Russia is in danger of falling behind its competitors in the global oil and gas industry due to underinvestment in equipment and training, according to Yelena Chernysheva, deputy head of the oil refining technologies faculty of Gubkin Oil and Gas at the Russian State University.

In an exclusive interview with Oil and Gas Eurasia, the executive warned that while other countries adopt new technologies to maintain production rates as fields enter maturity, the Russian industry has lagged behind and risks seeing output and profit margins sink.

He expressed particular concern about ground that could be ceded to Middle Eastern energy firms which are investing in high-tech refining solutions and skills training to produce high-quality processed products.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states have also been building strong international partnerships to drive innovation and skills in the sector.

Furthering this, Saudi Arabia's National Centre for E-Learning and Distance Education yesterday (October 8th) welcomed a South Korean delegation as they began a knowledge sharing exercise in Riyadh.

Getenergy event for GCC countries November 2009