Qatar Process Safety Symposium Focuses on Personalising Safety

The 14th edition of the Qatar Process Safety Symposium (QPSS), co-sponsored by QatarEnergy LNG and ConocoPhillips Qatar in collaboration with the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), recently concluded. The event attracted hundreds of in-person attendees, with many more joining via live streaming.

QPSS continues to be a significant event in the global energy calendar, bringing together industry leaders to explore the future of process safety. This year’s symposium emphasized the importance of personalizing process safety, ensuring that the well-being of individuals is a top priority across energy operations.

In his opening remarks, Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer of QatarEnergy LNG, stated: “This year we gather under the theme ‘Making Process Safety Personal’. Process safety is not just a set of protocols or guidelines but a shared responsibility that begins with each one of us. I encourage each of you to reflect on your own experience and the role you play in ensuring a safe workplace.” 

He reaffirmed QatarEnergy LNG’s commitment to continuously improving safety standards through the company’s direction statement, daily operations, and long-term strategies. “Each story, each lessons learned and each commitment to process safety contributes to a collective effort that makes a profound impact on our industry,” he added.

The event also saw Bill Arnold, President of ConocoPhillips Qatar, deliver a keynote address. He discussed the critical role of leadership in driving process safety and highlighted the strength of ConocoPhillips Qatar’s partnership with QatarEnergy LNG in advancing safety initiatives. “Our collaboration at QPSS underscores the importance of maintaining the highest safety standards in the energy industry. By making safety personal, we ensure every worker knows their wellbeing is our top priority, fostering a culture of genuine care and accountability at every organisational level,” said Arnold.

The 14th Qatar Process Safety Symposium (QPSS) featured 24 technical presentations covering a wide range of topics, including process safety management and culture, risk management, human factors, asset integrity, digitalization, and advanced safety technologies.

Khalifa Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, Chief Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Officer at QatarEnergy LNG, played a pivotal role in shaping the event’s agenda, emphasizing the company's strategic approach to safety. Under his leadership, several programs have been implemented to integrate process safety awareness into all aspects of the organization.

Sheikh Khalid Abdulla Al-Thani, Chief Engineering & Projects Officer at QatarEnergy LNG, expanded on the theme, asserting that process safety should be measured by the integrity of safety barriers rather than just the absence of incidents. He addressed risks associated with aging infrastructure and the challenges posed by expanding operations, cautioning against siloed risk management.

International experts also contributed significantly to the symposium. Shakeel Kadri, Executive Director and CEO of the Centre for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), and Michael Hatfield, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Global Technical Functions at ConocoPhillips, shared their insights. The QPSS Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Luc Vechot, Associate Professor and Managing Director of the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Centre in Qatar, for his outstanding contributions to the field.

As part of its commitment to fostering collaboration between academia and industry, the symposium also showcased research by students from UDST, emphasizing the critical role of education in developing future leaders in process safety. Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST, underscored the importance of industry-academia partnerships in driving safety innovation, noting that these collaborations help students apply their knowledge and prepare them to address future safety challenges.

Looking ahead, organizers expressed their commitment to continuing the symposium’s success, with plans to explore emerging challenges and innovations in process safety to ensure the event remains at the forefront of the industry.