Industry

Digital Edge Subsea designs and manufactures video recording and inspection systems for the subsea industry. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Digital Edge Subsea is evolving its product range and expanding its market reach, while maintaining support for existing customers

In 2010, ROV Supervisor John Benson established Digital Edge Subsea, designing and manufacturing video recording and inspection systems for the subsea industry. Over the course of sixteen years, the business has grown to be one of the industry’s most recognisable and trusted brands.

In February 2026, John decided to take a well-earned break and hand over the position of managing director to Andy Freeman. Andy has been with Digital Edge Subsea for nearly three years, initially as business development manager, having worked with a number of subsea IRM service contractors, in both onshore and offshore roles.

Continued customer support, increased expansion

Andy’s focus for the business is the continued support for our existing customers as well as building on the expansion in to new market sectors and regions. On taking on the role of MD Andy said, “Digital Edge Subsea has been such as successful business under John Benson’s direction that it’s important to retain the core qualities that have led to that success. Quality, reliability and dependability in some of the harshest offshore environments is what makes our products stand out from the competition.  Retaining those qualities will be key to our ongoing software and hardware development as well as our reach in to new markets, with new customers”.

This expansion includes increasing support for the Middle East region, where we have a close partnership with Ashtead Technology; the leading supplier of underwater equipment for the subsea installation, IRM and decommissioning markets.

New online training course

To support the growth across the regions and in recognition of how much the products have evolved over the years, Digital Edge Subsea’s much anticipated online training course is now available. This provides new customers, personnel new to subsea inspection and existing customers who want to get the most out of their DVR with the means to learn at their own pace.

The course is arranged in to four primary modules and takes users through the steps of data management, project set-up, online operations and using the offline software.

Each module has a number of short sections to work through, supported with video files and examples. At the end of each module there is a short quiz. Successful completion of the course will generate a unique certificate for the user.

The course will be open to individual bookings and block bookings for companies wanting to offer training to personnel. 

For details and pricing contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The new STRONGEx G2 luminaire. (Image source: ZALUX)

In the execution process of large-scale oil and gas projects, engineering timelines are constantly threatened by certification bottlenecks. Addressing this critical pain point, European ATEX lighting leader ZALUX has announced a major expansion of its testing capabilities, designed to streamline compliance and accelerate project delivery

ZALUX has officially expanded the scope of its Witness Testing Laboratory in Spain, audited by the French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks (INERIS). The facility is now fully equipped to perform in-house enclosure testing according to EN 60079 norms for "Ex e" (increased safety) and "Ex t" (dust ingress protection) equipment, alongside thermal and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing.

"By bringing these critical assessments entirely in-house under witness testing protocols, we are able to reduce R&D and certification cycles," explains Daniel San Bernardino, ZALUX business development manager ATEX & EPC. "This optimises our processes and reduces development times while maintaining the precision, reliability, and traceability required by the ATEX sector."
When asked what makes ZALUX a strategic partner for Middle East EPCs and operators, San Bernardino highlights the company's dual-regional strength:

"We are more than a manufacturer; we are a long-term partner. With a long list of reference international projects, we are an approved vendor for ADNOC, Saudi Aramco, or Qatar Energy and EPCs like Petrofac and SAIPEM. Additionally, our branch in the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA) allows us to provide closer support to regional customers. This local support is combined with certified European manufacturing in our INERIS-audited Spanish facility."

ZALUX at ADIPEC

At ADIPEC, ZALUX will showcase its robust Ex Zones 1 and 2 luminaires. Visitors can explore the flagship STRONGEx G2, a chemical-resistant linear luminaire operating up to 55°C with up to 182 lm/W efficacy and up to 100,000 hours lifespan, alongside the OREx high-bay family, engineered for extreme temperatures from -32°C to +75°C. Together with the rest of the portfolio, these high-efficacy solutions are built to maximise energy savings and lower operational overheads.

By combining rapid in-house testing, certified European manufacturing, and a strategic regional office, ZALUX continues to solidify its position as the preferred partner for global EPCs and oil and gas end-users.

Discover ZALUX’s high-performance luminaires at ADIPEC in Hall 16.

Sherif Foda, CEO, NESR. (Image source: NESR)

NESR’s strong local presence as a national home-grown energy services provider has enabled it to weather the challenges posed by the current crisis in the Middle East, while others have floundered

Speaking to Oil Review Middle East at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London, where energy security and energy resilience were at the top of the agenda, NESR’s CEO Sherif Foda explained how right at the beginning of hostilities the company had put plans into action through its crisis management team to ensure business continuity and prepare for any possible disruption.

“What helped us a lot is that we have built a very strong and competent local workforce so we don’t need to rely on expatriates to come in to execute the jobs. The other aspect is to ensure you have the products you need to operate. We shipped everything we needed immediately, in some cases taking a conscious decision to air freight or incur more costs to be able to have ready equipment, people and products in country in case of conflict. So we actually grew during the conflict despite those challenges.

Foda cited the Jafurah unconventional gas project in Saudi Arabia as a case illustrating supply chain resilience.

“We worked with our technology partners and suppliers to ensure we can blend the surfactants in country, for example. We have sourced most of our needs locally, such as the pipes, infrastructure, and sand, with some of the products made in Saudi Arabia. As a result of that resilience, we continued with our frac performance in unconventional without disruption, and are marching ahead as we speak and into the coming months. No one would have believed 10 years ago that Saudi Arabia would have a competitive play that rivals the Permian or Delaware. Today it is second to none, a world-class unconventional play, developed with the latest technology and 100% local crew. So there has been no need to evacuate workers, giving us a competitive advantage.

“So we are growing our projects despite what’s happening in the region.” Indeed, NESR saw second quarter revenues grow 59% year on year, with a tripling of net income, as the company was able to execute all its contracts and maintain a presence in all operating units, with no interruption to any of its customer activities.

Logistics has been the biggest hurdle posed by the crisis by far, Foda said. “Logistics has been very, very complex. We planned the logistics at an early stage, deciding to truck goods from Jeddah to Dammam rather than going through the Strait, at considerable cost.”

Opportunities throughout the region

Discussing the company’s growth plans, Foda said he sees strong opportunities throughout the region.

“We see fantastic growth in the UAE and Kuwait, and we’ve been increasing our footprint and business in Saudi Arabia,” he says. In Kuwait, NESR in August announced multiple contracts totalling US$300mn over five years, including an agreement to establish a research centre that will focus on several challenge-specific innovations in multiple disciplines across upstream, sustainability, and unconventional resources. NESR will pioneer innovation and bring best-in-class technologies from around the world, tailoring them to the upstream ecosystem in Kuwait. While back in March the company announced it had secured US$300mn worth of cementing contracts in Kuwait and North Africa.

“North Africa has enormous potential because of its gas, offering the scope to replace Russian gas supplies to Europe,” Foda says. “Then you have what they call the new frontier – Syria has come back, Iraq post-conflict will offer a lot of opportunity.

“That is why the region offers so much, and it’s a very unique opportunity for a company like us, because you need to be very locally established. The current situation has shown that is cost prohibitive to employ expatriates, who come and go. You have to be locally made, homegrown, while conforming to or surpassing the top international standards.”

Others should be building local capacity, as NESR is, he said, while conceding that certain products will still need to be imported or locally assembled. “You’re not going to be able to build a high-pressure wellhead in every country. It won’t be cost competitive. But for the products that are used a lot, the main components of those items should be sourced locally. The local structure also has to be done extremely well.”

Decarbonisation technology potential

NESR has always had a strong ESG focus. Discussing decarbonisisation, Foda said this is not seen as the flavour of the day right now due not only to the conflict but also due to the stance of the US administration.

“But it will come back; it is a must. We cannot as an industry continue to produce oil and gas with the same level of emissions, especially as demand is increasing. We need to eliminate emissions as far as possible. ESG is a good business path. And as the CEO of Aramco has said, this region produces oil and gas at the lowest cost with the lowest emissions. That means projects will happen.” He added that now is a good time to invest counter-cyclically in ESG and decarbonisation technology, as NESR is doing, as there are companies with very good technologies that are currently available at a low cost due to lack of demand. “It is a very good opportunity to invest and make acquisitions to get ready with your portfolio of decarbonisation implementation technology.”

NESR is spearheading environmental innovation on multiple fronts, deploying technologies across water management, flare elimination, emissions detection, heat capture, and energy transition (CCUS & Hydrogen) and now pushing into minerals for the energy transition, recently signing an agreement with Aramco for the region’s first direct lithium extraction (DLE) project.

Foda sees the greatest potential for technology breakthrough in decarbonisation, in particular addressing the economics of decarbonisation. For example if recycling produced water were made economically viable, it would be much more widely practiced. “We need to break through the economics of materials, for example DLE technology to extract lithium,” he said.

At ADIPEC, NESR will be focusing on unconventional development and minerals, such as rare earth minerals. “We have a very cool technology we want to present at ADIPEC,” Foda said. Watch this space!

Concluding, Foda declared himself “super positive” about the future, seeing “the post-conflict box of opportunity”.

The newly established MoU outlines a comprehensive framework designed to integrate the energy sectors of both nations more closely.

In a decisive move to safeguard global energy markets, Saudi Arabia is actively considering storing its crude oil and petroleum products within Egypt.

This strategic pivot comes in direct response to the profound disruptions experienced earlier this year, when Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent shockwaves through international oil supplies.

The announcement, which underscores the deepening ties between the two Middle Eastern powerhouses, was formally cemented through a new memorandum of understanding (MoU). The landmark agreement was signed in Riyadh on Sunday by the energy ministers of both nations, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and his Egyptian counterpart, Karim Badawi. By looking to Egypt’s geographical advantages and expanding infrastructure, the world’s largest oil exporter is actively seeking robust alternatives to ensure maximum export capacity during periods of geopolitical crisis.

Strengthening bilateral petroleum cooperation

The newly established MoU outlines a comprehensive framework designed to integrate the energy sectors of both nations more closely. The Egyptian petroleum and mineral resources ministry confirmed that the deal was inked “for enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of petroleum, natural gas, and their derivatives,” signalling a long-term commitment to joint energy security.

According to a statement published on the ministry's website, the strategic vision behind the agreement is broad and multifaceted. “The MoU aims to expand cooperation and integration between the oil and energy sectors of both countries, maximizing the utilisation of available capabilities and expertise,” the ministry outlined.

To achieve these ambitious goals, the partnership will focus on a variety of critical operational areas. The ministry further detailed the practical steps that will be taken: “This will be achieved by strengthening cooperation in the trade, handling, transportation, storage, and distribution of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas, as well as developing the infrastructure and logistics services associated with these activities…this will support the efficiency of energy markets and enhance the resilience and reliability of supply chains and energy security.”

Key Areas of Cooperation Outlined in the MoU:

• Enhanced trade and handling of crude oil and petroleum products.

• Joint development of transportation and distribution networks.

• Strategic storage of natural gas and oil reserves in Egypt.

• Significant investments in associated infrastructure and logistics services.

Mitigating the impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis

The urgency of this bilateral agreement is deeply rooted in recent geopolitical turbulence. In late February, the eruption of the US-Iran conflict culminated in the unprecedented closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow, highly strategic waterway is a critical artery for the global economy, typically handling nearly 20 per cent of the world’s seaborne oil trade. Its sudden bottleneck severely compromised the stability of international energy markets.

To counter this vulnerability, Saudi Arabia has been working round the clock to offset the resulting decline in export capabilities. The Kingdom's primary strategy has been to boost its export volumes via a network of pipelines that deliberately bypass the contentious straits. However, the addition of Egyptian storage facilities introduces a vital new layer of redundancy and logistical flexibility, ensuring that Saudi crude can reach global markets even if primary shipping lanes are compromised.

Egypt’s expanding role in energy logistics

For Egypt, the agreement perfectly aligns with its own domestic and regional ambitions. The nation has recently embarked on extensive plans to expand its oil and gas storage facilities, a programme that was notably accelerated following the US-Iran conflict and the subsequent maritime disruptions. By positioning itself as a secure, high-capacity hub for Saudi oil, Egypt is reinforcing its status as a vital logistical bridge between the energy-rich Gulf and the energy-hungry markets of Europe and beyond.

Ultimately, this collaborative approach between Riyadh and Cairo highlights a crucial evolution in energy security strategies. By prioritising infrastructure development, shared expertise, and supply chain resilience, both nations are taking proactive steps to stabilise global markets against future uncertainties. The successful implementation of this MoU will not only fortify the energy sectors of Saudi Arabia and Egypt but will also provide a much-needed buffer for the broader international economy.