Welcome to NARTC Insights – your hub for the latest reports, event updates, speaker perspectives, and industry announcements from North America’s leading downstream event and our partners.
The Workforce Challenge Refiners Can’t Ignore
As the refining industry continues to evolve, workforce capability is emerging as one of the sector’s most significant long-term challenges. During discussions with the NARTC Advisory Board, leaders highlighted growing concerns around knowledge retention, succession planning and attracting the next generation of talent as experienced professionals retire and workforce expectations continue to shift. read more
AI in Refining: Beyond the Hype
Artificial intelligence continues to dominate conversations across the refining sector, with companies exploring how digital technologies can improve operational performance, efficiency and decision-making. However, discussions with the NARTC Advisory Board revealed a more measured industry perspective emerging; one focused less on experimentation and more on practical value creation. While enthusiasm around AI remains high, many refiners continue to face challenges around data quality, infrastructure readiness and governance. read more
Operational Excellence Wins Again
In an industry increasingly shaped by volatility and disruption, many refiners are reassessing what truly drives long-term performance. While digital transformation, diversification and new technologies continue to dominate industry conversations, leaders across the NARTC Advisory Board consistently returned to a simpler theme: the companies performing strongest today are those executing the fundamentals exceptionally well. read more
Refining Through Uncertainty
For North American refiners, volatility is no longer the exception, it is the operating environment. As geopolitical tensions, policy shifts and fluctuating trade dynamics continue to reshape global energy markets, leaders across the NARTC Advisory Board discussed how the industry is adapting to a future defined by ongoing uncertainty. read more
Refining Resilience in the Eye of Regulatory Uncertainty
When NARTC’s Advisory Board convened following new U.S. tariffs, the refining sector faced a wave of regulatory uncertainty and economic volatility. Half a year later, optimism has given way to pragmatism as North American refiners focus on resilience, efficiency, and readiness for the next market cycle. read more
NARTC 2025 Advisory Board Key Takeaways
Read the key takeaways from the NARTC 2025 advisory board meeting, led by Marathon, Chevron, Par Pacific, McKinsey & Co, CVR Energy and more. read more
Calmer waters, but risk of a coming storm
Wood Mackenzie's outlook reveals global oil and refining dynamics. Explore market trends, geopolitical shifts, and projections for the year ahead. In partnership with Hydrocarbon Engineering. read more
Evaluating New Opportunities in North American Downstream
Ahead of NARTC 2024, take a deep dive into how investors in North American refineries are tackling adversarial winds and evaluating new opportunities. read more
Meet the Speaker: Roger Nounou, mPACT2WO (Molex)
Ahead of NARTC 2023, the WRA sat down with Roger Nounou, Global Sales Director at mPACT2WO, to find out more about their business and what they're looking forward to at the conference. read more
Refining: The Cost of Covid on the Industry
Refining has experienced its fair share of cyclical peaks and troughs – but challenges that were not necessarily insurmountable. As Covid-19 continues to restrict growth, many industries have had to reconsider their positions. David Stent examines how the pandemic has hit the global sector. read more
Reducing Emissions: The Goal for Refineries Remaining Competitive in the Transition
Refiners have been targeted as primary emissions culprits, yet such perceptions overlook the real and tangible efforts refiners are engaging with in order to reduce their impact on the planet. read more
Downstream Myths Debunked: The thoughts of an Arts Graduate
Read this opinion piece from an Arts Graduate starting her career in the Oil and Gas Industry and sharing her early learnings about the oil and gas production process. read more
