In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, we’re joined by Rob Benedict, Vice President, Petrochemicals and Midstream, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), to discuss the outcomes of the final round of UN negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty.

Rob provides background on the negotiations and updates us on how they are progressing following the sixth round of talks in August 2025.

Rob provides insight into the negotiation process and explains how AFPM envisions a successful global agreement on plastic waste. He also offers his thoughts on what comes next for the negotiations, and whether the US will remain engaged in the process.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas

In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, Sarah Miller, President and CEO of the GPA Midstream Association, and CEO of GPSA, joins us to discuss the technical and economic importance of the midstream sector to the oil and gas industry.

We consider some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the sector, and how midstream will meet future demand with affordable, reliable and cleaner energy.

Sarah also outlines how GPA Midstream enables collaboration between its member companies, and bridges the gap between technical realities and the policymaking process.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas

In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, Omar Sayeed, Centre of Excellence Leader for Reliability, and Rahul Negi, Director of AI and Industrial Autonomous, Honeywell Process Solutions, join us to consider how new, innovative technology can help to overcome some of the challenges facing the downstream oil and gas sector.

This episode explores the concept of human autonomy at Honeywell and how it contributes to faster problem-solving with enhanced data and predictions. We also discuss the vital importance of industry partnerships.

Download Honeywell's recent webinar with Borealis, 'Q&A: Transforming process optimisation: leveraging AI, cloud & digital twins with Honeywell and Borealis', here: www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/webinars/honeywell-process-solutions/qa-transforming-process-optimisation-leveraging-ai-cloud-digital-twins-with-honeywell-and-borealis/

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas

In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, Graham Faiz, Head of Digital Energy, DNV, explores the current state of digitalisation in the energy sector and the key drivers behind digital transformation. Graham considers how companies can move from pilot projects to full-scale deployment of AI and digital tools.

We also explore the role of digital twins, the importance of building trust in AI, and consider how the sector is navigating new workforce demands.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas

In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, Lara Swett, Vice President of Technical & Safety Programs, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), joins us to explain how the downstream sector has continued to improve its process safety record.

Lara outlines what has changed over the past decade to ensure that Tier 1 process safety events have been cut in half.

We also explore what factors are the most challenging to control in terms of process safety, and best guidance for managing these challenges.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas

In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, Brandon Stambaugh, Owens Corning Director for Technical Services, joins us to discuss engineers’ demand for education and training to support the critical phases that affect the performance and longevity of insulating systems.

Brandon explains how projects typically happen in three phases: design and specification, construction, and post-construction, and considers what kind of training is available to support engineers and their teams throughout each phase.

We discuss the types of education that Owens Corning offers, and explore the capabilities of the company’s dedicated training sites in Pasadena, Texas, US, and Tessenderlo, Belgium.

Brandon also explains how industry demand is influencing the types of training that Owens Corning provides.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas

In this special episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, we sit down with a panel of experts to consider the economics of e-fuels.

We’re joined by Zinovia Skoufa, Managing Director, Methanol, Johnson Matthey; Tommy Lykke Wind, Senior Future Fuels Manager, A.P. Moller-Maersk; Leigh Abrams, Senior Business Leader, Emerging Renewable Fuels, Honeywell; Clara Bowman, COO, HIF Global; and Lawrence Navin; Vice President, Methanol Institute.

This episode provides an introduction to e-fuels, and discusses the factors influencing e-fuel pricing, the economic challenges, market dynamics, and strategies for cost reduction.

This episode is an excerpt from a recent Insight Seminar that Hydrocarbon Engineering hosted. To access the full recording, visit: www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/webinars/johnson-matthey/travelling-towards-sustainability-exploring-the-economics-of-e-fuels/

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas

In this episode, we sit down with Susan Bell, Senior Vice President within Commodity Markets – Oil, Rystad Energy, to consider the impact that trade wars have on global oil demand and oil prices.

We discuss the immediate aftermath of President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff announcements, and the impact that these tariffs continue to have on the global oil market.

Susan offers her opinion on the impact that the tariffs will have on the refining, petrochemical and LNG sectors, as well as what all of this means for new projects.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation — an impermeable insulation trusted in high-performing hydrocarbon processing facilities around the globe. Learn more at https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/foamglas