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users, such as manufacturers in the textiles, construction, retail and other sectors. “We are still at the beginning of circularity,” Ambrosecchia says, noting that the journey towards that goal is moving faster downstream. But this workshop also illustrated EPCA’s vision of an expanded community, not just petrochemical producers and their logistics partners, but also downstream users and supporting sectors. “Collaboration is essential,” Ambrosecchia adds. “No one can solve this alone.” More detailed feedback from the two events will be provided during the Annual Meeting by Professor Ann Vereecke from Vlerick Business School, who is continuing to work with EPCA on its initiatives in these areas. The aim of this work, Ambrosecchia says, is to find out what it takes to take the lead and how cross-sector collaboration can work in practice.
LINKS IN THE CHAIN
Verstraeten agrees, saying “We have to connect all the dots.” EPCA is well placed to do just that, by linking the wider community of petrochemical producers, transport companies, downstream users and other interests. As an example of how diverse those ‘dots’ are in
institutions are a crucial element in this change process.
Looking ahead, Verstraeten will be giving up his role as SCPC chair in November and, as is the
the supply chain, Verstraeten reveals some details
And there will be a lot of projects like this
of a project in which Covestro is involved, to build
coming along. “There are going to be a lot of
the logistics sector. “But the journey will
a hydrogen-powered tank barge and operate it
alternative fuels in the supply chain – and in
continue,” he says. “It is up to service providers
on the Rhine network. Covestro already has
just a few years,” Verstraeten says. “Legislation
to step up now.” SCPC has also been bringing in
hydrogen in its chemical processes and, ideally,
has to follow.”
talent from a wider range of sources, including
the barge will be run on hydrogen produced at
The past year has also shown how vulnerable
usual practice, handing it over to someone from
the IT sector and external experts who form the
its plants. To make this concept a reality will take
supply chains can be to disruptions, in Europe
Digital Advisory Body. “SCPC needed to pick their
the collaboration not just of Covestro, its vessel
just as much as elsewhere. Road congestion,
brains,” Verstraeten observes.
operator and shipbuilder, but also the terminals
driver shortages, maintenance on the rail network
where the barge will call, marine architects and,
and the variable water level on the Rhine have
seem like a revolution but, Ambrosecchia insists, it
perhaps most crucially, the regulatory authorities,
all caused problems. Shippers need to have
is really just evolution: it’s not about doing different
who will have to decide on the necessary safety
alternatives as a back-up, Verstraeten notes.
things but about doing the same things more
standards and vessel design concepts as well
And, of course, it will all need paying for –
efficiently. “Circularity and connecting all the dots
as the permits for storing hydrogen. Funding
another topic that will be examined during the
are the big challenges,” he concludes. “This will be
from national governments and even European
Annual Meeting.
a big part of our work over the next few years.”
HCB MONTHLY | OCTOBER 2021
The transformation that EPCA talks about may
