< LARTC Homepage

This article is part of the World Refining Association Forecast Report 2026: Latin America Series, highlighting key insights from a closed-door Advisory Board discussion held ahead of LARTC 2026.

The discussion brought together senior leaders from organizations including YPF, Ecopetrol, Petrobras, Pemex, ANCAP, ENAP, Pan-American Energy, Raizen, Airbus, Axens, Topsoe, McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Arthur D. Little, and Becht, who shared perspectives on the strategic priorities shaping the region’s refining industry.

Each article in this series explores one of the themes that emerged from that conversation.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) presents both opportunity and complexity for Latin American refiners. For many refiners, co-processing renewable feedstocks in existing refinery units represents a pragmatic near-term pathway, offering lower capital intensity, faster deployment, and alignment with emerging regulatory requirements.

Brazil’s regulatory mandate requires airlines to incorporate SAF by 2027, creating built-in demand, while greenfield SAF production remains a long-term, capital-intensive option.

Feedstock availability is a key constraint, with sustainability criteria and certification requirements varying across markets. Industrial-scale production continues to face significant challenges in moving from pilot projects to commercially viable operations.

Demand-side dynamics add further complexity. Airlines face a high-cost, limited-availability fuel, creating tension between regulatory obligations and operational realities. Weak price signals leave questions about who absorbs additional costs — producers or consumers.

Refiners are actively exploring SAF readiness, highlighting the need for careful, coordinated planning.

Scaling low-carbon refining solutions will require strong collaboration across the value chain, including partnerships with feedstock suppliers, technology providers, airlines, and policymakers.

Looking Ahead to LARTC 2026

 These insights will also help shape the agenda for the Latin American Refining Technology Conference (LARTC) 2026, where industry leaders will gather in Buenos Aires to discuss the future of refining in the region.

Discussions will focus on operational resilience, decarbonization strategies, regulatory realities, investment priorities, and digital transformation — all critical topics for refiners navigating today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.

We look forward to welcoming the industry to Buenos Aires and continuing these conversations with refinery leaders from across Latin America and beyond.