
The CWC Group specializes in energy and infrastructure issues and is dedicated to developing knowledge, creating commercial opportunities and implementing strategic solutions for governments and industries by offering professional training, strategic conferences, and exhibitions around the world. Recognized for its outstanding achievements toward these goals, The CWC Group was honored with the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2011 and in 2007 under the category of International Trade. The CWC Group maintains long-established partnerships with governments, corporate investors, trade organizations, and senior industry executives in order to promote private-public co-operation in the oil, gas, power, and telecommunication sectors. The CWC Group currently works with over 30 governments, OPEC, the World Bank and numerous non-profit associations and non-governmental organizations. For more information, you can visit the event's website at www.cwcawpf.com

For more information on the Arabian Water & Power Forum, please contact:
Maan Dalghan
PR Director - Quill Communications
Mobile: 00971 52 9933298
Phone: 00971 4 4390490
Email: mdalghan@quillmena.com

Francesca Ruggiero
Marketing Manager - The CWC Group
Phone: +44 20 7978 0011
Email: fruggiero@thecwcgroup.com

© Press Release 2012