Page 176 - CW E-Magazine (2-1-2024)

Annual GpcA Forum

VITAL COG

‘Chemical industry will be a key enabler of energy

transition’

The past track record of the chemi-
cal industry gives confidence that the
industry can successfully scale up for
the energy transition, said Ms. Karen
McKee, President, ExxonMobil Product
Solutions, ExxonMobil, while speaking
at a special CEO keynote session.

“However, in the future, doing what
we have done in the past to serve grow-
ing demand is not going to be enough.
We need to deliver new-to-the-world
products that enable the energy tran-
sition. Products and innovations with From L to R: Dr. Fernando Gómez, Ms. Karen McKee, Mr. Adriano Alfani and Mr. Jean-Marc Gilson
lower emissions and improved circula- tics. We need to do the right things and He also highlighted that the energy
rity are going to be critical as also meeting demonstrate a sincere commitment to be transition is not a material transition.
expectations of a higher level of trans- part of the solution,” she emphasised. “There is no energy transition without
parency and engagement,” she said. the chemical industry,” he declared.
Mr. Adriano Alfani, CEO, Versalis, Dr. Fernando Gómez, Head, Resource
She emphasised that it would not be a chemical company belonging to the Systems and Resilience; Member of
enough to provide solutions for others’ Italian energy major, Eni, spoke about the Executive Committee, World Eco-
emissions. “We also need to be efficient the challenges being faced by the Euro- nomic Forum (WEF), noted that the
and reduce our own emissions from pean chemical industry in the backdrop transition of energy systems into more
our operations,” she stressed. Reducing of geopolitical tensions, rising energy sustainable systems is not a sufficient
emissions is clearly at the heart of a prices and growing inflation. He noted definition of this transition.
successful energy transition, she added. that the industry can look at tapping
growth opportunities by “mobilising “It is easy to associate energy transi-
Ms. McKee also spoke of the role of chemistry for impactful transformation” tion only with the sustainability dimen-
plastics in the energy transition and the and moving towards more sustainable sion. It almost doesn’t matter how green
need for the industry to play its part in and circular business models. and sustainable our energy systems are,
addressing plastic waste in the environ- if we leave out two very important com-
ment. “Our industry has a key part to “Chemical industry is a provider of ponents of the transition – that they need
play in scaling up advanced recycling technologies, solutions, services and a to be secure and equitable. It is almost
to enable more types of plastic articles catalyst for change. Energy transition is irrelevant how green a system is if we still
to be recycled,” she said. a technological transition and chemical have persistent energy poverty in some
industry can play a very critical role by parts of the world, and if some sectors
The industry would have to “earn providing technologies and solutions,” that are highly energy dependent, are
trust” to drive regulations based on sound he pointed out. Mr. Jean-Marc Gilson, facing a challenge in their competitive-
science that enable a successful transi- President and CEO, Mitsubishi Chemi- ness, because of the conditions for fuel
tion. “We need to earn trust by improv- cals, noted that from a long-term per- and energy,” he said. Dr. Gómez pointed
ing our energy efficiencies and reducing spective, the chemical industry must out that despite all the gains from the
emissions from our operations. We can ensure that the “use of hydrocarbons sustainability side, the geopolitical dis-
earn trust by demonstrating advanced for creating great materials need to co- ruptions in 2023 may be challenging our
recycling at scale, and a willingness to exist with energy production that over ability to sustain the overall momentum
share details of additives used in plas- time does not rely on burning them.” of the energy transition.

176 Chemical Weekly January 2, 2024

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