Decarbonisation strategies take centre stage at Oil and Gas Congress in Austria

The oil and gas sector stands at a pivotal crossroads as growing demands for sustainability accelerate the imperative to reduce environmental impact. Against this backdrop, the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Congress (DECARBON) 2026 is set to convene market leaders from across the value chain on 9–10 February in Vösendorf, Austria. The event promises to be an influential forum for sharing strategies and practical decarbonisation solutions that align with business priorities and operational realities.

DECARBON 2026 focuses squarely on the challenge of harmonising ambitious environmental commitments with robust business performance. Industry decision-makers, technical specialists, and sustainability experts from upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors will explore how digital tools, low-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies, and alternative fuels can deliver meaningful emissions reductions without impeding project timelines. Over 300 participants are expected, including representatives from oil and gas companies, engineering, procurement and construction contractors (EPCs), refinery operators, pipeline managers, petrochemical plants, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, and licensors, enabling comprehensive dialogue across the sector.

Central to the congress are case studies presented by leading companies demonstrating tangible climate progress. Andreas Grobler, Strategic CCUS Partnership Manager at Shell, will showcase Shell’s global CCUS deployments—real-world examples of capturing and permanently storing carbon emissions. Kleopatra Avraam, Strategic Planning Senior Director at DESFA, will present insights from DESFA’s ApolloCO2 project focusing on carbon capture, liquefaction, pipeline transport, and permanent storage. These practical lessons underline the congress’s ethos: “The goal is not to wait for a perfect solution, but to start with what is available now,” emphasised Olga Shemberkas, Project Director of the Congress. This reflects the urgent need for proactive, pragmatic steps rather than deferring action in search of ideal but distant technologies.

The DECARBON 2026 programme delves into critical aspects of the energy transition, including the economics of decarbonisation, sustainability-focused digitalisation, energy efficiency enhancements, and the role of low-carbon hydrogen and fuels across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. Keynote speakers hail from industry leaders such as Shell, Austrian Gas Grid Management AG, Saras S.p.A., and the Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator (DESFA) S.A., ensuring a high calibre of expertise and dialogue.

Beyond presentations, the congress offers diverse participation formats—delegates can engage in all sessions and networking; speakers have opportunities to present innovations; exhibitors to showcase solutions to senior decision-makers; and sponsors receive guaranteed business-to-business meetings and extensive promotion. This structure fosters an environment where vendors, suppliers, and producers collaboratively explore decarbonisation challenges and opportunities, as noted by Thomas Ludwig, LFO-Pool Manager at Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland: “DECARBON brings all sides of the business together... hearing different points of view on the same issue and finding what suits the company best.”

DECARBON 2026 also benefits from partnerships with prominent industry players driving the low-carbon transition, including McDermott, GASCADE Gastransport GmbH, Moeve Quimica, PCK Raffinerie GmbH, and BASF Process Catalysts. Their involvement highlights the event’s role as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration, helping to steer the oil and gas sector toward achieving net-zero goals while maintaining operational viability.

In an industry long challenged by the tension between environmental responsibility and business imperatives, DECARBON 2026 offers a vital platform for transformation. It enables executives and technical experts to stay abreast of cutting-edge decarbonisation trends, network with peers, and convert sustainability ambitions into actionable strategies. As the sector increasingly reimagines its future, events like DECARBON 2026 are crucial in shaping a pragmatic and coordinated approach to climate action.