By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – The events department at the IBP (Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis or Brazilian Institute of Petroleum, Gas and Bio fuels,) is gearing up for an exciting year ahead. This year in addition to the usual program of events, the schedule will feature both the biennial Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference, in September and the 33rd IAEE International Conference at the beginning of June.
The IBP is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the development of competitive, sustainable, ethical and socially responsible petroleum, gas and bio fuels industry in Brazil. It is noted for its unbiased, non-political standpoint and acclaimed for its technical expertise and diverse schedule of events.
The program kicks off on the 25th of this month with the IBP’s seventh annual debate forum on the quality and use of fuels, (the Fórum de Debates Sobre Qualidade e Uso de Combustíveis,) to be held in São Paulo. This is a one day event which will focus on sustainability issues within the energy industry, looking closely at the production of third generation alcohol fuels in Brazil.
May is an action-packed month featuring both the third Seminário de Laboratório (Laboratory Seminar) in Rio on the fourth and fifth, and the Encontro de Asfalto (Asphalt Meeting) from the eighteenth to the twentieth, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. The first event is an opportunity to discuss the latest scientific innovations in the fuel industry and the second is an annual meeting about all things asphalt.
Rio has been chosen to host the IAEE International Conference this year from the sixth to the ninth of June. It is the first time the conference has been held in Brazil. The in-country organizers are the AB3E (Associação Brasileira de Estudos em Energia, or Brazilian Association for Energy Studies) supported by the IBP, and this year’s theme will be “The Future of Energy – Global Challenges, Diverse Solutions.”
Rio also plays host to a second event in June: the third International Seminar on Oilfield Water Management from the seventh to the ninth, which will explore current trends, challenges, and the latest innovations in the field. And a third event in June will take place in Macaé from the eighth to the tenth. The International Protection Offshore Forum focuses on health, environment, security and responsibility in the petroleum and gas industry.
The major event of the year however, will happen in September, when tens of thousands of energy industry professionals are expected to pour into Rio de Janeiro for the biennial Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference. The expo is the largest oil and gas show in Latin America and since its inauguration in 1982, it has helped to consolidate Rio’s reputation as Brazil’s oil capital.
During its last incarnation in 2008, the event showcased 1200 exhibitors from 23 different countries and attracted 39,000 visitors. This year the expo is scheduled to take place at the Riocentro convention center from September 13th-16th.