The Energy Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar will share the stage at the 16^th Annual GPCA Forum this December to address how policymakers can balance net-zero ambitions with growth

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 21 November 2022 – The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, is pleased to announce an exclusive Ministerial Panel featuring Energy Ministers from across the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar at the 16^th Annual GPCA Forum taking place for the first time at the Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 6-8 December 2022.

H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minister of Energy, Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil & Environment, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, Bahrain, and H.E. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of Energy, Qatar, will share the stage on the opening day of the forum to address the panel’s topic “Balancing net-zero ambitions in the energy sector with growth – A policymaker’s balancing act”.

According to GPCA research, GCC chemical revenue in 2021 soared by 77.2%, the highest level recorded since 2013 due to post-Covid recovery that led to increasing demand and high chemical prices globally. At the same time, chemical revenue grew from USD 54.1 billion in 2020 to USD 95.9 billion year on year. Off the back of higher chemicals prices, GCC chemical trade balance revenue almost doubled between 2020 and 2021 from USD 27 billion to USD 53 billion, with trade balance volume also growing by 30%, reaching 56.5 million tons.

While the industry remained buoyant over the last 18 months, it is currently off track to achieve its ambitious net-zero targets by 2050. According to the International Energy Agency, globally direct CO₂ emissions from primary chemical production amounted to 925 Mt in 2021, a 5% increase with respect to the previous year. This is due to a production increase to levels above those in 2019. In the GCC, average CO₂ intensity increased by 3% in 2021 as emissions rebounded since the COVID-related lockdowns in 2020. Nonetheless, CO₂ intensity has remained on a declining trend since 2013.

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “If the industry is to achieve its net- zero ambitions by 2050, it would need to focus on growing its utilization of renewables, improving its energy efficiency, reducing its emissions, and capitalizing on new markets for carbon and other by-products as part of the circular economy. Regional producers alongside their regional and global value chain partners are taking concerted steps, committing new investments and accelerating their research and innovation efforts in line with their decarbonization efforts. Both the public and private sector have a crucial role to play on the road to net-zero. GPCA is, therefore, pleased to host some of the region’s most prominent policymakers for an exclusive ministerial panel where forum delegates will have an opportunity to hear first-hand about our regional governments’ plans and initiatives enabling the transition.”

Hosted by SABIC, this year’s forum will be held under the theme ‘Chemistry in Action: Shaping a Sustainable Future.’ The welcome address will be delivered by Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Chairman, GPCA, and Acting Chief Executive Officer, SABIC. Chemical industry leaders, including Amin Nasser, President and CEO, Saudi Aramco; Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF; Peter Vanacker, CEO, LyondellBasell; Karen McKee, President, ExxonMobil Product Solutions; and Conrad Keijzer, CEO, Clariant, will participate in sessions discussing vital topics such as how the chemicals sector can thrive in the era of sustainability and decarbonization.

The Annual GPCA Forum will host the inaugural GPCA Symposium on 7-8 December under the slogan “Delivering our Plastics Circularity Ambitions” to showcase the efforts of the plastic industry in enabling a more sustainable and circular future.

This year GPCA is launching another inaugural event – the GPCA Youth Forum on 5-6 December under the theme ‘For The Youth. By The Youth.’ as a platform for knowledge sharing with university students and young working professionals.

To secure your place at the 16^th Annual GPCA Forum, visit: www.gpcaforum.com