28-01-2019

PRC Europe 2019 introducing additional sessions

Petrochemical and Refining Congress Europe 2019 will take place on 20-21 May 2019 in Budapest, Hungary. Being focused on middle- and senior-level directors, it comprises a two-day business program, focus exhibition, and Danube Refinery Visitation (premises of MOL Group).
 
‘Four months before the Congress, and the business program is almost full, says Regina Chislova, the Project Director. - Based on numerous requests of our clients, we have added sessions dedicated to Catalysts and Petrochemicals, which are deemed to represent the future of downstream’.
 
The delegates of the previous Congresses agree with this statement. They also consider Petrochemistry to be the future of downstream and have high hopes for this very field:
 
László Domokos (Shell Global Solutions): “I see downstream as a mature industry that has some major transformations ahead of it. One of them is shifting from the current refinery dominated position to much more balanced in refining and petrochemicals, and the other part which will be another major transition is to decarbonize the last-time industry to get to carbon-neutral or carbon-free feedstocks and carbon-neutral carbon-free products.”
 
David Pullan (MOL Group): “So, If you look at all the figures, we saw some today, you know everybody believes that the petrochemical industry will continue to grow. I think the only thing to be a little bit careful of, especially in Europe, is that the recycling and policy might impact that a little bit and then maybe plastic will come in eventually. But for the foreseeable future, I think it’s a good business to be.”
 
Ralf Schairer (MiRO): “Actually, the analysts are saying that the refining industry is enjoying the Silver Age of refining and that is certainly true for the recent couple of years. But looking ahead in the mid- and long-term, policymakers with the translation of the climate protection and attempts to decarbonize the industry are certainly going to put a challenge on our industry. I am convinced that we will continue to need liquid fuels just for the reason of higher energy density. Nevertheless, if that needs to be done on a CO2 neutral basis, this will require a very substantial amount of investment going into our business.”
 
Besides Catalysts and Petrochemistry, a wide range of topics will be covered during the Congress.
 
On the first day the delegates will be able to attend sessions on:
* Digital Transformation. Refinery 4.0
* Operational Excellence & Asset Optimization
* Advanced Technologies for Residue Processing
 
On the second day the following topics will be discussed:
* Matching IMO Requirements
* Refinery Maintenance and Operational Reliability. Predictive Tools
* Safety Infrastructure and Environmental Impact of the Downstream Processes
* Flexible Refinery as a Refinery of the Future. Design - Technologies and Challenges
* Profile of the Downstream Industry in Low Carbon Future