• CERAWeek
  • March 18 - 22, 2024

Ken Lane

LyondellBasell

Executive Vice President, Olefins and Polyolefins (O&P)

Kenneth (Ken) Lane is executive vice president, Global Olefins and Polyolefins (O&P) for LyondellBasell, one of the world’s largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies. Lane has manufacturing and commercial responsibility for the O&P Americas and O&P Europe, Asia and International (EAI) segments as well as Global Procurement. Preceding this assignment, Lane served as executive vice president of Global O&P for three years and as interim CEO of LyondellBasell in early 2022. Prior to joining the company, Lane was with BASF for 13 years, holding senior executive positions in the Global Polyurethanes Division, president of the Monomers Division and president of BASF Catalysts. He also served in a variety of operations, strategy and commercial positions at BP Chemicals as well as various technical and operations roles at Amoco Chemical Corporation. Over his career, he has served in leadership roles in the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, China and Belgium. Lane earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Clemson University and a Master of Science in management from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Lane serves on the executive committee of the Society of Chemical Industry America.

Sessions With Ken Lane

Tuesday, 7 March

  • 04:55pm - 05:35pm (CST) / 07/mar/2023 10:55 pm - 07/mar/2023 11:35 pm

    Pathways to Net Zero & Circularity: Challenges and opportunity for downstream refining and chemicals in a low carbon world
    Downstream/Midstream/Chemicals
    Downstream refining and chemical companies have been solving major problems faced by society for decades. Today, we see this industry sector well positioned to not only support the global objectives for lowering GHG emissions, but also at the center of enabling the technologies and real-life solutions that can make many “net zero” aspirations possible. While policy makers struggle with finding a balance between incentives and penalties to “get industry aligned,” companies and markets are seeking new business models that will make low carbon and circular solutions viable and sustainable over time. The pathway to net zero will involve a combination of many solutions at the operational level including but not limited to bio-feedstocks, renewable power, electrification, hydrogen, carbon capture, expanded integration of chemicals into refining operations and circularity in plastics. The next great challenge for industry is to achieve commitments by companies and countries to attain net zero or lower carbon emissions by 2030. What technologies are available and what is the incremental impact on CAPEX and OPEX to implement? How will government policies around the world support the effort? Will market premiums emerge for “low-carbon products” to provide an investment incentive? Will new business models emerge that will ensure new solutions to lower emissions will be sustainable over time?
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