Delhi to host Asian Bitumen Conference

India will host the Asian Bitumen Conference for the first time, with the meet slated to be held here on November 23-24.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate the conference supported by the union petroleum ministry, the organisers Asian Bitumen (AsB) said in a statement here.

Experts from as many as 20 countries from Asia will come together to discuss challenges and opportunities emerging in the bitumen market in Asia, it said.

"Factors such as a shift in demand towards value added bitumen products, preference being given to cement over bitumen in road construction in countries like India, and additional usages emerging for the crude byproduct have dramatically affected the outlook of the bitumen market in Asia," it added.

Global bitumen demand is expected to reach 122 million tonnes in 2018.

India's bitumen utilisation will outpace production in the coming years as demand is expected to accelerate, the organisers said.