Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE

تحت رعاية صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان، رئيس دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة

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Gaurav Sharma

Energy Market Analyst & Forbes Senior Contributor

Independent Consultant

Gaurav
Gaurav

Gaurav Sharma is a London, UK-based energy market analyst, commentator and a former global investment banking analyst. He provides research and analysis to multiple financial clients and writes regularly for Forbes and Energy Connects among other publications, alongside his longstanding industry blog ‘Oilholics Synonymous Report’. He is also a regular and lively commentator on energy markets at industry events, academic forums, trade shows, OPEC webcasts and several global broadcasting outlets including BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CGTN, Euro News, TRT World, Sky News Arabia and Al Jazeera.

Gaurav has analysed and reported on energy market developments in Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Americas for nearly 20 years. He has also interviewed several leading figures from the world of energy, international finance, business, law and politics. While the energy futures market remains Gaurav’s core specialism, as a supply-side analyst he is equally focussed on the physical crude oil and natural gas markets. He has also extensively covered energy process efficiencies, emerging low-to-zero emissions clean technologies and project finance.

Session Overview
Thursday, 6 November
12:30
Finance & Investment Conference Room A 12:30 - 13:30
Financial innovation: building the future energy system through infrastructure investment

Profound, systemic investment in global energy infrastructure development and upgrades will play an essential role in delivering electrification, renewable energy source integration and carbon emission reductions. From expanding and modernising transmission and distribution grids to enhancing storage capabilities and scaling enabling technologies. The scale of investment required is substantial, with annual figures projected to increase significantly during the current decade. Timely and coordinated action by governments, private investors, and international organisations will be instrumental in delivering infrastructure development, ensuring grid readiness and realising the full potential of renewable energy sources. Innovative financing models such as infrastructure funds and public-private partnerships that address the complexities associated with critical projects will be crucial to unlocking the necessary investment to build the energy systems of the future. 

Attendee insights:

Learn how investors, policymakers, energy executives and technology developers are planning to finance the infrastructure required for energy security and sustainability to thrive together.

Speakers
Rajarshi Gupta
ONGC Videsh Ltd
MD & CEO
Jamil Asfour
Contango
Head of the Energy & Utilities Sector
Moderator
Gaurav Sharma
Independent Consultant
Energy Market Analyst & Forbes Senior Contributor
Tuesday, 4 November
16:00
Downstream & Chemical Conference Room A 16:00 - 16:40
Future-proofing feedstock strategies: from sourcing advantage to system adaptability

Refineries and petrochemical plants are redefining feedstock strategies to enhance efficiency, sustainability and long-term profitability amid growing regulatory and commercial pressure. With feedstock diversity expanding from traditional naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to renewable liquids and waste-derived streams, sourcing flexibility is becoming a core lever for competitiveness. The ability to secure advantaged feedstocks is now a key driver of value in commodity markets, providing cost leadership and resilience in a high-pressure environment. Yet feedstock availability, consistency and infrastructure adaptability remain ongoing challenges, requiring investment in adaptable process technologies and operational agility. Catalysts continue to play a vital role in enabling feedstock diversification, especially in processing renewable and lower-quality inputs efficiently. Forward-thinking refineries and petrochemical plants must align their sourcing strategy with infrastructure adaptability, harnessing technological leaps and innovative solutions to unlock both commercial advantage and long-term sustainability.

Attendee insights:

Understand how downstream players are reshaping sourcing models, processing capabilities and risk strategies to unlock value across an increasingly complex feedstock landscape.

Speakers
Maurits van Tol
Johnson Matthey
Chief Executive, Catalyst Technologies
Marc-Xavier Joubert
SUEZ
Corporate Strategy Officer
S. Bharathan
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
Member of the Board of Directors, Refineries
Moderator
Gaurav Sharma
Independent Consultant
Energy Market Analyst & Forbes Senior Contributor
Wednesday, 5 November
13:05
Hydrogen Conference Room A 13:05 - 13:45
Driving hydrogen forward: technology, standards and a level playing field

Hydrogen has the potential to become a cornerstone of the future low-carbon energy system, but achieving large-scale deployment requires more than just advanced production methods. Whether through high-efficiency electrolysers, carbon capture or nuclear - and methane-based pathways, breakthrough technologies can lower costs and carbon footprints – provided they operate within flexible, well-defined rules such as carbon pricing mechanisms and certification schemes. Consistent international standards, unbiased policy frameworks, alignment with emission reduction targets and traceability of embedded emissions will prove critical in accelerating market uptake. By combining diverse solutions under a technology-agnostic umbrella, the hydrogen sector can overcome challenges related to water usage, environmental impacts and cost, paving the way for scalability and commercialisation.    

Attendee insights: 

Explore how a flexible regulatory environment, robust certification processes, and emerging technologies can collectively transform hydrogen into a scalable, cost-effective and sustainable energy option.  

Speakers
Raphaël Tilot
John Cockerill Hydrogen
CEO
Koji Yamamoto
JOGMEC
CTO
Nobuo Tanaka
Executive Director Emeritus, International Energy Agency (IEA)
CEO, Tanaka Global
Michèle Azalbert
Gentari
Chief Hydrogen Officer
Lionel Sinaï-Sinelnikoff
Beyond Aero
Strategic Advisor
Moderator
Gaurav Sharma
Independent Consultant
Energy Market Analyst & Forbes Senior Contributor
14:30
Downstream & Chemical ICC Hall B 14:30 - 15:10
The future of refining: decarbonisation, demand disruption, and strategic direction

The refining industry is navigating a transitional grey zone, facing mounting pressure to decarbonise, shifting fuel demand, and sustained margin pressures. While some operators are advancing with low-carbon fuel production, carbon capture, and process upgrades, others are reassessing timelines in light of policy uncertainty, infrastructure constraints, and fluctuating economic signals. At the same time, deeper structural questions are emerging: how will overcapacity, evolving product demand, and regional competitiveness reshape the long-term role of refining? For many, chemical integration or diversification into low-carbon fuels and materials offer potential paths forward, while others are weighing consolidation, rationalisation, or strategic repositioning. Strategic divergence is intensifying due to uneven access to capital, regulatory divergence between major markets, and broader uncertainties in global trade and investment flows. As a result, refining leaders must balance short-term operational decisions while also reevaluating the viability of existing assets and the investment logic of long-term infrastructure commitments. Finding clarity in this grey zone will be critical to ensuring both resilience and relevance in the years ahead.

Attendee insights:

Gain perspective on how refining strategies are evolving to balance decarbonisation targets with structural market pressures, including overcapacity, shifting demand, and long-term competitiveness.

Speakers
Sultan Albigishi
ADNOC Refining
CEO
Arvinder Singh Sahney
Indian Oil Corporation
Chairman
Dr. Mumuni Dagazau
NNPC Limited
EVP Downstream
Sylvain Cabalery
Technip Energies
SVP Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals and Circularity
Anibor Kragha
African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA)
Executive Secretary
Moderator
Gaurav Sharma
Independent Consultant
Energy Market Analyst & Forbes Senior Contributor

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