Offshore Energy 2014 Kicks Off

Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference 2014, one of the fastest growing gatherings of offshore professionals, has kicked off this morning in Amsterdam’s RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The conference was officially opened by Dr. María de Lourdes Melgar Palacios, Under Secretary Hydrocarbons of Mexico, Pieter van Oord, Chairman of Van Oord and Coert van Zijll Langhout, Managing Director of Navingo.

“According to the International Energy Agency, the world’s growing need for energy will require more than USD 48 trillion in investments over the period to 2035. That means that today’s annual investment in energy supply, which is about USD 1.6 trillion a year is steadily going to rise over the coming decades towards USD 2 trillion annually,” Pieter van Oord said in his opening speech.

As explained, in the changing energy world the crucial things in the offshore industry are knowledge, capabilities and competences.

In that respect, Mr van Oord said that Offshore Energy represents an excellent platform to share knowledge and built up cooperation with companies, policy makers and industry players.

Dr. María de Lourdes Melgar Palacios, Under Secretary of Hydrocarbons of Mexico,  explained the main principles that guided the energy reform in Mexico.

Under the reform, the state retains ownership of hydrocarbons below the surface while prohibiting the privatization of PEMEX and CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad, the state-owned electricity company).

She also mentioned that the new legal framework allows for private ownership of hydrocarbons at the wellhead through service, profit-sharing, production-sharing, and license contracts.

Founded in 2008, Offshore Energy has been breaking records year after year. The 2013 edition attracted 9,123 visitors representing 56 nationalities.

It is expected that the number of supply chain companies exhibiting at this year’s edition will range between 500 and 600, with expected number of visitors reaching staggering 10,000.

Exhibitors, visitors and conference delegates represent over 60 nationalities from around the world.

The event will also include extensive conference program with over 100 expert speakers scheduled to discuss key topics and solutions with the offshore community.

World Maritime News Staff; Image: Navingo