The 28th edition of ERTC took place in the vibrant city of Lisbon, which was proudly co-hosted by Galp!

This year’s ERTC marked another important milestone as it continued to grow into a truly global platform, bringing together refiners from across the world. With Europe’s refining sector facing strong international competition, understanding its position in the global landscape had never been more crucial. That’s why we were pleased to welcome perspectives from major industry players like Aramco, Petrobras, Petronas, ADNOC, and YPF, who joined Europe’s refining leaders to share their views on the future of refining.

The key themes for ERTC 2024 and beyond were clear: future-proofing existing assets and embracing decarbonisation technologies. Over three days, we created an agenda that offered valuable insights and practical solutions to help address key challenges—whether that was getting the most out of existing assets, navigating an evolving regulatory landscape, or preparing for long-term investments.

Day 1 was dedicated to making the most of existing assets. Attendees explored feedstock availability, the latest catalyst technologies, and real-world case studies on operational excellence. Day 2 focused on regulation, competition, and efficiency. It began with Galp’s welcome address, which highlighted their latest innovations at the Sines refinery. The day continued with a deep dive into Europe’s standing on the global stage, followed by the eagerly anticipated Taking the Pulse session, and concluded with a celebration of industry excellence at the ERTC Awards. Day 3 looked ahead to the future of refining. Discussions centered on integrating carbon capture and hydrogen production into operations, identifying the next wave of investment, and examining how AI would transform refinery processes in the near future. These pivotal questions shaped the conversations of the day.

At the World Refining Association, we remained committed to supporting businesses, ensuring that the downstream industry stayed competitive and thrived in the evolving energy landscape. We hoped attendees found the sessions as inspiring and enriching as we did in preparing them.

Read the full newspaper below to get an overview of ERTC and the downstream refining industry.

11 – 14 November 2024  |   Lisbon, Portugal

THE LARGEST GATHERING OF REFINING AND PETROCHEMICAL LEADERSHIP WITHIN EUROPE