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The Middle East's Downstream Industry: Ensuring Relevance and Strengthening its Role as a Global Essential Provider of Clean and Affordable Energy
Post-Event Review: ME-TECH, Dubai, March 2024
Despite the enduring challenges experienced throughout 2023 and the first quarter of 2024; from geopolitical unrest, volatile feedstock prices, fluctuating demand for final products, and compounded by outcomes from the COP28 conference, the Middle East's refining and petrochemical industries have shown remarkable resilience. With a steadfast commitment to optimising production and maintaining relevance in both local and global markets, the industry demonstrated agility in navigating complex production landscapes.
In light of the absence of a "silver bullet" solution for the industry's pressing challenges, ME-TECH 2024 was once again the region's premier technical event for the downstream sector. Over the course of the three-day event, featuring two pre-conference seminars exclusively dedicated to regional refining and petrochemical clusters, proudly hosted by Wood Plc. and Honeywell, the event provided comprehensive and technology-driven insights.
The increasingly stringent climate objectives and forthcoming regulations have propelled the downstream industry into a new phase of reinvention to maintain its relevance. At ME-TECH 2024 (Middle East Technology Forum for Refining & Petrochemicals), pivotal discussions addressed the imperative need for better use and implementation of emissions reduction and control tools.
“For me it is the first time I have seen such open collaboration between many different companies ,sharing ideas and innovations, to see how we can bring the new technologies to market and I think we have seen a lot of partnerships taking place and this is really helping to reduce schedules bringing to commercialisation.” said Colin Chapman, President of EPC, during the opening remarks of ME-TECH 2024.
The 14th edition of ME-TECH started with two highly engaging and insightful pre-conference seminars. The morning session, hosted by Wood, kicked off with the theme “Delivering a sustainable future for downstream industries in the Middle East”. Meanwhile, the afternoon seminar, led by Honeywell, delved into “Navigating the Energy Transition: Accelerating Progress in the Face of Urgency”.
“It was very educational, useful and efficient event about technology business and services. I am very pleased to attend this event which also allow us to network” - SOCAR TÜRKİYE
The two-day conference then tackled the paramount challenges and promising opportunities confronting the downstream industry. Esteemed thought leaders and domain experts, including Dr. Richard Charlesworth from S&P Global Commodity Insights, set the stage for further discussions with a keynote presentation titled 'The Outlook for Refining and Petrochemicals: An Unexpected Journey'. Key questions addressed included:
- How will global events and trends impact future oil prices?
- Will slower demand growth and supply additions signal the end of the platinum age of refining?
- When can we expect margins in basic chemicals to recover?
Following the keynote, the panelists Abdulaziz Daabash from CHEMANOL, Is'haq Al Sarhni from OQ, Mikael Berthod from OMV REFINING & MARKETING, Matt Spalding from HONEYWELL ESS, and Joe Carter from WOOD, joined the discussion. Expertly moderated by Dr. Charlesworth, the panel deliberated on various aspects of production optimization and its implications for the industry's future.
The keynote panel discussion at ME-TECH 2024 delved into critical aspects shaping the future of the downstream industry. Highlighting production optimization as the backbone of downstream profitability, panelists emphasized the need for innovative strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Moreover, discussions centered around streams and products optimization, underscored the importance of sustainable economic growth amidst evolving market dynamics.
"The event provided invaluable insights into the latest technological advancements and industry trends shaping the refining and petrochemical sectors in the Middle East and beyond. As Hydrocracker Unit Operation Engineer at OQ8, I found the presentations and discussions to be highly informative and relevant to our business. The forum facilitated meaningful networking opportunities allowing me to connect with industry experts, peers, exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations. I highly recommend the ME-TECH forum to anyone seeking to stay at the forefront of innovation and best practices in the refining and petrochemical." – OQ8
Addressing the role of Middle East downstream clusters and collaboration, experts explored opportunities for regional cooperation to navigate global energy transitions effectively. Furthermore, reflections on COP28 outcomes shed light on key takeaways for the downstream sector, prompting considerations for future strategies and regulatory adaptations. In general, the panel provided valuable insights into the industry's path towards resilience, sustainability, and adaptation in a rapidly changing landscape.
From left to right: Richard Charlesworth, Executive Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights; Matt Spalding, Vice President & General Manager, MENA Honeywell ESS; Abdulaziz Daabash, Chief Development Officer, Chemanol; Is'haq Al Sarhni, Head of Project Engineering, Downstream Business Unit, OQ; Mikael Berthod, Head Business Development & Sustainability Growth MEA, OMV Refining & Marketing; Joe Carter, Vice President, Business Development, Wood.
“Conferences organised by EPC have been always of high quality and ME-TECH this year was not an exception. Highly recommended, especially to the companies who are looking for inspirations for their headaches.” – ALFA LAVAL
The distinguished speakers at ME-TECH 2024 represented a diverse array of technology solution providers, each contributing exclusive insights aimed at accelerating the energy transition and advancing towards net-zero goals.
Among the notable companies were BASF SE, DAILY THERMETRICS, WOOD, HONEYWELL UOP, W.R. GRACE & CO., MOXBA-METREX, ALFA LAVAL, HCpect, TUBACEX GROUP, CALGAVIN, Haverly Systems, TOPSOE, EVONIK, S&P GLOBAL COMMODITY INSIGHTS, Nexson Group, Unicat Catalyst Technologies, EXXONMOBIL, LyondellBasell, IPCO, AXENS, SULZER CHEMTECH, DYNAMICS SCIENTIFIC, IMUBIT, and UNIVATION.
Their contributions spanned a spectrum of technology insights and implementation approaches, offering indispensable tools and innovations tailored to address the current needs of the downstream industry.
The key discussions at ME-TECH 2024 covered a variety of topics, reflecting the industry's diverse challenges and opportunities:
- Expanding integration of innovations between refining and petrochemical assets
- Enhancing olefin yields in FCC units and streamlining FCC catalyst optimization through digitalisation
- Implementing sustainability improvements in light olefins production, transitioning from Naphtha to Ethane & Propane
- Exploring innovative pathways in crude to chemicals complexes and devising creative decarbonization strategies for downstream units
- Optimizing and digitalizing existing production assets to achieve enhanced energy efficiency and reliability, employing Reliability 4.0 principles to prevent sudden failures
- Developing strategies for emissions reduction, improving energy efficiency, and repurposing existing assets for decarbonization efforts
- Exploring solutions such as flue gas pre-treatment, Pyoil upgrading, and solidification for conventional and advanced production streams
- Integrating renewables and Lower Emission Fuels (LEF) technologies, while maximizing the co-processing of alternative feeds
- Improving cycle length for fixed beds constrained by pressure drop and implementing sustainable recycling practices for spent catalysts
These comprehensive discussions is further proof of ME-TECH 2024's dedication to addressing industry challenges and promoting innovation and sustainability within the downstream sector.
In addition to the distinguished speaker lineup at ME-TECH 2024, the conference also benefited from expert moderation provided by industry leaders. David Mc Namara from EXXONMOBIL, Fabien Lundy from AXENS, Keith Couch from HONEYWELL UOP, Marcio Wagner da Silva from PETROBRAS, Scott Kendrick from CRYSTAPHASE, Claudia Janse van Rensburg from W.R. GRACE & CO., and Maryanne Morris and Miro Cavkov from EPC lent their expertise to ensure insightful discussions and effective facilitation throughout the two-day event.
ME-TECH 2024 facilitated many 1-2-1 meetings during dedicated networking breaks, providing attendees with valuable opportunities to delve deeper into technology and solution portfolios. These interactions added a personal touch, fostering collaboration and accelerating integration opportunities while shaping the future landscape of refining, petrochemicals and energy solutions.
At the end of the first conference day, ME-TECH 2024 featured the Exhibitor Spotlight & Happy Hour—a dynamic format comprising 10-minute technical presentations from exhibitors like AVANTIUM and CRYSTAPHASE. These presentations showcased cutting-edge process equipment and technologies designed to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions across various sectors, including refining, and petrochemical plants.
Throughout the event, the ME-TECH 2024 community—including speakers, moderators, panelists, delegates, sponsors, and exhibitors—reconnected with old acquaintances and forged new connections. By networking and exchanging ideas, each participant played a vital role in advancing the downstream industry towards greater integration, efficiency, profitability, and long-term sustainability.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed sponsors of ME-TECH 2024 for their unwavering support and dedication to driving innovation in the downstream and energy sectors: BASF SE, DAILY THERMETRICS, WOOD, HONEYWELL UOP, W.R. GRACE & CO., MOXBA-METREX, ALFA LAVAL, HCpect, TUBACEX GROUP, CALGAVIN, Haverly Systems, TOPSOE, EVONIK, S&P GLOBAL COMMODITY INSIGHTS, Nexson Group, Unicat Catalyst Technologies, EXXONMOBIL, LyondellBasell, IPCO, AXENS, SULZER CHEMTECH, DYNAMICS SCIENTIFIC, IMUBIT, and UNIVATION TECHNOLOGIES for their invaluable contributions.
Their partnership and commitment have played a pivotal role in making ME-TECH 2024 a resounding success, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to drive forward advancements in the industry.
For further information, please visit europetro.com/metech or contact directly events@europetro-me.com.