Istanbul
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Argus Bitumen & Asphalt Europe Conference

Istanbul, Türkiye
5 - 7 May 2025
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163days remaining
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2024 Agenda

12:00 - 13:30

Registration and lunch

13:30 - 13:35

Conference welcome

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Devina Singh

Conference Producer
Argus
13:35 - 13:40

Chairperson’s opening remarks

Keyvan Hedvat

Keyvan Hedvat

Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen
Argus
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

Keyvan Hedvat

Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen
Argus
Tom Woodlock

Tom Woodlock

Market Reporter
Argus
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 bitumen

Speakers Include:

Inge van Vilsteren

Inge van Vilsteren

Road-pavement Sustainability Coordinator
Rijkswaterstaat
Dineke van der Burg

Dineke van der Burg

Senior Advisor
Rijkswaterstaat
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 partnerships

Speakers Include:

Brice Delaporte

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

Irina Cotiuga

Technical Manager
Nordbit GmbH & Co. KG
Matt Tallon

Matt Tallon

Sustainability Director
FM CONWAY
Keyvan Hedvat

Keyvan Hedvat

Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen
Argus
Jose Javier Garcia Pardenilla 300x300

José Javier García Pardenilla

Managing Director, Ditecpesa Asphalt Products
Ferrovial
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

Erik Denneman

Global Technical Manager
Puma Energies
Mario Sandor

Mario Sandor

Head of Business Management Asphalt Performance, EMEA
BASF
Much Asphalt (Pty) Limited

Olaf Grodotzki

Managing Director
GBS mbH & Co. KG
Tom Woodlock

Tom Woodlock

Market Reporter
Argus
Magdalena Machura

Magdalena Machura

Sr. Business Development Manager
Cargill
17:00 - 17:10

Closing remarks

Keyvan Hedvat

Keyvan Hedvat

Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen
Argus
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

Jonathan Weston

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead
Argus

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 region

irina

Irina Vinogradova

Senior Manager - Consulting
Argus
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

Arnaud Wache

Business Development Manager
Continental 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 developments

Panel speakers:

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Pierre Seghezzi

Bitumen International Supply Manager
Total Energies
Jonathan Weston

Jonathan Weston

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead
Argus
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Johanna Andréasson

Group Strategy Manager
Nynas
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?

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Sarah Tucker

Editor
Argus
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

Guadalupe Calienes

Director
GCN Suisse
Leon van Duivendijk

Leon van Duivendijk

Managing Director
Iver Ships B.V
Jonathan Weston

Jonathan Weston

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead
Argus
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 business

Hanieh Zadeh

Hanieh Zadeh

Chief Executive Officer
Skytrade Global
Bennie Greyling

Bennie Greyling

Managing Director
Much Asphalt (Pty) Limited
Keyvan Hedvat

Keyvan Hedvat

Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen
Argus
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 emissions

Speakers Include:

Jonathan Weston

Jonathan Weston

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead
Argus
Sebastian Miesem

Sebastian Miesem

Managing Director
FAME 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 specifications

Speakers Include:

Keyvan Hedvat

Keyvan Hedvat

Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen
Argus
Kit Haubjerg Mogensen

Kit Haubjerg Mogensen

Lead Output Specialist
Renescience A/S a part of Ørsted A/S
Irina Cotiuga

Irina Cotiuga

Technical Manager
Nordbit 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

Jan-Erik Lundmark

Senior Advisor and National Coordinator Pavement Maintenance
Swedish Transport Administration
Tom Woodlock

Tom Woodlock

Market Reporter
Argus
Christian Jacobi

Christian Jacobi

Managing Director of Grisard Road Building Materials
Grisard
Matteo Lenzi

Matteo Lenzi

Shipbroker
Great Circle Chartering
16:45

Closing remarks

Jonathan Weston

Jonathan Weston

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead
Argus

Agenda

If you have any questions about the agenda, please contact devina.singh@argusmedia.com