Asian Downstream Summit, Asian Refining Technology Conference, Ammonia and Carbon Capture Asia 2024 Highlights Sustainable Solutions and Celebrates Key Individuals and Organisations

Last week, a strong turnout of industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators marked the 17th Asian Downstream Summit, Asian Refining Technology Conference, and the inaugural Ammonia and Carbon Capture Asia. The event was a resounding success, with engaging discussions and the development of promising strategies to drive sustainable growth in the region’s petrochemical and refining industries.

What’s New

This year, the event featured top-level strategic and commercially important issues impacting downstream stakeholders and provided a platform for government and regulatory bodies to share insights and updates.

In addition to that, the newly launched Ammonia and Carbon Capture Asia proved to be a significant success, with a packed theatre throughout the day, covering topics such as ammonia, hydrogen, CCUS, alternative fuels and more.

Key Highlights

Ms. Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore graced the event as the Guest of Honour who emphasised the vital role public-private partnerships play in co-creating and catalysing low carbon solutions.

She outlined three key areas of focus Singapore partnering with industry to build capabilities and test the viability of new solutions, fostering academic-industry partnerships and the Future Energy Fund to support infrastructure investments.

In addition to Minister Low’s welcome address, Jonathan Goh, Director for External Relations, Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA) also shared his insights on achieving sustainability and decarbonising energy through technology and partnerships, highlighting there is no one size fits all approach to decarbonisation.

He shares how for Singapore, natural gas will remain an integral transition fuel for the power sector in the short term and the need to establish CCS pathways to reduce carbon emissions from natural gas. He also shares how partnerships such as S Hub are essential.

AAnother key remark was from Dr. Weerawat Chantanakome, Ministry Councillor and Senior Advisor for International Affairs, Office of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Thailand, who shared key pillars of Thailand’s strategy.

This includes optimising the downstream oil and gas sector by integrating cleaner technologies, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing the competitiveness of refineries. It also includes decarbonisation initiatives such as implementing carbon pricing mechanisms to encourage lower emissions and advancing CCUS technologies, carbon recycling, as well as exploring hydrogen and ammonia as low-carbon energy carriers.

The conference concluded with a closing panel on “Charting the future of CCUS: key insights and forward strategies” which discussed

• Key advancements in CCUS technologies and their impact on efficiency
• Ensuring sustainable and safe storage through advanced monitoring and verification
• Overcoming technical barriers and reducing costs with cutting-edge solutions
• Strategies for driving market growth and adoption of CCUS
• Scalable deployment strategies for power plants and industrial sectors

Key Speakers and Sponsors

Among key speakers were

• Taufik Aditiyawarman, CEO, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional
• Kamel Ramdani, Executive Vice President of Product Innovation, PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited
• Kapil Sahni, Chief Transformation Officer, Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical
• Dr. Partha Maitra, President, Strategy & Initiatives, Reliance Industries Ltd who spoke on
• Professor Yeoh Lean Weng, Chief Sustainability Officer, A*STAR
• New Wei Siang, Director for Decarbonisation and Net-Zero Pathways, Maritime Decarbonisation Division, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
• Sanjeev Sinha, Global Head of Environmental Sustainability, Indorama Ventures

Sponsors who supported the event include gold sponsors, Axens and Becht as well as silver sponsors Aspen Aerogels, Emerson, Honeywell, Ketjen and Wolters Kluwer among others.

Recognising Industry Excellence

The annual Asian Downstream Summit Awards which honour and recognise industry visionaries and companies who have showcased outstanding performances and innovative technologies took place during the event with Ms. Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore as the guest of honour presenting the awards.

The winners of the eight categories are:

Downstream Project of the Year	PETRONAS Penapisan (Terengganu) Sdn. Bhd – Thermal Insulation Coating: A Game Changer in Eliminating Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)
Innovations in Oil & Gas Digital Technology	Angara Global – DecarbonX
Sustainable Plant of the Year	PETRONAS – Pengerang Cogeneration Plant (PCP) Energy Efficiency
Sustainable Technology of the Year	Zuno Carbon – End-To-End ESG Solution
Rising Star of the Year	Wolters Kluwer
Female Engineer of the Year	Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS – Dr. Serene Lock Sow Mun
Young Engineer of the Year	PETRONAS Group Technical Solutions Sdn. Bhd. – Irene Sow Mei Lock
Start-Up of the Year	Green Cop Pte Ltd – Enabling the Production of Bio-Butanol from Plant-Based Waste

The successful conclusion of the event highlights the region’s journey towards a sustainable future. As the industry continues to evolve, Asian Downstream Summit, Asian Refining Technology Conference and Ammonia & Carbon Capture Asia will remain crucial platforms for industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive the adoption of low-carbon solutions.

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Following its success, the Asian Downstream Summit, Asian Refining Technology Conference and Ammonia & Carbon Capture Asia will be back next year on 29 and 30 October 2025, co-located with the Singapore International Energy Week. Pencil in these dates!

To find out more about 2025 information, book a meeting with our sales team HERE to find out more.