Each year, the advisory board members of the International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) provide invaluable professional input and guidance in the formation of the conference's top-notch technical program. Recently, Stephany Romanow, editor of Hydrocarbon Processing, spoke with fellow IRPC board member Carlos Cabrera to get his thoughts on the state of the global refining industry, both now and in the future.

In two separate interviews, the industry veterans covered a variety of topics, including potential growth opportunities in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI), Ivanhoe Energy's heavy oil conversion technology, refiners' options for processing heavier, high-sulfur oil, and today's economics of operating in the industry.

Download/listen to podcast No. 1 here.

Download/listen to podcast No. 2 here.

Cabrera is the executive chairman of Ivanhoe Energy, a publicly traded oil and gas company. Prior to his appointment, he served as the founding president and CEO of the National Institute of Low Carbon and Clean Energy (NICE) based in Beijing, China.
 
As a former 35-year employee with UOP—a leading international supplier to the petroleum refining, petrochemical and gas processing industries—Mr. Cabrera held posts as the president/CEO and then chairman.

For more details on IRPC 2012, including how to register, visit the event website by clicking here.