The energy transition is no longer a distant ambition — it is today’s defining industrial reality. As nations navigate the balance between growth, sustainability, and security, the refining and petrochemicals sector stands at the fulcrum of transformation. It is here, in the reimagining of molecules and materials, that the foundations of a net-zero economy are being laid.

The theme for GRPC 2026, “Transforming Molecules, Transforming Markets: The Downstream Net-Zero Pathway,”captures this paradigm shift — from incremental adaptation to systemic reinvention. It embodies the sector’s evolution from a producer of fuels to a creator of sustainable value chains, where every molecule refined, recycled, or repurposed contributes to a cleaner and more competitive future.

The discussions at GRPC 2026 will translate innovation into impact, focusing on five strategic imperatives that emerged from GRPC 2025:

• Execution of decarbonisation at scale through green hydrogen, CCU/CCS, and sustainable fuels.
• Deep integration and diversification to expand refining-to-chemicals ecosystems.
• Circularity and waste valorisation as feedstock strategies for resource security.
• Digital and AI-enabled operations that enhance efficiency and reliability.
• Resilience through collaboration, policy coherence, and skilled human capital.

Together, these priorities define the Downstream Net-Zero Pathway — a roadmap where technology, innovation, and collaboration converge to transform molecules, markets, and the very meaning of progress.