The Middle East has emerged as a reliable, competitive and sustainable provider of sulphur to the world with expansion planned across the region accounting for about half of the global increases expected by 2030.

 

This was the observation of Abdulmunim Al Kindy, Adnoc Upstream Executive Director at the Middle East Sulphur Conference (MEScon) 2023, who said: “MEScon demonstrates how at Adnoc, we are a major contributor to this growing market share. Right now, we are the largest single exporter of sulphur in the world and we will expand our supply of high-quality sulphur, produced with lower carbon intensity, as we deliver gas growth across our portfolio. 

 

“This includes the expansion of the Shah Gas Plant and, in the second half of this decade, the delivery of the Ghasha concession, the largest offshore sour gas project in the world.”

 

Hosted by Adnoc, the conference is organised by global commodities business intelligence company CRU, and sour gas and sulphur specialist consulting firm UniverSUL Consulting (UniverSUL). 

 

Innovation sharing

The four-day event, which has kicked off at the Conrad, Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, gathers representatives devoted to innovation sharing and best practice discussions, exploring the evolving role of sulphur both in the Middle East and globally.

 

Following a preliminary day of workshops and technical showcases, led by experts from industry-leading companies involved in the sulphur value chain, delegates gained perspective on the region through welcome addresses by Al Kindy; Aramco Director Gas Operations Technical Support Department, Mohammed Abdulrhman Al Abdulqader; and MEScon Executive Director, Fahad Al Wahedi, with perspective on the global industry provided by CRU and UniverSUL. 

 

Over the course of the MEScon 2023, attendees will benefit from a host of panel discussions and topical spotlights from a variety of industry leaders covering the event’s key themes:

 

·Envisioning new value for H2S in the energy transition

 

·Moving towards net zero in sulphur recovery

 

·Meeting SO2 emissions targets sustainably

 

·Operation considerations and design innovations for asset longevity and performance.

 

Critical point

Peter Harrisson, Principal Analyst for Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid at CRU, said: “We are at a critical point when it comes to sour gas and sulphur. Demand for its end uses is growing – from fertilisers to stabilise global food supply, to electric vehicle battery requirements. However, the energy transition is also accelerating, meaning the supply and demand balance of sulphur is evolving in its nature. 

 

“Ensuring the industry is successfully readying itself for its future is vital, and with the Middle East at its epicentre as the dominant producer globally, events such as MEScon in Abu Dhabi provide the perfect platform to do this.”

 

Angie Slavens, Managing Director at UniverSUL, added: “The focus of the sulphur industry has shifted eastward from North America over the past 10 years and MEScon brings the global community to Abu Dhabi as a result.  The strength of this unique event lies in its combination of market-leading analysis, technical expertise, and a commitment to create a global community of information sharing to put our best foot forward as an industry. This allows for detailed, holistic discussions on emerging challenges and opportunities, from sour hydrocarbon processing through sulphur recovery to transportation, marketing and end uses.”-- TradeArabia News Service