QEERI’s Newly Launched Corrosion Center Organizes Forum

Local and international experts work together to formulate solutions to mitigate corrosion, and determine its impact on production, environment and safety of personnel

Entity:  Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute
Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, recently hosted a forum for corrosion and materials engineering in Qatar.

Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) recently hosted   the Forum for Corrosion and Materials Engineering in Qatar, attended by members from the oil and gas industry, academic and research institutions in Qatar, and international corrosion experts.  

International attendees comprised corrosion and materials engineering experts from Australia, the United States and Canada, who joined local stakeholders to discuss how best to tackle major corrosion issues in Qatar, and the impact of corrosion on production, safety of personnel, and the environment. 

The meeting marked the launch of the QEERI Corrosion Center, which aims to serve as a local and regional hub for expertise in the field. The center aims to be Qatar’s first national-level center which will focus on solving corrosion challenges facing Qatar; the development of national standards for materials selection; the formulation of corrosion management plans; perform industrial-defined and research-driven studies; and provide training and certification of corrosion and materials engineers.

Dr. Marc Vermeersch, QEERI’s executive director, said: “Corrosion affects Qatar’s energy sector, water desalination plants, concrete structures, and even military equipment. Furthermore, plant leaks due to corrosion have a huge impact of the environment. Establishing a dedicated corrosion center at QEERI was therefore an essential next step to facilitate crucial research that will go on to inform effective planning and strategies to reduce the effects of corrosion.”  

Commenting on the role of QEERI’s Corrosion Centre, its senior research director, Dr. Hanan Farhat, said:  “According to the National Association of Corrosion Engineers International, corrosion costs Arab countries five percent of their GDP. There is an urgent need for QEERI’s Corrosion Center to provide corrosion services to the country’s industry and enable industry-driven applied research studies that bridge the gap between fundamental research and technology. 

Dr. Mariano Iannuzzi, Director of Curtin Corrosion Center in Australia, an attendee at the forum, said: “There are many similarities between the corrosion problems found in Australia and Qatar. It would be difficult or near impossible to meet the 2030 emission targets set by the Paris Agreement without addressing the carbon emission impact on corrosion and proposing lasting solutions.” 

In addition to the Corrosion Center, QEERI assists Qatar in tackling its grand challenges through its Energy Center, Water Center, Environment and Sustainability Center, and Computational Processes and Materials Center.
 


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