Bahrain Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza will open the 14th Middle East Corrosion Conference and Exhibition this evening at 7.30pm at Gulf Hotel's Gulf Convention Centre.

The event is organised by Bahrain Society of Engineers in association with the NACE International, West Asia and Africa Area and Dhahran Saudi Arabia Section.

Speaking on the eve of the conference, Bahrain Society of Engineers president A Majeed Al Gassab emphasised that the metal-corrosion phenomenon has become a serious problem facing the Gulf and Mena region compared with other regions.

The conference aims to find solutions to ease the economic cost of high erosion and reduce the devastation caused by this phenomenon, which requires enormous treatment budgets at a global level.

Al Gassab stressed that this conference, in particular, has become one of the most successful events organised by the Bahrain Society of Engineers, having played a crucial role in building a strong knowledge base on corrosion-prevention and also in increasing  overall awareness in the Gulf and Mena region, besides transforming research into reality.

Conference chairman Bader Busbait said this year's conference, which will continue its activities over four days, will be featuring keynote speakers and experts from round the globe and is expecting more than 600 delegates.

More than 120 scientific papers will be presented in addition to five technical workshops being held, he added.

The conference is sponsored by 30 companies, including major oil refiners in the regionlike Saudi Aramco and Bapco and more than 76 companies, suppliers and manufacturers will be participating in the exhibition.

Key sponsors of the event include Saudi Aramco, Sipco, Arabian Pipe Coating, Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al Qahtani and Sons, Khusheim Industrial Services Company and Qatar Metals Coating Company as platinum sponsors.

Gold sponsors include Gulf Petrochemical Industry, Specialised Oil and Gas Engineering, Nukote Arabia, International Paint, Hempel Paints, Dahlman Middle East, NPC, Clariant - Ali Al Abdulla Al Tamimi, Amaintit and Dow Advanced Materials.

Silver sponsors include Corrpro Companies (United Pipeline Middle East), Riyadh Geotechnique and Foundations, Ali A Tamimi trading, ArcelorMittal-Industeel, Metal Samples, Rawabi Corrosion Technology, Automation and Power Solutions Projects, Aquilex Arabia (Ali A Tamimi trading), Diversified Line Petroleum Services, Bapco, Deepwater, Bourouge and Bahrain National Gas Company.-TradeArabia News Service