The Middle East will be the foremost global hub for the petrochemicals industry not before long, said Margaret R. Walker, global vice president for engineering solutions, technology centers and manufacturing and engineering work processes at the Dow Chemical Company. Speaking at the recently concluded Middle East Petrotech 2010 conference and exhibition in Bahrain, she noted that manufacturing and engineering (M&E) technologies and processes play an integral role in the global petrochemicals industry, and Gulf producers are quickly growing their role in downstream manufacturing. “We work very hard to earn our ‘license to operate' and it is critical to build high safety standards and loss prevention principles, to implement best-in-class environment, health and safety technologies and work processes and to train employees on process safety best practices,” Walker said. “It is important for us to work with contractors and suppliers who adhere to the highest levels of safety performance,” she added. She praised a number of technology centers that have been established throughout the region to focus on enhancing technologies to improve reliability, productivity and address key environment, health and safety issues. Walker also highlighted Dow's continued commitment to grow its regional manufacturing footprint by collaborating with partners who are equally committed to balancing manufacturing excellence. She added: “Through our various Middle East operations and joint ventures, Dow designs sustainability and reliability into the assets, using best-in-class processes and technologies - so that the facility is safe - for employees and the environment, and fully operational, enabling investors to recoup their multi-billion dollar investment quickly.” Dow's presentations connected chemistry with the principles of sustainability, and shared industry leading thinking on the subjects of petrochemical site integration and optimization, and plant mechanical integrity and process safety.
