The first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf, the conference is taking place from 7-10 October 2024 at the King Abdullah Cultural Center, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia 9 October 2024 – The inaugural Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Process Safety Conference opened its doors for the first time this week to chemical and petrochemical leaders from across the Arabian Gulf to shape the future of process safety excellence in the region, foster collaboration and knowledge sharing and raise the bar on standards and education. Taking place from 7-10 October 2024 at the King Abdullah Cultural Center, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, the conference addressed the theme “Enabling Process Safety Leadership: Enriching Knowledge, Catalyzing Commitment”.

Following two full-day workshops on 7 October packed with in-depth knowledge on process safety, operational excellence and the first of its kind “Process Safety by Frontlines” program, the conference kicked off with Opening remarks by Abdullah Hassan Al Qahtani, Chief Engineer, Process Risk Management, SABIC, and Chairman, Gulf Process Safety Network, GPCA. In his remarks, Mr. Al Qahtani addressed the audience: “The Gulf Process Safety Network (GPSN) is a vital initiative by GPCA, dedicated to fostering a robust process safety culture and enhancing knowledge in our region. I am thrilled to see the first edition of this conference, where we were able to introduce a much-needed session, highlighting the invaluable contributions of frontline workers to process safety.”

He continued: “Through the powerful stories shared by seasoned frontline workers and process safety survivors, coupled with insights from industry leaders, we have gained crucial learnings. We hope this sets a precedent for other associations and safety organizations to follow, giving well-deserved recognition to those on the frontlines who safeguard our operations and, ultimately, save lives. This is the transformative conversation that the industry has been waiting for, and we are proud to lead it.”

In his Welcome address, H.E. Eng. Khalid Al-Salem, President of The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, emphasized four key areas for advancing process safety. He highlighted the growing importance of maintaining the reliability of aging plants and equipment, leveraging digitalization as a significant opportunity to enhance monitoring and safety in industrial zones, and focusing on human capital as the critical success factor through continuous knowledge sharing and development. He also warned against the dangers of overconfidence, stressing that safety must remain a priority regardless of expertise. Lastly, he called for integrating insights from events like these into educational programs to better equip future generations.

Abdulrahman Ahmed Shamsaddin, EVP, Manufacturing, SABIC; Brian Ablett, Asia Pacific & Middle East Regional Director, ExxonMobil; and Shakeel Kadri, Executive Director & CEO, Centre for Chemical Process Safety, each delivered a Keynote address, in which they shed light on the importance of process safety in shaping a more compliant, sustainable and safer industry future.

Following the Opening session, panelists Abdulrahman Ahmed Shamsaddin, EVP, Manufacturing, SABIC; Eng. Yasser Abdulrahim Alabbasi, CEO, GPIC; Brian Ablett, Asia Pacific & Middle East Regional Director, ExxonMobil; and Stephen J. Klejst, Executive Director, Investigation & Recommendation, US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), participated in an Executive dialogue on process safety leadership and culture.

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “As the chemical industry in the region adopts new processes and technologies to improve its Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHS&S) standards, it continues to focus on sharing knowledge, upskilling its employees – from shopfloor workers all the way to senior leadership – and raising awareness on the role of process safety leadership in mitigating reputational risk, saving lives and protecting the environment.”

He added: “Platforms, such as the inaugural GPCA Process Safety Conference, are the culmination of years of hard work by the Gulf Process Safety Network, and I am particularly pleased to see it being well received by the process safety community here in the Arabian Gulf, attracting leaders from across the region and the globe. Gatherings like these are a vital tool to elevate the industry’s process safety performance and position it at the forefront of the industry agenda and I look forward to engaging with delegates and take away more valuable insights.”

The inaugural Process Safety Conference continues tomorrow with a Keynote address into the state of Process Safety 4.0 and the role of Artificial Intelligence delivered by Dr. Faisal Khan, Professor, Texas A&M University. Mr. Khan will also join a panel along with Wazen Al Solami, President, Yansab-SABIC; Mohamed Al Mulhim, Head of Loss Prevention Technical Services Unit, Aramco; and Nofal Al Saidi, VP Transformation and Innovation, OQ, to discuss the latest trends in process safety digitalization.

To learn more, please visit the conference website.

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About the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association

The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95 percent of chemical output in the GCC. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing over USD 108 billion worth of products every year.

GPCA supports the petrochemical and chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through advocacy, networking and thought leadership initiatives aimed at helping member companies to connect, share and advance knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future of the global petrochemicals industry.

Committed to providing a regional platform for stakeholders from around the world, GPCA manages six working committees – Plastics, Supply Chain, Fertilizers, International Trade, Research and Innovation, and Responsible Care – and organizes six world-class events each year. The association also publishes an annual report, regular newsletters and various other industry reports.

For more information, visit www.gpca.org.ae.