Eurobitume France hosts 2022 e-Rencontres Bitume
Eurobitume France Director Jean-Michel Michou began by welcoming the participants and then presented a Eurobitume video on the safe delivery of bitumen, which promoted ground-based operations during delivery - made possible by a ground venting device which makes it unnecessary for drivers to climb on top of the tank trailer as part of the unloading process.
Jean-Michel then summarised the important work Eurobitume delivered last year on HSE, technical and communication, and provided an update on communicating the sustainability of bitumen. In particular, he talked about bitumen’s application as a recyclable construction product and reminded participants that they could obtain Eurobitume’s ‘Bitumen and sustainability at a glance’ card from the Eurobitume website here.
He explained that education about the efficient, economic, effective, safe and sustainable use of refined bitumen in road, industrial and building application is part of Eurobitume's mission, and said that one such activity was improving the safe handling of bitumen through the quarterly reporting of incidents and near-misses.
Jean-Michel then described Eurobitume's deep involvement in standardisation, at local and European levels, and ended by stating why people should attend the forthcoming face-to-face Asphalt and Bitumen Day on 23rd March in Brussels and the 2nd E&E Event on 14-15th November in Vienna later in the year.
An external expert presentation was then made by Olivier Gantois, President of UFIP (the French Association of the Petroleum Industry). He explained how the refining industry in France is working towards achieving carbon neutrality and meeting Europe's new Green Deal regulatory requirements.
He also told participants that on 2nd February 2022 UFIP will change its name to UFIP Energy and Mobility, to reflect the energy transition that the refining industry is undergoing: the transformation of refineries which currently only process crude oil, into industrial platforms that will have to process multiple fossil or bio-based feedstocks and involve many operators - with a view to decarbonising products still intended to produce energy or mobility.
A live chat Q&A enabled participants to question the speakers.
Frank-Michael Biel, President of Eurobitume
Eurobitume President Frank-Michael Biel, TotalEnergies, in charge of marketing, strategy and business development in the Bitumen business line, closed the event by thanking all the speakers and emphasising the importance of the upcoming E&E Event in Vienna in November, 2022.
To view a recording of the webinar on Eurobitume’s You Tube page, please click here.
To download Jean-Michel Michou’s presentation from the Eurobitume website, please click here.
To download the presentation of Olivier Gantois, President of UFIP, from the Eurobitume website, please click here.