Antonio Joyanes on Moeve’s Energy Park Transformation and the Future of Green Fuels in Europe
Antonio Joyanes, EVP Energy Parks at Moeve, shares his perspective on the future of European refining, from the challenges of global competitiveness and regulation to the opportunities presented by AI, digitalisation and emerging green fuel markets. He highlights the role of operational excellence, infrastructure and investment in helping refiners adapt to a changing energy landscape.
José L. Mesa on Strengthening European Refining Competitiveness Through Operational Excellence
José L. Mesa, VP, Refining, Terminals & Pipelines at bp, shares his perspective on the challenges facing European refining, from rising costs and global competition to the growing importance of operational excellence and flexibility. He highlights how technology, digitalisation and closer integration between refining and trading can strengthen competitiveness and maximise the value of existing assets.
Looking to 2030, Arces envisions Versalis as a leader in sustainable chemistry, combining operational excellence with partnerships across the value chain to drive Europe’s climate goals and industrial competitiveness.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Luis Cabra
The World Refining Association is proud to announce Luis Cabra, Executive Managing Director and Deputy CEO at Repsol, & President of FuelsEurope & Concawe, as the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the global refining industry.
LATAM Petrochemical Outlook 2026: AI in Petrochemicals—From Industry Buzzword to Operational Tool
Artificial intelligence is dominating conversations across the energy sector, but how are petrochemical companies actually using it? This preview from the LATAM Petrochemical Outlook 2026 explores where AI is delivering measurable value across refining and petrochemical operations.
LATAM Petrochemical Outlook 2026: Why Refinery–Petrochemical Integration Is Becoming a Strategic Priority
Closer integration between refining and petrochemical operations was a recurring theme throughout the LARTC Petrochemical Advisory Board. Explore why companies are looking beyond traditional operating models to improve efficiency, resilience and long-term competitiveness.
LATAM Petrochemical Outlook 2026: Can Vaca Muerta Unlock the Next Wave of Petrochemical Growth?
Vaca Muerta emerged as one of the most significant opportunities discussed during the LARTC Petrochemical Advisory Board. Discover why industry leaders see growing feedstock availability as a catalyst for downstream investment across Latin America.
LATAM Petrochemical Outlook 2026: Why Competitiveness Has Become the Industry’s Biggest Challenge
Global overcapacity, rising operating costs and increasing competition are reshaping the LATAM petrochemical industry. Discover one of the key insights from the LATAM Petrochemical Outlook 2026 before downloading the full report.
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.
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.
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.
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.