Preliminary agenda

17:00-20:00

Pre-registration

18:00-20:00

Opening welcome reception

08:30

Registration

09:00

Chairperson’s welcome remarks

Nasreen Tasker, Editor – Argus Asphalt Report, Argus Media

09:10 – 10:40

09:10    Overview of shifting crude oil markets

• Current trends and challenges
• Demand and supply
• Changing market conditions
• Opec vs non-Opec production
• Light vs heavy crude spread

Richard Gorry, Director, JBC Asia

09:40    Asian refining sector outlook

• Refinery capacity additions forecast
• Asia-Pacific petroleum products demand outlook
• Potential impact of crude oil quality change on refining margins
• Implications for the refining industry

Paul Ruwe, Managing Director, Muse Stancil Asia

10:10    Fuel oil market drivers and their impact on bitumen

• What is driving the fuel oil market in Asia?
• Analysing the relationship between fuel oil and bitumen

Jason Feer, Senior Vice President/General Manager – Asia Pacific, Argus Media

10.40

Networking refreshments

11:10-18:00

This session will provide an update on the Asian supply and demand balance, as well as in-depth analysis on the selected country markets. It will provide insights on key projects’ development, current and future bitumen production and demand growth, as well as the prospects of bitumen versus concrete roads.

11:10    Updates on Asian bitumen supply and demand

• Asia supply and demand balance
• Bitumen market trends
• High-demand growth countries
• Major producers
• Country-by-country balance

Wong Kit Ling, Asia Correspondent - Argus Asphalt Report, Argus Media

11:40    Bitumen supply and demand in China

• Chinese bitumen market review: Production, consumption and prices
• Demand forecast
• Production plan and capacity expansion

Zhang Rui Hu, Director – Heavy Oil Processing Engineering Research Centre, CNOOC

12:10    Indian bitumen supply and demand analysis

• Current Indian bitumen production and development
• Bitumen demand forecast
• Indian bitumen specifications
• Indian bitumen exports: Opportunities and challenges
• Infrastructure challenges: Bitumen terminals in India

Mukul Agarwal, Managing Director, Vinergy International

Networking lunch

Analysis of Indonesia’s bitumen supply and demand

Emerging bitumen markets

17:30

Special “speed” networking session
Bring plenty of business cards. You will have the opportunity to meet almost every conference participant in this networking session.

Networking refreshment

Outlook on new evolution in Iranian bitumen market after subsidising omission

• Iran supply/demand overview
• Drums vs bulk consumption
• Emulsion and polymer bitumen consumption figures for Iran
• Role of IME
• Future expectations

Mohammad Talaian, Master Expert of R&D Department, Jey Oil Refining

Changing dynamics in Iran bitumen markets: The impact of the private sector

• Major participants in the bitumen private sector, role of private sector, percentage of total market
• Impact of sanctions on the Iran bitumen market
• Future expectations for the Iran market and private-sector growth

M T Fathi, Commercial Director, Farashimi Rooz

17:00

End of conference day one

17:00-19.30

Cocktail reception
The conference includes a special cocktail reception at the Singapore Flyer, the latest Singapore icon. At a stunning 165 metres, Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest giant observation wheel and offers panoramic views of Singapore and beyond. Participants will be transported to the Singapore Flyer VIP lounge for drinks and canapés before boarding private capsules for the rotation. Don’t miss this unique experience!  

08:30

Coffee and re-registration

09:00

Chairperson’s welcome remarks

09:10-10:40

09:10    Roads and highway construction in India: A contractor’s perspective

Mirat Bhadlawala, Executive Director, Tiki Tar Industries*

09:40    China’s highway and road construction plans

• Government policies update and how it will affect construction and asphalt demand
• Quality requirements of road bitumen products

10:10    A contractor’s perspective on bitumen

• Impact of fluctuating energy prices
• Competition between bitumen and concrete
• Future expectations

Johnny Winters, Managing Director, Romix International

10.40

Networking refreshments

11:10-12:40

11:10The growth and potential for Polymer-modified bitumen and emulsions in India

A S Prabhakar, Chief Operating Officer, Hindustan Colas Limited

11:40    Bitumen applications in economical and environmental perspectives

• Origin of bitumen and how does this influences the quality of hot mix asphalt
• Bitumen supply and logistics: How to achieve best total life value
• Application of bitumen at lower temperatures: Reducing energy and emissions
• Application of bitumen at ambient temperatures: Preserving energy resources and reducing CO2
• Outlook for bitumen applications

Johan Wortelboer, Senior Consultant, Corus Energy

12:10    From crude to quality bitumen

• The impact of crude slate changes on bitumen quality
• Can we close the future supply gap with technology?

Andreas Pörner, Chief Executive Officer, Pörner Group

12:40

Networking lunch

14:00-16:00

14:00    The evolution of bitumen pricing

• Challenges in pricing bitumen
• Bitumen production from a refiner’s perspective
• Comparison of global bitumen prices
• Asian bitumen indexing

Nasreen Tasker, Editor – Argus Asphalt Report, Argus Media

14:30    The impact of freight market to bitumen market

• Availability of ships
• Freight cost

Captain Allen Pinto, General Manager – Shipping and Logistics, Richmond Mercantile

15:00    Networking refreshments

• Shifting bitumen trade patterns in Asia
• Meeting the changing specifications
• Transportation challenges
• New sources of bitumen supply

Moderator: Nasreen Tasker, Editor – Argus Asphalt Report, Argus Media

Panellists:

More panellists will be announced.

16.15

Closing remarks and end of conference