150 exhibiting companies with 29% represented from the Middle East, 46% from Europe, 9% from Asia and 16% from North and South America will be participating in POWER-GEN Middle East 2006 - the 4^th Conference & Exhibition which will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Diab Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, between 30^thJanuary and 1^st February 2006. 

POWER-GEN Middle East 2006 (PGME '06) is the Gulf region's premier annual power generation event.  Launched in October 2002 at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibitions Centre, PGME combines the region's largest power generation exhibition with a high-level conference tackling the critical issues currently facing the growing power sector.The event is now established as the definitive conference and exhibition in the Middle East region focusing on power generation, transmission & distribution and associated desalination issues, combining a high-level three-day conference with the regions largest exhibition featuring the worlds top power companies and regional utilities. 

PGME will be the ideal platform to showcase the latest products and technology, from the 150 exhibiting companies from around the world, including regional utilities such as; ADWEA and its group of companies of the UAE, Saudi Electricity Company of the KSA, as well as major international companies like; ABB, GE, Alsthom, Hitachi, Doonsan, Siemens, Honeywell, to name but a few.  Running in parallel with the exhibition, PGME is presenting a high-level strategic and technical conference addressing the key issues facing the sector, covering areas such as; strategies to meet demand, financing options, project planning and cutting-edge technology in both power and desalination.  The show attempts to bring together the participation of top-level speakers, market leaders and experts, electricity and water ministry officials, regulators, consultants, financiers and developers.

Acknowledging the role of the leadership of the UAE in the growth of the event, HE Ahmad Humaid Al Mazrouie, ADNEC Board Member & Managing Director of ADNEC said, "The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), aims to raise awareness of opportunities that continue to be created for trade, investment and tourism with its portfolio of international exhibitions, conferences, festivals and entertainment."  He added, "Our economy is continually developing, diversifying and strengthening, as traditional sectors such as; oil and gas and re-export are supported by growing sectors such as; tourism, industry and export . "Mr Nick Ornstein, Group Publisher & General Manager of the PennWell Corporation said, "PGME has been brought to the Middle East as the regions power sector reaches a critical time in its development cycle.  Electricity demand in the Middle East is expected to grow to an annual rate of between 7% and 10% over the next 10 years, outstripping the world average of 3%."  He added, "Statistics from the WEC show that 10% of global growth in generating capacity will come from the Arab World within the next 10 years.

The UAE will require 8,000 MW of new capacity within the next 10 years, while Saudi Arabic will require an additional 42 GW by 2020.  Much of this growth in demand is being driven by the need for drinking water, high population growth rates and the drive to diversify to a more industrial based economy."HE Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Director of Privatisation Directorate said, "Considering the fact that the Abu Dhabi Government and through the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) is undertaking the first programme for privatisation of the water and electricity sector in the region, achieving fantastic success attracting foreign investments, which contributed significantly to the expansion and construction of Power Generation and Desalination Plants."  He added, "By now the total invested funds solicited by ADWEA has amounted to 38 Billion Dirhams."Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is the Emerald Sponsor for PGME '06.  Supporting regional publication is Middle East Energy (MEE), Flagship media sponsor is Power Engineering International (PEI), Official airline is Etihad Airways and Co-hosted by the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority.

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For further information please contact:

Mr Ashok Pillai 
Project Manager
 PGME '06
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)
Tel: +971 2 4446900 x234
Fax: +971 2 4446135
Email: ashok@adnec.ae
Website: http://www.adnec.ae/ or http://www.power-gen-middleeast.com/