Argus Bitumen & Asphalt Europe Conference

09:30 - 10:10

Breakfast and networking

10:10 - 10:15

Chairperson’s opening remarks

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 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

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:

Pierre Seghezzi

Bitumen International Supply Manager

Total Energies

Jonathan Weston

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead

Argus

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?

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

Director

GCN Suisse

Leon van Duivendijk

Managing Director

Iver Ships B.V

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

Chief Executive Officer

Skytrade Global

Bennie Greyling

Managing Director

Much Asphalt (Pty) Limited

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

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead

Argus

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

Europe/Africa Editor, Bitumen

Argus

Kit Haubjerg Mogensen

Lead Output Specialist

Renescience A/S a part of Ørsted A/S

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

Senior Advisor and National Coordinator Pavement Maintenance

Swedish Transport Administration

Tom Woodlock

Market Reporter

Argus

Christian Jacobi

Managing Director of Grisard Road Building Materials

Grisard

Matteo Lenzi

Shipbroker

Great Circle Chartering

16:45

Closing remarks

Jonathan Weston

Europe & Asia Bitumen Lead

Argus