2024 Agenda
- 12:00 - 13:30
Registration and lunch
- 13:30 - 13:35
Conference welcome
Devina Singh
Conference ProducerArgus- 13:35 - 13:40
Chairperson’s opening remarks
Keyvan Hedvat
Europe/Africa Editor, BitumenArgus- 13:40 - 14:20
Argus overview: Addressing price volatility and global trade shifts in the bitumen world
• Macroeconomic view: Looking at the supply, demand and price trends since Covid and the Ukraine war.
• What impact do the EU and UK sanctions on Russian crude, oil products and bitumen had on bitumen production and supply into north and central European,
as well as Mediterranean markets?
• How has the bitumen market and its pricing responded to heightened crude and fuel oil volatility and what are the pricing alternatives for bitumen?Speakers include:
Keyvan Hedvat
Europe/Africa Editor, BitumenArgusTom Woodlock
Market ReporterArgus- 14:20 - 14:40
☆ Keynote speech: Green initiatives: Developments in eco-incentives and promising areas in the road sector
• A professional market benefits from openness.
• Key developments in the infrastructure sector in asphalt production, sustainability and durability, and joint research
• Public-private partnership on the development of sustainable bitumenSpeakers Include:
Inge van Vilsteren
Road-pavement Sustainability CoordinatorRijkswaterstaatDineke van der Burg
Senior AdvisorRijkswaterstaat- 14:50 - 15:10
Refiner landscape keynote
• What’s the refinery margin outlook and are we about to enter a wave of refinery closures with possible switch to bio-refineries?
• What impact will the looming phaseout of gasoline and diesel have on the refining sector and what implications will it have on Bitumen in the years ahead?
• How will crude oil fluctuations change the trade relations between different market players in the supply chain?- 15:10 - 15:30
Coffee and networking break
- 15.30 - 15.45
French road industry with a roadmap for decarbonization
• French decarbonization roadmap of the asphalt industry, in compliance with the "fit for 55" objective of the EU
• Decarbonization pillars detailed and quantified
• Solutions for generating dialogue with public and private partnershipsSpeakers Include:
Brice Delaporte
Director of Technical Affairs, Routes de France- 15:45 - 16:20
Panel discussion: New roads and climate change: Keeping up with decarbonisation and innovative construction and infrastructure plans
• Taking notes on new road construction projects in Europe – outlook and demand
• Circular economy: With the growing demand to reduce transport emissions, what are the carbon-neutral strategies being adopted?
• What measures do producers, buyers and traders in the Bitumen-asphalt sector need to take to start achieving global net zero targets?Speakers Include:
Irina Cotiuga
Technical ManagerNordbit GmbH & Co. KGMatt Tallon
Sustainability DirectorFM CONWAYKeyvan Hedvat
Europe/Africa Editor, BitumenArgusJosé Javier García Pardenilla
Managing Director, Ditecpesa Asphalt ProductsFerrovial- 16:20 - 17:00
Asphalt and Bitumen performance: Exploring the triad of quality, performance and transparency
• Green is the new black: Biogenic bitumen and improved durability; reducing the carbon footprint of the entire bitumen life cycle.
• Warm mix additives: Lower costs and a safe work environment with bio-based bitumen modifiers enabling to decarbonize and improve quality
• Asphalt demand and performance with the advent of Recycled Asphalt Pavements (RAP)
• How to adapt to the current trend of pavement engineering?: Is Re-refined Engine Oil Bottom (REOB) replacing standard bitumen?Erik Denneman
Global Technical ManagerPuma EnergiesMario Sandor
Head of Business Management Asphalt Performance, EMEABASFOlaf Grodotzki
Managing DirectorGBS mbH & Co. KGTom Woodlock
Market ReporterArgusMagdalena Machura
Sr. Business Development ManagerCargill- 17:00 - 17:10
Closing remarks
Keyvan Hedvat
Europe/Africa Editor, BitumenArgus- 17:10 - 19:00
Drinks reception hosted by Trafigura
- 09:30 - 10:10
Breakfast and networking
- 10:10 - 10:15
Chairperson’s opening remarks
Jonathan Weston
Europe & Asia Bitumen LeadArgus
Mapping Bitumen: Updates Around The World
- 10:15 - 10:40
How has the international trade outlook been affected by Russian sanctions, capacity evolution, inflation and other key drivers?
• What is the impact of crude slate change due to Russian sanctions, capacity evolution and utilisation rates?
• Turkish, Greek, Italian and Spanish demand outlook featuring key infrastructure projects, inflation affect, etc
• Understanding the overview of key international trade routes out of Europe, including Mediterranean to North Africa and North west Europe and the scope for Americas and Asia volumes in the regionIrina Vinogradova
Senior Manager - ConsultingArgus- 10:40 - 11:00
Impact of environmental targets on bitumen demand and quality in Europe
• Impact of environmental targets on bitumen demand and quality in Europe
• Why environmental targets are impacting bitumen demand and why bitumen quality will play a growing role in the future?
• What the bitumen binder of the future is likely to look like?Speakers Include:
Arnaud Wache
Business Development ManagerContinental Bitumen Colas- 11:00 - 11:25
Comprehensive look into supply and demand developments in Europe and Africa
• Why and how future demands for bitumen will be impacted by pressures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions?
• CO2 emissions reduction and emergence of new bitumen champions : impact on European supply/demand balance Where will the future bitumen come from?: Regional demands and developments
• Where will the future bitumen come from?: Regional demands and developmentsPanel speakers:
Pierre Seghezzi
Bitumen International Supply ManagerTotal EnergiesJonathan Weston
Europe & Asia Bitumen LeadArgusJohanna Andréasson
Group Strategy ManagerNynas- 11:25 - 11:50
What’s happening in the Americas: How is the market evolving to optimize price differences owing to seasonal demands, shifting trade relations and the effect of uplifting of sanctions?
• How is the market approach evolving and what are the price trends and regional demand indicating?
• When and how will the surge in asphalt production affect the trade flows and relations in the Americas?
• The aftereffect: Understanding transatlantic arbitrage into America amid impending uncertainty around and beyond lifting of sanctions and what effect will it have on European exports?Sarah Tucker
EditorArgus- 11:50 - 12:50
Morning coffee break
Testing, Tracing And Transparency
- 12:50 - 13:30
Regulatory compliance in transport: Building a sustainable business through ETS monitoring
• Monitoring the impact of the new EU ETS on the shipping sector
• Movement of bitumen: What current strategies exist for implementing EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) in the shipping sector?
• Will shipowners and charterers face additional carbon costs under the new system?Speakers Include:
Guadalupe Calienes
DirectorGCN SuisseLeon van Duivendijk
Managing DirectorIver Ships B.VJonathan Weston
Europe & Asia Bitumen LeadArgus- 13:30 - 15:00
Networking lunch
Final Run: Exploring A Growing Market; And Travelling Through The Supply Chain
- 15:00 - 15:35
Fireside chat: Spotlight on sub-Saharan African markets: Risks and rewards during major shifts Fireside chat: Spotlight on sub-Saharan African markets: Risks and rewards during major shifts
• What are the price trends and opportunities in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya?
• Insights into factors affecting bitumen in east/central African markets and the outlook for construction activity following the Red Sea shipping crisis in 2024
• Zero harm goal: Reducing carbon intensity with cutting-edge technology in a bid to grow a sustainable businessHanieh Zadeh
Chief Executive OfficerSkytrade GlobalBennie Greyling
Managing DirectorMuch Asphalt (Pty) LimitedKeyvan Hedvat
Europe/Africa Editor, BitumenArgus- 15:35 - 16:00
Networking break
Roundtable: Through the supply chain
- 16:00 - 17:00
I: Relevance of bitumen for the CO2 balance of asphalt
• Quality specification: Refining and upgrading of Bitumen for maintaining the optimum quality
• Identifying the effect of chemical composition, asphalt performance and CO2 emissionsSpeakers Include:
Jonathan Weston
Europe & Asia Bitumen LeadArgusSebastian Miesem
Managing DirectorFAME TC GmbH- 16:00 - 17:00
II: Bitumen quality resilience: While adapting to the supply chain amid diversifying suppliers, how to maintain bitumen quality?
• What do the new unconventional forms of bitumen contain? What does the supplier soften the bitumen with?
• Asphalt producers have experienced fluctuations in bitumen product quality in recent years, necessitating openness regarding monitoring and testing procedures: What are the different practices of quality control?
• Navigating environmental challenges and strategizing to evolve with latest pavement grade specificationsSpeakers Include:
Keyvan Hedvat
Europe/Africa Editor, BitumenArgusKit Haubjerg Mogensen
Lead Output SpecialistRenescience A/S a part of Ørsted A/SIrina Cotiuga
Technical ManagerNordbit GmbH & Co. KG- 16:00 - 17:00
III: With Bitumen moving longer distances, how to navigate the transport and logistical challenges?
• Discussion on the latest trends on sustainability in bitumen transport and quality assurance
• How to optimise the supply chain with increase in the freight costs?
• Addressing unpredictability in logistics owing to environmental standards, how is the transport department taking optimum measures and what are the challenges ahead?Speakers Include:
Jan-Erik Lundmark
Senior Advisor and National Coordinator Pavement MaintenanceSwedish Transport AdministrationTom Woodlock
Market ReporterArgusChristian Jacobi
Managing Director of Grisard Road Building MaterialsGrisardMatteo Lenzi
ShipbrokerGreat Circle Chartering- 16:45
Closing remarks
Jonathan Weston
Europe & Asia Bitumen LeadArgus