Argus Latin America Week

Marc Ruehs, Senior Account Manager - Latin America,Shell

- Overview of global LNG supply and demand: How long will the current oversupply last? Where will demand mostly come from? Where are the new trading flows emerging and why?

- Geopolitics: How is the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Qatar shaping the international LNG markets?

- The future global energy mix: How is LNG positioning itself as an environment-friendly fuel? Can the COP21 deal boost LNG-to-power projects? Will LNG be overshadowed by renewables?

Speakers:

Which new projects remain viable in the current pricing scenario? Are small-scale/floating LNG projects becoming more important? How do suppliers see Latin America’s potential as both an exporter and an importer?

Panelists:

Rafael Segovia, Commercial Manager & NBD, Shell Peru

Kenna Bravo, LNG & Gas Market Analyst, Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF)

Fred Hutchison, Executive Director, LNG Allies

- Japan: What does the world’s most mature LNG buyer expect for the next years?

- China: Will the country’s appetite for LNG continue to grow? Why is LNG becoming so important to the industrial sector?

Speakers:

Akira Miyamoto, Executive Researcher, Osaka Gas

Ramesh Nair, Director - LNG Commercialization Solutions Dept., Wison Offshore & Marine Limited – China

- Supply and demand in Latin America: How can the region become more integrated? Are there new opportunities to improve local infrastructure?

- Latin American LNG developments: What to expect in terms of small-scale LNG projects in the Caribbean and Central America? How relevant has Panama become as a new player in the region? How is Bolivia’s and Argentina’s natural gas supply could alter the LNG import patterns of the region? What is the new status on Argentina and Chile energy swaps? Is there room for more LNG reliability capacity in Latin America? Is LNG an option to support Peru’s wider use of natural gas?

- The role of FSRU in Brazilian power market: What are the designs and operational descriptions of vessels, containment system technologies and ongoing developments that will optimize LNG operations in Brazil?

Speakers

Carolina Bunting, LNG Account Manager - Latin America, Shell

Gonzalo Ramirez, LNG Business Development Manager, Wartsila

Aziz Bamik, General Manager, GTT

- Brazilian power: An overview of the Brazilian electricity sector. What are the risks and opportunities for the commercialization of electrical energy? 

- Gas for Growth: How can this government-led program help ease the bureaucracy and attract investments to the market? What are the main obstacles preventing it from taking off?

- Panel discussion: What will the Brazilian gas market look like after Petrobras concludes its disinvestment program?

Speakers:

- Contracts: What has been changing in terms of contracts flexibility? How are the changes related to spot and long term markets?

- Floating storage projects: What barriers do FSRU projects face? Are there new companies willing to enter the market? Will FSRUs establish themselves as the standard solution for regional regasification terminals?

Speakers:

- Panel discussion - Investments and financing: What is the current appetite of the capital markets for financing LNG projects? Which markets are most likely to grow? Can LNG remain a magnet for global funding at current prices?

Panelists:

- Opec’s influence in crude production and pricing: What challenges is Opec facing in its quest to re-balance the market? What are the perspectives for additional production cuts among its members? Is Opec losing its influence in the international market? How does the increase in US crude production affect Opec’s ability to control prices?

- The global supply and demand balance: What is the outlook for global production and demand? What are the new promising E&P areas worldwide? How will Opec and US shale’s co-existence impact crude output and consumption going forward?

- Asian demand: How are China and India securing their crude supplies and how are they handling the increased flows from the Americas? What will their thirst for oil look like over the next few years and will these countries continue to expand their refining capacity?

Speakers:

- The battle between WTI and Brent as crude references: How are the new market dynamics impacting crude pricing and what is the evolving role of the US Gulf coast as a potential global benchmark? How will the North Sea and, more specifically, Brent fare in this new scenario? Are there any other relevant crude markers emerging, particularly for Latin America?

- US shale and exports: How can increasing US exports affect the Latin American market? What are the trading opportunities for US supply in the international market? Is the competition between the US and the Middle East affecting the supply to and from Latin America? 

Speakers:

- Mexican reform: An overview on how the market is changing with the reform, and how Mexico is positioning itself as a major player in the region.

A debate among neighboring countries to discuss regional challenges and opportunities in the crude market.

Panelists:

- Petrobras: What are the perspectives for pre-salt production in the next decade? What are the challenges in placing medium and heavy crudes in the competitive global oil market?

- Local producers’ strategy: What are other crude producers’ strategies to place their volumes internationally? Will producers follow Petrobras’ footsteps in Asia or are they aiming somewhere else? Is it going to be necessary to join forces with other companies in order to be bigger and bolder in the international market until their Brazilian production picks up?

Speakers:

TBD, Petrobras

Victor Bonfim, CEO, Açu Petróleo
 

A debate with women in leading roles in Latin America’s oil industry about the future of the region’s production/demand balance, trading, logistics, investment and risk management. 

Panelist:

 - Supply and demand worldwide: An overview on expected production and consumption balances for the next five years. How are the current levels of crude going to impact refinery runs and margins? What is expected in terms of investment in global refining capacity? Strong global demand, particularly from the industrial sector, helped prop up crude prices in 2017. Will we see the same trend in 2018,and if so, which products should lead the way?

- The global clean fuels market – A story of two tales: Sales of diesel have been leading the recent increase in oil demand growth. The gasoline story, on the other hand, has been mixed – with growth in Asia and a slowdown in the US. Will these trends continue in 2018, and what is the outlook for the next five years?

- Marpol: How will the implementation of the IMO sulfur cap affect refined products output and demand globally? What will the impact be specifically on Latin America, and who will benefit?

Speaker:

Latin America’s Pacific Coast: What are the challenges and opportunities in moving products along the coast? How much product can be sourced from within Latin America? How are the trading flows from Asia and the USWC to the region evolving?

Speaker:

- Mexico: An update on the energy reform implementation, lingering challenges, lessons learned and what lies ahead in terms of an opening market.

- Brazil: What are the main challenges and opportunities brought about by Petrobras’ new pricing policy, and how have trade flows and new entrants been impacted?

Speaker:

Panel discussion - Fuel distributors: A debate over the recent changes in Brazil and the arrival of new fuel suppliers.
Panel discussion - Fuels infrastructure: What are the investments in the sector? Has the increasing need for fuels tanking become an issue in the market? What are the biggest challenges? What is the investment plan for logistics regarding rail networks?

Panelists:

The fuels that state-owned oil company Petropar supplies to the country involve a complex logistics system from importing the molecules until the products finally make it to the tanks. What lessons can be learned from a country that has such an elaborate supply system?

Speaker:

- Argentina versus Brazil biodiesel: An overview on the similarities and differences between the two markets

Panelists:

- Panel discussion - Brazilian government and RenovaBio: What are the expectations for RenovaBio and other governmental policies that will impact the ethanol market? What will be the appetite of trading companies because of this change? How will it affect competitiveness?

Panelists: