Challenges facing the EU oil sector and building the sector's potential are the key themes of the 14th refining and petrochemical industry conference organised by the World Refining Association. The three-day event (October 11th–13th 2011) held at venues in Sopot and Gdańsk brings together over 250 managers of major refining companies, as well as industry experts. The meeting ends with a tour of the facilities built as part of the 10+ Programme at Grupa Lotos, the lead partner of the WRA Conference.

- I expect valuable and open discussion of all participants, covering topics of key importance to the refining industry and to building the joint potential of the EU energy sector. The potential that will help fuel the development of other sectors of the member states' economies, thus translating into better quality of life for all Europeans. I believe that joint solving of problems related to energy supplies and uses could be the foundation of the Community - said Paweł Olechnowicz, President of Grupa LOTOS, opening this year's Conference – Central and Easter European Refining and Petrochemicals.

With the fast changing market, such meetings give oil companies a chance to exchange knowledge, practical experience and contacts, which results in new projects. This year, the Conference focuses also on technology aspects, which play a significant role in refinery production. It was thanks to the use of state-of-the-art technologies that Grupa LOTOS has built modern crude refining units as part of the 10+ Programme (completed in March 2011), increasing its annual processing capacity from 6m to 10.5m tonnes. This is a leap not only in quantity, but also in quality. As a result of the investment programme, the Gdańsk refinery now delivers the highest quality fuels, including the much sought for diesel oil. Moreover, the addition of new technologies has minimised the refinery's environmental impact, ensuring a high degree of desulphurisation of petroleum products.

The new technologies implemented at the Gdańsk refinery allow it to process various kinds of crude oil sourced from different suppliers. This has increasingly contributed to strengthening the company's market position, while enhancing the security potential of the energy sector in Poland and the whole region.

The 14th Conference of the refining and petrochemical industry's representatives organised by the World Refining Association will discuss the following issues:

• compliance with regulations applicable to the EU fuel sector,
• needs of the oil sector in Europe and in the world,
• opportunities related to innovative methods of profitability and margin improvement, and strategic analyses of proposed solutions,
• best investment projects carried out in Central and Eastern Europe, including the 10+ Programme,
• possibilities of integrating the industry around initiatives such as Central Europe Energy Partners.

One of the interesting topics relating to EU's energy security will be the concept of building crude oil and fuel storage facilities (salt caverns) in Pomerania, connected with the planned diversification of crude oil supplies. The project will allow Poland to reach fuel and crude oil storage capacities in salt caverns (per capita) similar to that of Germany or France. Such storage facilities will be used by Poland, as well as other countries in the Baltic Sea region.

The World Refining Association (WRA) is an independent UK institution which for 14 years has promoted the development of the energy industry, collaborating with oil majors and a number of governments. The aim of the meetings organised by WRA is to exchange information and experience of the sector's business partners from Europe, Russia, Middle East and Asia.

Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) is an association of companies from the energy and fuel sector, formed to support the integration efforts of the sector in Central Europe. Also, its objective is to strengthen the sector's position in the EU. The association was established in Brussels, on May 4th 2010. Its founders indicate that it is the first industry organisation from Central Europe which has a permanent representative office in Brussels.

Marcin Zachowicz, spokesperson for Grupa LOTOS S.A., ul. Elbląska 135, 80-718 Gdańsk, Poland, tel. +48 58 308 75 70, +48 505 050 454, e-mail: marcin.zachowicz@grupalotos.pl