“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 […]
Digital Transformation in Turnaround Management: How AP-Networks’ Turnaround Network Platform Drives Predictable, Competitive Outcomes
By John Crager, Vice President/GM at AP-Vantage (Asset Performance Networks) Executive Summary The energy and petrochemical industries face mounting pressure to execute shutdowns, turnarounds, and outages (STOs) with greater predictability while managing increasing complexity. AP-Networks’ Turnaround Network addresses this challenge through a comprehensive digital platform that transforms traditional turnaround management. By combining data-driven tools, industry […]
Capturing Margins Through Timely and Accurate Crude Evaluations
Refineries today operate in a landscape marked by unprecedented volatility in crude oil markets, driven by geopolitical instability, evolving feedstock profiles, and tightening environmental regulations. In this environment, traditional, siloed approaches to crude evaluation—relying on static assay libraries and manual spreadsheets—are inadequate. This paper presents a structured, fit-for-purpose crude evaluation framework that integrates techno-economic modeling, […]
PETRONAS and PETROS Case Adjourned, Parties Exploring Collaborative Approach
Kuching, 25 August 2025 – PETRONAS and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) today informed the High Court in Kuching that the parties jointly request for the hearing to be adjourned for one month. The adjournment was granted to allow the ongoing negotiations between the parties to continue. The parties are still involved in discussions with an aim […]