Bob Maughon: Exploring sustainability, technology & innovation

At the 2023 ADI Forum, Bob Maughon (SABIC) discussed how refinery integration offered a competitive edge in chemical plant sustainability and innovation, particularly for plastic waste feedstocks, and advocated for step-wise capital investments to overcome commercialization hurdles and avoid market disruption.

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At the 2023 ADI Forum (formerly FlexPO+), Bob Maughon, EVP, Sustainability, Technology & Innovation and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, SABIC, had a fireside chat with Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics, during which he addressed how the location of chemical plants (gas vs. liquid crackers) impacted sustainability and innovation, specifically regarding alternative feedstocks like pyrolysis oil. He emphasized that while new technologies are vital, refinery integration provided a competitive edge in managing plastic waste.

Regarding the slowdown in innovation and commercialization hurdles, a step-wise investment approach was advocated. He said that instead of waiting for large-scale, fully optimized solutions, smaller, validated capital investments allowed for market and operability insights as technologies evolved. This iterative strategy, though requiring willingness to disrupt existing assets, was crucial to avoid market disruption.

About ADI Analytics

ADI is a prestigious, boutique consulting firm specializing in oil and gas, energy transition, and chemicals since 2009. We bring deep expertise in a broad range of markets where we support Fortune 500, mid-sized and early-stage companies, and investors with consulting services, research reports, and data and analytics, with the goal of delivering actionable outcomes to help our clients achieve tangible results.

We also host the ADI Forum that brings c-suite executives together for meaningful dialogue and strategic insights across the oil & gas, energy transition, and chemicals value chains. Learn more about the ADI Forum.


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