At IDW 2025 in Istanbul, the event debuted the Collective Intelligence Networking Roundtables, focused discussions designed to spark peer‑to‑peer learning, exchange practical insights, and drive collaborative problem‑solving across the downstream community.
Below you’ll find the key takeaways from each roundtable, capturing the most valuable ideas, challenges, and solutions shared by participants.
Table 1: Best Practices and Real-Life Examples on Change Management
Moderated by Burcak Timucin, CCMP®, Organisational Change & Adaptation Group Manager, SOCAR Türkiye
- Effective change hinges on visible leadership, clarity, active listening, and culture-aligned incentives (gamification, recognition). Cultural alignment is essential.
- Continuous programs (upskilling/reskilling, digitalization, setup changes) ran sequentially and cause confusion.
- Cross-functional ownership and accountability were emphasised as key enablers of sustainable transformation.
- Agile methodologies should be adapted flexibly with a focus on responsiveness rather than rigid frameworks.
- Engineering and EPC firms stressed prioritizing high-value data in digital twin initiatives, avoiding unnecessary digitization.
- Long-running automation programs highlighted the principle of “process-first”—optimise workflows before applying technology.
- Talent pipeline challenges persist across refining and chemical sectors; attracting and retaining skilled professionals is increasingly difficult.
Table 2: Getting Quicker to the Final Investment Decision (FID)
Moderated by Leandro Labanca, Business Development Manager, AXENS
- Focus on delays in Final Investment Decision (FID) for large CAPEX projects in refining, petrochemicals, and digital transformation.
- Key causes: market uncertainty, regulatory changes, internal budget competition, data silos, and lack of stakeholder alignment.
- Digitalization, AI, and data contextualization are critical enablers to accelerate decision-making and de-risk projects.
- Trust, transparency, and alignment between investors, management, EPCs, and technology providers are essential.
- Best practices include early risk analysis, scenario simulation, and cross-industry learnings (e.g., automotive) to shorten project cycles.
Table 3: Creating the Right Ecosystem to Attract and Retain the Next Generation of Engineers
Moderated by Fabien Lundy, EMEA Commercial Vice President, AXENS
- Industry faces talent attraction and retention challenges, especially in Europe.
- Aging workforce and lack of appeal to younger generations threaten future staffing.
- Concerns about plant closures in 5–20 years impact job security perceptions.
- Partnerships with universities proposed to strengthen talent pipelines.
- Knowledge transfer from retiring employees to younger staff is critical.
Table 4: Lifetime Extension of Aging Assets
Moderated by Attila V. Szekeres, MOL Group
- Participants explored lifespan and maintenance strategies of refinery and petrochemical assets.
- Discussions included converting aging assets to align with profitability goals, sustainability targets, and development plans.
- AI applications highlighted for predictive maintenance in industrial settings.
- Insights shared on using AI to enhance refinery operations and detect failures early.
- Machine learning algorithms presented as tools for identifying risks in aging infrastructure (pipes, equipment).
- Importance of data-driven decision-making emphasised, including cost-benefit analysis and business case evaluation.
- Approaches such as lifetime extension and run-to-failure strategies were discussed.
- Use of sensors and AI for equipment reliability assessments showcased.
Table 5: Downstream Circularity – Re-refining of Spent Motor Oils
Moderated by Cem Camli, Partner, EY-Parthenon
- Regulatory push and circular economy drive used‑oil re‑refining to reduce environmental impact and waste costs.
- Outputs: Group I (lowest quality), Group II (automotive grade), Group III (high quality).
- Indicative prices: Group I $700–800/ton, Group II ~$1,000/ton, Group III up to $1,200/ton (by geography).
- Processes: Clay treatment (Group I); hydrotreatment (Group II ≈35% global market); hydrocracking growing.
- Global re‑refining market size ≈ $5 billion.
IDW 2026: The Format Returns in Dubrovnik
This year in Dubrovnik, the format is back — expanded, refined, and ready to deliver even more high‑value insights, sharper peer‑to‑peer exchanges, and practical solutions shaped directly by the downstream community. Participants can expect deeper discussions, stronger cross‑regional collaboration, and an even richer set of takeaways to bring back to their teams.
