A three-day conference started discussions on region’s oil spill prevention and related issues in Dubai.

Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, minister of environment and water, opened the Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition.

During the conference, international experts will present their views on handling offshore and onshore oil production, safe tanker operation at sea and terminals, emerging response procedures, personnel safety and enforcement, and new technologies.

The event, which is running at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center, has attracted world’s key experts in the oil and gas industry, including Al-Khafji Joint Operations, KSA, and Saudi Aramco.

Drydocks World, Qatar Petroleum, KOC, BAPCO, Chevron KSA and OMAN PDO are some other major companies taking part from the region.

The show is considered the largest oil spill management event in the region.

The participants will share their experiences, voice their thoughts and contribute to the solutions that would have major input in ensuring sustainable energy and cleaner environment for our future generation.

“The majority of the past incidents, both onshore and offshore, has been caused by human error and has resulted in devastating oil spill,” said Omar Al-Wasem, chairman of Offshore Arabia 2014 Conference & Exhibition and chairman of Regional Clean Sea Organization (Recso) in his speech.

“No matter how immediate the spill response, it is only a partial success in terms of minimizing environmental damage. We should all be aware that the prevention of oil spills is preferable to the cure.” he added.

The conference this year includes researches and lectures presented by environmental, and oil and gas specialists.

Topics to be discussed include oil spill prevention, contingency planning and emergency preparedness, knowledge sharing and lessons learned from offshore/onshore vase histories and recent major incidents, innovations as applied to oil spill recovery and response, terminal and tanker measures to prevent and respond to oil spills, and offshore/onshore risk and crisis management.

The event hosts more than 100 companies from 23 countries.