Hetal Patel

Hetal Patel is Senior Director, Polyolefins Portfolio within XRG’s Global Chemicals Platforms. In this role, he leads one of the platform’s core strategic pillars, with responsibility for managing and scaling XRG’s global polyolefins portfolio. Prior to this, he served as Senior Vice President for the chemicals business at ADNOC, overseeing asset management for businesses such as Borouge, Borealis, OMV, Fertiglobe, and TA’ZIZ. With over 30 years of experience in investments, M&A, and operations across various industries. Hetal brings deep sectoral and strategic expertise to his role. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Borouge, where he Chairs the Audit Committee and is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Borealis, where he is also Vice Chairman of the People Committee, and is a member of the Executive Committee and People Committee of Fertiglobe. Hetal holds an MBA from Cornell University and is a Chartered Management Accountant.

Session Overview

Tuesday, 4 November

12:55

Downstream & Chemical Conference Room A 12:55 - 13:35

Downstream and chemical resilience: the role of strategic mergers and joint ventures

The race to secure market position, enhance supply chains and future-proof operations is driving a wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and joint ventures (JVs) across the downstream, petrochemical and refining sectors. Companies are repositioning their portfolios to strengthen resilience and unlock new revenue streams, but with rising pressure on standalone assets, how critical is site integration to long-term viability? These deals present opportunities for cost efficiency, low-carbon innovation and operational synergies, but also introduce challenges such as regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical risks and market demand fluctuations. Stricter environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies and trade tensions are further complicating cross-border transactions, requiring companies to adapt to shifting regulations and integration hurdles.

Attendee insights:

Learn how M&A and joint ventures are transforming downstream markets, reshaping refining strategies and petrochemical investments, and discover which players are leading the next phase of growth.

15:20

Global strategy ICC Hall B 15:20 - 16:00

The convergence of the energy and chemical sectors

The chemical industry is actively adapting to global changes and driving innovations, serving as a critical enabler in the global energy ecosystem. With the growing demand for diverse chemical products, including plastics, and demand for primary chemicals, this sector is experiencing exponential growth.

Collaboration between the energy and chemicals sectors is anchored in pragmatic decarbonisation pathways that leverage renewable energy sources, enhanced energy efficiency, circularity, technology advances in chemical processing, as well as the emerging potential of green hydrogen as a feedstock. However, challenges related to feedstock availability, policies and regulations, investment, and decarbonisation may hinder progress.

To unlock their full potential, energy and chemical companies must strategically leverage their portfolio strengths through careful planning, focused strategies, and collaborative action. Cross-sector partnerships and ecosystem innovation to facilitate circular solutions will be best positioned for success when supported by international agreements such as the United Nations Plastics Treaty and incentivising initiatives like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and the EU’s Green Deal.

Attendee insights:

Understand the potential of the chemical industries, how companies are investing to go further downstream and the enablers that can drive this industry forward.