Muscat to Host OMPEF 25
Ship. energy has announced that the Oman Maritime, Ports and Energy Forum (OMPEF 25) will take place in Muscat in the presence of Eng. Said Bin Hamood bin Said al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT). The forum offers maritime stakeholders a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the resources and expertise available across Oman’s maritime and energy sectors and to discuss the country’s proactive response to evolving global commodity flows, technological change, global environmental regulation, and the imperative of decarbonisation. OMPEF 25 will also enable companies from outside the region to find out more about the potential and scope for business opportunities, investment and partnerships, to engage with relevant Omani firms and organisations, and begin all-important commercial discussions.
Speakers will also offer global perspectives on the major issues impacting the shipping and port sectors, and the Forum will provide a platform for discussion on how these sectors can adapt and evolve to make the most of the commercial, technology and operational opportunities on the horizon. Lesley Bankes-Hughes, ship.energy’s managing director, said, ‘We are honoured that the Forum has received the patronage of H.E., the Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. ‘I would like to express my deep thanks for this valued support of the inaugural Forum, and we look forward to working with Omani and international stakeholders to deliver a timely, informative and top-level event that focusses on Oman’s pivotal role in the shipping and ports sectors and the global energy transition.’
At the conference, industry experts and leaders will offer their insights into these key focus areas:
- Market dynamics: The outlook for Middle East energy sectors.
- Seizing new commercial opportunities: The evolution of port infrastructure.
- Dynamic positioning: How bunkering is adapting to market changes and challenges.
- Catalysing change: The use of global and regional regulatory drivers for the decarbonisation of shipping and ports.
- The transformative power of data: The evolving role of digitalisation in shipping and bunkering.
- Energy powerhouse: Oman’s pivotal role in maritime energy transition.
- Business to business: Fostering innovation, growth and partnerships.
- Capacity building: Supply chain logistics and workforce resilience.
- Future-proofing: Harnessing AI in the maritime logistics and energy sectors. ship.energy is working with Asyad Group, its strategic partner in Oman, on the delivery of the forum and is also collaborating with sponsors, Sohar Port and Freezone, TFG Marine, Oman Oil Marketing Company, Metcore International, TotalEnergies, GTT, and Khimji Ramdas.
27/04/2025
Medical Agreement Signed between Iran & Russia
Iran’s oil minister and Russia’s energy minister signed the agreement for the 18th Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission.
The agreement was finalized and signed on Friday by Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and Russia’s Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, who co-chair the joint commission. The deal paves the way for expanded strategic economic cooperation between Tehran and Moscow across various sectors.
A key outcome of this commission meeting was the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Russia’s National Medical Research Center for Hematology, a federal institution under the Russian Health Ministry.
The agreement, aimed at advancing joint research in cell and gene therapy while enhancing medical expertise in both countries, was signed by Maryam Behfar, deputy director of research at Tehran University of Medical Sciences’ Gene, Cell, and Tissue Research Institute, and Elena Nikolaevna Parovichnikova on behalf of Russia.
These collaborative efforts will continue to strengthen scientific diplomacy and leverage the expertise of both nations. - Shana
27/04/2025
Iran Aims to Boost Oil Output
Iran plans to increase its crude oil production by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) within the next eight months, according to the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
Hamid Bovard told state media that ramping up oil and gas production is a top priority for the current year. “We are targeting an increase of about 400,000 bpd in the next eight months,” he said, outlining the company's near-term strategy. Bovard also noted that plans are in place to develop around 50 oil fields and 50 gas fields across the country. - Tehran Times
27/04/2025
Iran Expects Major Drop in Domestic Wheat Yields
Iran expects a major drop in its annual wheat harvest because of unfavorable weather conditions. Officials from the Iranian ministry of agriculture said on Sunday that the country's wheat harvest could amount to 9-11 million metric tons (mt) this year, down from the 16 million mt reported last year.
Mohammad Reza Talayi, a deputy agriculture minister, said that lower precipitation had caused a major decline in the yields of dry-land farms across Iran. He said, however, that the western and northwestern provinces in Iran, where wheat is harvested in late summer, could experience better yields because of recent increases in rainfall.
The comments came after Gholamreza Golmohammadi, another deputy agriculture minister, said on Saturday that this year’s wheat crops in Iran could fall to as low as 8 million mt. That means that Iran should import up to 6 million mt of the grain to respond to a rising domestic demand which has been exacerbated by cheap prices.
Iran spent more than US$3 billion last year to buy nearly 12 million mt of wheat from its farmers. The bumper crop enabled the government to declare self-sufficiency in wheat production and stop placing orders for sizable shipments of the crop from countries like Russia.
That comes as Iran had cut its annual wheat imports by 7 million mt to 1.8 million mt in the calendar year to late March 2024. Iran has already started this year’s wheat purchase program in five provinces in its south.
The Government Trading Corporation said on Sunday that the government expects to buy wheat from more than 814,000 farmers until September, when the harvesting season ends in the country. - Press TV
27/04/2025