Simon Lack, Managing Partner at SL Advisors LLC and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Catalyst Energy Infrastructure Fund (MLXIX), talks us through natural gas’ emerging role as a bridge fuel that is powering two fast-growing industries: AI-driven data centres and US LNG exports.

We consider:

• Emerging US hotspots where natural gas supply, pipeline access, and data centre development align.
• How well-prepared the US power system is to support the AI data centre boom.
• The rising trend of onsite natural gas generation for AI loads.
• The connection between LNG expansion in the US and domestic gas demand.
• What the emerging triangle between gas supply, LNG terminals, and data centre hubs means for regulatory policy and investors.
• And much more.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation. Designed for durability and sustainability, ROCKWOOL’s high-performance stone wool insulation helps control process temperatures, reduce energy loss, mitigate corrosion under insulation, and enhance fire and acoustic protection. The result – safer operations, improved asset integrity, and long-term performance across critical process industries. Learn more at https://rti.rockwool.com.

Maurits van Tol, CEO of Catalyst Technologies, Johnson Matthey, joins us to discuss Johnson Matthey’s vision for the global energy transition.

We explore how catalyst and additive technologies are evolving to handle more complex feedstocks while maintaining performance, and which advances could improve efficiency and reduce carbon intensity in hydrogen, syngas, and chemicals production.

We assess the role that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will play in reducing emissions in the near to medium-term. Maurits outlines the most promising production pathways and technology innovations that have the greatest potential to improve efficiency and/or reduce costs.

Maurits also considers the most effective policy mechanisms and regional approaches for creating stable demand and investment confidence.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation. Designed for durability and sustainability, ROCKWOOL’s high-performance stone wool insulation helps control process temperatures, reduce energy loss, mitigate corrosion under insulation, and enhance fire and acoustic protection. The result – safer operations, improved asset integrity, and long-term performance across critical process industries. Learn more at https://rti.rockwool.com.

RobRob Benedict, Vice President for Petrochemicals and Midstream at American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), guides us on the latest developments with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which is at a critical turning point right now.

Rob explains:

• What TSCA is and why it matters so much to the petrochemical and manufacturing sectors right now.
• The shift from a risk-based approach to a more hazard-based approach.
• What is at stake if TSCA continues to be implemented in a way that focuses on worst‑case or hypothetical scenarios rather than real‑world conditions.
• Why policymakers and the public should care about how TSCA is reauthorised and implemented.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation. Designed for durability and sustainability, ROCKWOOL’s high-performance stone wool insulation helps control process temperatures, reduce energy loss, mitigate corrosion under insulation, and enhance fire and acoustic protection. The result – safer operations, improved asset integrity, and long-term performance across critical process industries. Learn more at https://rti.rockwool.com.

Fauzeya Rahman, LNG Specialist and Editor at ICIS, joins us to explore the key trends, opportunities and challenges facing the LNG markets across North and Latin America into 2026 and beyond.

We discuss:

• What the LNG landscape looks like coming out of 2025.
• The fastest evolving regions in the North American market.
• How the US LNG deals space is shaping up for 2026.
• The evolution of the Latin American LNG market, including the impact of recent developments in Venezuela.
• Structural shifts in the North American LNG market beyond 2026.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation. Designed for durability and sustainability, ROCKWOOL’s high-performance stone wool insulation helps control process temperatures, reduce energy loss, mitigate corrosion under insulation, and enhance fire and acoustic protection. The result – safer operations, improved asset integrity, and long-term performance across critical process industries. Learn more at https://rti.rockwool.com.

The rollercoaster ride of 2025In our first episode of the year, we’re joined by Alan Gelder, Senior Vice President of Refining, Chemicals and Oil Markets at Wood Mackenzie.

Alan provides us with a summary of the key takeaways from the refining and petrochemical industries in 2025, and considers what 2026 may have in store for the downstream sector.

We discuss:

• Refining margins in 2025, which surprised to the upside.
• How the petrochemical sector fared in 2025.
• The impact of trade tariffs.
• How recent developments in Venezuela will impact the refining market.
• Alan’s advice for industry participants in the year ahead.

This episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast is sponsored by ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation. Designed for durability and sustainability, ROCKWOOL’s high-performance stone wool insulation helps control process temperatures, reduce energy loss, mitigate corrosion under insulation, and enhance fire and acoustic protection. The result – safer operations, improved asset integrity, and long-term performance across critical process industries. Learn more at https://rti.rockwool.com.

In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast we’re joined by Geoff Moody, Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Policy at American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), to review the first year of President Trump’s second term in office.

We’ll consider the impact that the Trump administration has had on fuel policy in the US, examining:

• The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) tailpipe emissions standards.
• Energy policy reform.
• The Renewable Fuel Standard.
• And much more.

In this episode of the Hydrocarbon Engineering Podcast, Alec Cusick, Owens Corning Technical Lead, Technical Insulation, joins us to talk about the risks of LNG pool fires and methodologies to mitigate these risks.

Alec discusses active and passive solutions, including Owens Corning's FOAMGLAS® Pool Fire Suppression™ (PFS) System.

We discuss recent testing that was performed on the FOAMGLAS PFS System, and how the results can help LNG facility designers meet regulations and make their facilities safer.

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, Andrea Bombardi, Executive Vice President, RINA, guides us through some of the key challenges and opportunities of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) implementation.

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Where CCUS fits into the long-term energy landscape.
• Lessons learned from CO₂ pipeline transport trials globally.
• Regional differences in how CCUS is being approached.
• Unique challenges or opportunities when applying CCUS to refineries and petrochemical plants.
• How CCUS is becoming integrated with other decarbonisation pathways in the downstream sector.

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