GCC governments have been urged to step up security at critical infrastructure sites, including desalination plants and oil and gas facilities, due to concerns about the threat from Islamic State (IS) terrorists.
The alert has been sounded by senior fellow at the US-based Institute for Analysis of Global Security, Dr Kevin Rosner, who said such sites were possible targets for extremists.
He highlighted that the seizure of such facilities in Iraq and Syria, and the use of water as a weapon, should serve as a warning to other countries in the region.
“If we look at the seizure of water and power assets in Iraq and Syria by IS, it’s obvious that these energy assets were not given importance by those governments that allowed such groups to take control,” he said.
“IS is taking control of areas where there are oil wells and other resources like water.
“They are poisoning the wells so that people are deprived of drinking water. Agriculture and husbandry are also affected.”
He made the comments ahead of a two-day conference that starts today at the Gulf Hotel.
Dr Rosner will speak at the Infrastructure Security Conference (Infrasec) about asymmetric warfare and critical energy infrastructure protection.
“Critical infrastructure such as water desalination plants, power plants and oil and gas assets require to be identified and protected in the region,” he told the GDN.
“Regional governments, especially those near conflict zones, should understand the nexus between water and energy and how it is important for state stability.”
IS now controls water, food and oil supplies in strategic areas in both Iraq and Syria, as well as areas near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, on which all Iraq and much of Syria depend for food, water and industry.
Dr Rosner is calling on Gulf countries and the private sector to work together to establish “what they have and where it is”.
“Officials should know every detail of the power grid, water plants and other key infrastructure in order to plan
in case of an emergency,” he said.
“It is lot cheaper to work in advance by prioritising assets rather than after in times of conflict.”
He is now working on a pilot project with Texas University that aims to engage Gulf countries, as well as others, to come up with cost-effective security solutions to protect critical infrastructure.
Leeds University teaching fellow Dr Kevin Macnish, who is also speaking at the conference, said it was now easier than ever to launch attacks from afar using non-conventional methods.
“The ability to attack and bring down critical assets from a distance without recourse
to missiles or aeroplanes is easier now than ever before,” he said.
“Furthermore, there are hackers who will do this for a fee so that one doesn’t need the resources of the state to bring about a successful attack.
“One can invest all the money in the world on physical security and still experience a significant attack if computer systems are not subject to similar levels of security.”
The conference will conclude tomorrow and bring together authorities, regional energy professionals and international security experts
to address challenges in protecting energy assets in the Gulf.
It is being held under the patronage of Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza, who will deliver the keynote address today.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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