Eaton will feature its DualGuard System. (Image source: Canva)

Eaton will participate in Intersec Dubai 2025 from 14-16 January, spotlighting its advanced safety solutions tailored for sectors like commercial real estate, oil and gas, utilities, and industrial facilities.

Eaton will present its flagship Building Safety Management System (BSMS), an integrated platform for real-time monitoring and centralised control of emergency lighting and fire detection systems.

Designed to meet global safety standards such as BS 5266 and EN 1838, the BSMS enhances operational efficiency and optimises emergency response.

Additionally, Eaton will feature its DualGuard System, engineered for the region's harsh conditions, and adaptive evacuation systems, which use real-time hazard data to dynamically adjust escape routes during emergencies.

With the Middle East's construction market projected to grow from US$298bn in 2023 to US$401.17bn by 2030, and the regional fire safety equipment market expected to reach US$6.93bn by 2030, Eaton’s solutions aim to meet the escalating demand for safety and reliability in critical applications.

“Eaton has been a trusted partner in the Middle East for many years, providing life safety solutions that are built to perform under the toughest conditions,” said Qasem Noureddin, managing director, Eaton Middle East. “Our participation at Intersec Dubai reflects our ongoing commitment to helping our customers ensure the safety of their people and assets."

“We are proud to support the region’s infrastructure growth by offering solutions that deliver long-term value and protection,” added Qasem Noureddin. “Intersec Dubai is a key platform for us to engage with industry professionals and demonstrate how our products contribute to safer, more resilient buildings.”

Comapire takes over from Seco Power. (Image source: Perkins)

Perkins, a global power systems powerhouse, has appointed Comapire as its new authorised distributor in Morocco

Replacing Seco Power in the country, Compaire was selected due to its extensive industrial engines experience, strong knowledge of the territory and proven customer relationships. Led by managing director Yassine Tabout, the wider Comapire team has worked with the Perkins brand in the country for more than 30 years.

“The Comapire team is very excited to be taking on this appointment,” remarked Tabout. “We are looking forward to delivering our portfolio of service and support solutions to help Perkins-powered customers throughout Morocco. Customers will benefit from our highly trained technicians, our infrastructure set up and our extensive experience with industrial engines.”

This team will now be bolstered by the addition of a newly appointed service manager who will lead the service department overseeing technical support, coordinating field service technicians and service product support representatives.

Jaz Gill, vice president of global sales, marketing, service and parts at Perkins, added, “I’m very pleased our Perkins-powered customers in Morocco will be supported by Comapire going forward. I’m confident that Perkins end users will receive an exceptional level of service and support, as Comapire’s highly experienced team have worked with engines for many years. The investment they have made in their new facility in Casablanca, coupled with their geographical reach and proven customer engagement will serve them well.”

Handling, storing and transporting hydrogen can pose safety challenges. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Miro Cavkov, technical director – downstream & energy advisory, Euro Petroleum Consultants, addresses some of the safety challenges associated with hydrogen development

Hydrogen is widely regarded as the "fuel of the future," playing a critical role in global decarbonisation efforts. As industries transition toward cleaner energy systems, hydrogen is emerging as a versatile and efficient alternative fuel source. However, while hydrogen offers immense potential to transform energy systems, its unique properties require a heightened focus on safety during production, storage, and transportation.

Understanding and addressing these safety challenges are critical to realising the full potential of hydrogen in a sustainable and secure energy ecosystem.

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical molecule in the universe, and as a fuel, it possesses many desirable traits: it is nontoxic, colourless, odorless, and highly combustible, enabling it to serve as a clean and efficient energy source. However, these same properties pose challenges when it comes to handling, storing, and transporting hydrogen safely. Its flammability, extremely low density, and small molecular size make it prone to leaks, which can lead to safety hazards if not properly managed.

In its natural state, hydrogen is relatively benign and is typically produced at low pressures (20–30 bar) with minimal associated risks. However, the real safety concerns arise post-production when hydrogen must be stored and transported. To ensure efficiency and profitability, hydrogen must often be compressed or liquefied, which introduces significant technical and logistical challenges.

As hydrogen becomes a key energy carrier for industrial and commercial applications, safe and effective storage and transport mechanisms are crucial. These methods vary depending on hydrogen's physical state (gaseous, liquid, or chemically bound) and the specific requirements of end users.

As the demand for hydrogen grows, technological innovations are emerging to address the safety and operational challenges associated with its use. For instance, advancements in materials science are enabling the development of hydrogen-compatible pipelines, storage tanks, and compression systems. Digital tools, such as real-time leak detection sensors and predictive maintenance algorithms, are further enhancing safety in hydrogen infrastructure.

Hydrogen safety is not a one-size-fits-all challenge. Each industry, company, and application must evaluate the most suitable approach based on specific operational requirements and risk profiles. Achieving safe and sustainable hydrogen systems will require a combination of innovative technologies, stringent safety standards, and cross-industry collaboration.

By addressing these challenges proactively, hydrogen can fulfill its potential as a cornerstone of the global energy transition, enabling industries to reduce their carbon footprint while meeting growing energy demands.

You can read the full article in the latest edition of Oil Review Middle East, at https://oilreviewmiddleeast.com/magazines/orme_2024_12_20/spread/?page=18

The Oman Net Zero centre will progress the country's net-zero objectives. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Oman has established the Oman Net Zero Centre, which will support the Sultanate in achieving its net-zero by 2050 goals

The centre will develop and refine net-zero strategies, collaborating with relevant authorities to ensure alignment with national objectives; progress and monitor the implementation of zero neutrality projects, including energy efficiency projects; and provide technical support to government and private agencies.

The Centre will adopt programmes and plans to achieve the goals across various sectors, in addition to following up on the implementation of supporting projects and initiatives, addressing the challenges they may face, and submitting the necessary periodic reports. It will also be responsible for developing and updating the national plan for enhancing energy consumption efficiency, monitoring its implementation across various sectors, evaluating energy consumption levels in approved projects, and proposing necessary improvements in coordination with relevant authorities.

Technical support

As part of its responsibilities, the Centre will work to provide technical support and advice to various entities to reduce carbon emissions and raise energy use efficiency. It will also promote the adoption of the latest international practices and technologies, while supporting scientific research, innovation, and developing national capabilities.

It will also manage requests for carbon, hydrogen, and low-carbon product certifications, ultimately issuing certificates in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Environment Authority. The Center will also oversee the registration and approval of requests for carbon certificate trading at the domestic level, ensuring alignment with international carbon credit frameworks.

Maintaining and updating a comprehensive inventory of carbon emissions from various sources will be another area of its activities, along with efforts to promote public awareness and community engagement.

The move follows the acceleration of Oman’s carbon reduction efforts with the launch in November of the Net 3 initiatives of the National Net Zero Program, a new package of projects and initiatives in sectors including energy, industry, cities, transport and buildings.

Oman has made considerable strides towards achieving its net-zero objectives. In the energy sector for example, Oman has made substantial progress in developing its renewable energy and hydrogen sectors, capitalising on its renewable resources and vast tracts of available land. According to the IEA, Oman is set to be a competitive low-emissions hydrogen supplier by the end of the decade, with the aim of producing 1mn tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, and a number of major projects are being progressed. It could be the Middle East’s largest hydrogen exporter by then, according to the energy agency.