How Digitalisation and Advanced Materials are Reshaping Technical Services in Asian Refining
The Asian refining sector is currently navigating a period of intense pressure, driven by volatile margins, fluctuating demand, and increasingly strict environmental mandates. Against this backdrop, incremental process optimisations are no longer enough. According to Chiu Gha Uai, Senior Manager of Technical Services (Asia) at Aspen Aerogels Inc., a fundamental technological shift is redefining what […]
First Refinery in Thailand to Pioneer “Carbon Capture” Bangchak Partners with BIG to Build on Carbon Utilization Collaboration with AIT and Mitico Turning CO₂ from Waste into Resources
On October 7, 2025, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited held a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BIG to study the feasibility of utilizing carbon dioxide (CO₂ Utilization). The collaboration aims to explore ways to convert captured CO₂ into valuable resources, marking the continuation of Bangchak’s partnership with the Asian Institute of […]
From Profit to Resilience- Today’s Priorities for Tomorrow’s Energy Transition
Refining and petrochemical companies are fighting on multiple fronts: low margins, volatile markets, aging assets, and the mounting pressure of the energy transition. For many, survival means making short-term fixes that only erode long-term competitiveness. However, a different approach is possible. By shifting from defensive cost-cutting to proactive margin optimisation, operators can unlock hidden value […]
“Operational Excellence is Human First, Systems Second”
In today’s downstream and industrial landscape, executives are caught in a constant tension: accelerate change to stay competitive while maintaining stability, safety, and engagement in increasingly complex environments. The instinctive answer is often to enforce tighter standards, roll out new systems, and demand stricter compliance. However, as we’ve seen in our work with Operations Excellence […]
Driving Innovation in Process Efficiency: UNICAT’s Advanced Solutions for the Refining and Petrochemical Industries
In the refining and petrochemical industries, the cleanliness and efficiency of process systems are vital for stable operations, product quality, and cost control. Contaminants such as particulate matter can quickly degrade solvent quality, increase regeneration requirements, and drive up operating costs. Similarly, inefficiencies in hydrogen purification reduce recovery and limit overall plant performance. Addressing these […]
A Tri-Party Approach to Maximising Propylene Through Operational Excellence, Innovative Catalysts, and Hardware Design
Boheng Ma, Strategic Marketing Manager, W.R. Grace & Co. In the September 2025 issue of Hydrocarbon Processing, Grace profiles a case study of the propylene yield improvements attained by a refiner aiming to optimise catalytic solutions for HS-FCC hardware design. The article discusses the collaborative approach Grace, and the refiner took to optimise the catalyst […]
From Black Box to Transparent Advisor: The Next Evolution of APC and AI
Introduction: The Trust Gap in Plant AI Advanced Process Control (APC) has long been the workhorse of the downstream industry, quietly ensuring stable operations, improved yields, and better energy efficiency. Yet despite decades of success, APC systems are often treated as “black boxes”: they make adjustments, but operators are left wondering why. The same problem […]
How Thailand’s Downstream Sector is Leading ASEAN’s Energy Transition
Thailand’s downstream oil and petrochemical industries face a critical crossroad: to decarbonise and meet the country’s ambitious goals of carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065. This transition is complex, driven by both domestic policy and international market pressures. In this article, Dr. Ruengsak Thitiratsakul, Advisor of Petroleum and Energy Institute of Thailand […]
PETRONAS Delivers Malaysia’s First Locally Blended SAF, Marking Breakthrough in Aviation Decarbonisation
12 September 2025 – PETRONAS has successfully delivered Malaysia’s first blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to KL International Airport (KLIA) for the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), establishing PETRONAS’ in-house capability and readiness to provide continuous, scalable supply in Malaysia. Locally blended at PETRONAS’ blending facilities, the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC)-certified SAF, which meets CORSIA-eligible fuel requirements, […]
Addressing Operational Challenges in Asia Pacific’s Petrochemical Sector
Written by: Yotaro Sen, Industry Consultant, Asset Lifecycle Intelligence Division, Hexagon Owner operators in the Asia Pacific region are navigating a complex landscape marked by ageing infrastructure, workforce transitions, and increasing regulatory and safety demands. As plants strive to modernise, they face persistent challenges: fragmented data, inconsistent procedures, and a growing need to retain and […]