Over 1,000 downstream oil and gas professionals are taking part in the sixth Middle East International Refining and Petrochemicals Conference and Exhibition (Petrotech 2008), which opened last night.

The four-day conference and exhibition is being held under the theme 'Refining/ Petrochemical Integration: The Way for Future Growth.'

Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa will open the exhibition today at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

A total of 156 companies from 22 countries are taking part in the event.

Bahrain plans to cash in on the petrochemical industry while it leads the way in environmentally friendly and energy-efficient initiatives, National Oil and Gas Authority chairman Dr Abdulhussain Mirza said last night.

He was speaking at the conference's opening ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa.-TradeArabia News Service