• WPC 2024
  • March 18-22, 2024

Walt Hart

S&P Global Commodity Insights

Olefins Americas Lead

During the past 16 years, Dr. Walt Hart has worked as a consultant and researcher in the chemical and energy industries, with a focus on petrochemical feedstocks and NGLs. Prior to leading Americas Olefins, he led the Industry Executive Advisory efforts for S&P Global Fuels, Chemicals and Resources in Europe and Africa; and earlier he served as Global NGL/LPG Business Lead and Chief Strategist, wherein he led subscription services, bespoke consulting, three annual international conferences and training workshops. During 14 years at The Dow Chemical Company/ Union Carbide and 2 years at Owens Corning Fiberglas, he worked in ethylene feedstock optimization, process engineering, technical sales, R&D, finance, and strategic planning. He has taught at the undergraduate level.

Dr. Hart is a registered professional engineer and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He holds a BS, chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from the University of Charleston, and a PhD, chemical engineering from West Virginia University.

Sessions With Walt Hart

Thursday, 21 March

  • 08:00am - 09:30am (CST) / 21/mar/2024 01:00 pm - 21/mar/2024 02:30 pm

    Olefins in a Time of Turbulence

    Finding growth opportunities and managing energy transition through an industry trough
    The olefins and derivatives market is going through challenging margins currently. However, even amdist the industry trough, there are growth opportunities for some key geographies to capitalise on and emerging technologies to manage energy transition issues. 

    8:00 AM: Welcome Remarks - Tony Potter, Vice President - Chemicals, Derivatives, Plastics & Materials, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    8:05 AM: A Leading Player's View on the Future of the Olefins Industry - Edward Stones, Business Vice President, Energy and Climate, Dow
    8:30 AM: Global Ethylene Overview: Viewing the Energy Transition from the Trough - Walt Hart, Olefins Americas Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    Although ethylene markets are currently in a margin trough, the industry will eventually recover, and operating rates will improve. Meanwhile, Energy Transition and Sustainability developments are very dynamic, making future success a moving target. Despite recent adversity, it is important to position for the future upcycle market reflecting demand growth trends, effects on feedstocks and other market influences while many countries decarbonize. This presentation will review the current ethylene market situation and discuss some of the uncertainties impacting the recovery.
    8:45 AM: Global Propylene Overview - How do you solve a "problem" like on-purpose production steps? - Larry Tan, Chemicals Insight, APAC Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    What is the status and role of on-purpose propylene production steps in the current challenging times of over-supply and low margins, especially in China ? Are there solutions in managing through the industry trough?
    9:00 AM: Global C4s and Butadiene Overview - Will China be the next “game changer” ? - Bernd Helbing, Director, C4s & Elastomers, Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights 
    “Second wave” of new BDE extraction units.
    9:15 AM: Q&A

  • 02:00pm - 03:30pm (CST) / 21/mar/2024 07:00 pm - 21/mar/2024 08:30 pm

    Refinery Petrochemical Integration

    Session 3: Refinery Petrochemical Integration

    2:00 PM: Afternoon Welcome Remarks - Ravi Narayanaswamy, Vice President, Fuels, Chemicals and Resource Solutions (FCRS), S&P Global
    2:05 PM: Naphta and Fossil Feedstocks - Ravi Narayanaswamy, Vice President, Fuels, Chemicals and Resource Solutions (FCRS), S&P Global and Shiva Gupta, Director of Oil Markets, Downstream and Chemicals, S&P Global Commodity Insights.

    Naphtha plays a crucial role as the primary feedstock in the petrochemical value chain and stands out as the sole growing refined product in our long term forecast. The global perspective on naphtha faces an array of uncertainties. In this presentation, we will delve into the intricate dynamics between naphtha supply and demand, examining its pricing dynamics. Additionally, we will explore the evolving norms over the long term and examine how refiners plan to adapt to the shifting demand for their refined products.

    2:35 PM: Naphtha to Ethane & Propane Improved Sustainability for Light Olefins Production- Keith Couch, Senior Director, Business Development, Honeywell UOP LLC.
    3:00 PM: Q&A - Featuring Walt Hart, Olefins Americas Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Friday, 22 March

  • 10:00am - 12:00pm (CST) / 22/mar/2024 03:00 pm - 22/mar/2024 05:00 pm

    Navigating Energy Transition Opportunities Down the Value Chain

    10:00 AM: Session Introduction - Lisa Wood, Executive Director, Specialty Chemical Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    10:05 AM: Turning Energy into Food - Marcos Sabelli, CEO, Profertil Agro
    10:25 AM: How Orbia’s Global Sustainable Business Model is driving the transition - Tania Rabasa Kovacs, Corporate Vice President Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Orbia
    10:45 AM: Braskem’s journey in Carbon Neutral Circular Economy - Fabiana Quiroga, Circular Economy Director, South America, Braskem
    11:05 AM: Panel Discussion and Q&A - Moderator: Guilherme Baida, Team Lead, Latin American Chemicals, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    11:25 AM: Short Break    
    11:30 AM: Panel - Energy Transition and Feedstock Selection - Felipe Perez, Latin America Downstream Strategist, S&P Global Commodity Insights; Debnil Chowdhury, Head of Americas Fuels and Refining, S&P Global Commodity Insights and Walt Hart, Olefins Americas Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    The Atlantic Basin is experience a new wave of refinery capacity additions at the same time fuels demand in Europe and The United States are rapidly declining. In parallel, NGLs availability continue growing in the area. What does this flood of feedstock availability mean for Latin America?
    11:55 AM: Closing remarks - Lisa Wood, Executive Director, Specialty Chemical Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights