Energy Efficiency as a Decarbonisation Accelerator
Building on discussions held during IDW 2025 in Istanbul, the panel ''Making the Future Work – Preparing for the Next-Gen Downstream'' revisited the role of energy efficiency as one of the fastest and most cost-effective pathways to industrial decarbonisation. The discussion reinforced that operational improvements and technology upgrades continue to provide immediate emissions reductions while supporting longer-term net-zero strategies.
Moderator:
Andrew Inglis, Director, ETASCA
Panelists:
Fabien Lundy, EMEA Commercial Vice President, AXENS
Fadi Mhaini, VP & General Manager, MENA, LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY
Sanjay Lodha, Global Business Director, TUBACEX
Emre Kuzu, Regional Director, Honeywell UOP
Panelists agreed that low-capex "quick wins" offer the most cost-effective Scope 1 and Scope 2 abatement levers compared with capital-intensive electrification or hydrogen options.
- Anti-fouling heat exchanger coatings delivering approximately 7% fuel gas savings.
- Combustion air preheating, heat recovery networks, and digital controls.
- Holistic, plant-wide optimization programs (20+ applications) demonstrating measurable Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reductions.
While electrification and hydrogen heating can achieve deep abatement, these solutions remain capex-heavy, grid-dependent, and contingent on low-carbon hydrogen availability.
Optimising Molecule Management to Maximise Margins
Catalyst innovation was spotlighted as a key enabler of downstream profitability.
- Continuous R&D is yielding new generations of catalysts with higher selectivity, yield, and lower carbon footprints.
- The transition to non-mineral feeds (UCO, vegetable oils, plastic pyrolysis oils) introduces impurities requiring flexible yet selective catalyst systems.
- Integrated process–catalyst design enables molecule-level optimization—routing the "right molecule to the right place"—with hydrocracking conversion efficiencies of up to 99.8%.
- Case studies demonstrated advanced coatings on CDU preheat trains cutting fuel gas by 7%, with paybacks under 12 months.
Skills & Workforce Readiness for the Future Plant
The panel emphasized that talent gaps represent one of the sector's most pressing challenges.
- Average tenure in oil & gas is now around 5 years, compared with approximately 20 years previously, while tech-sector roles average just 1–2 years.
- Companies are addressing this through early engagement, competitive career development, and cross-functional rotations.
- Training and competency development now leverage AI-driven learning platforms, Centres of Excellence, and international workshops.
- The industry is also seeing positive cultural change, with greater diversity and inclusion, alongside university curricula increasingly focused on biofeeds and sustainability.
Panelists stressed that the industry's ability to deliver real engineering solutions, operate critical infrastructure, and contribute to CO2 reduction remains one of its strongest attractions for the next generation of engineers.
The closing panel discussion underscored that the downstream sector must simultaneously manage execution risk, cost pressure, and decarbonisation while fostering innovation in catalysts and addressing workforce challenges. The consensus was clear: success will depend on combining low-capex efficiency improvements, molecule-level process optimization, and continued investment in people as well as technology.
