BGN International Is Pioneering Technology and People in Global Energy and Maritime Logistics

By Contributor Francesca Ming

With the ongoing digital transformation shaping industries globally, BGN International, a global commodity trading firm, is leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the purposes of revolutionizing its energy trading and maritime logistics operations. The company has a legacy spanning over 80 years, and continues to demonstrate a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. 

BGN International is operational in over 120 countries, and maintains strategic locations in Doha, Dubai, Geneva, Houston, Rotterdam, and Singapore. It combines local expertise with global insights to deliver exceptional service and value to its partners, with an integrated business model encompassing all sectors of the energy industry, from trading, to storage, transportation, and financing.  

With a comprehensive approach that maintains BGN’s role as a reliable partner in navigating the complexities of global energy markets, BGN has also incorporated a strategic integration of AI into its operations, something which has allowed the company to navigate global markets with agility and precision. AI-based learning facilitates the company’s analysis of datasets representing spreads in global energy prices and shipping flows. It also accounts for potential challenges, such as port congestion and refinery outages. This is a distinctly data-driven approach which facilitates the anticipation of sudden market shifts and allows central actors in the energy space to swiftly make informed decisions, while ensuring a competitive edge in a challenging industry. 

In light of AI-based insights, BGN still takes a human-centric approach. Thus, despite the integration of AI, experienced professionals still oversee AI-powered analyses, in order to make sure that any high-level strategic decisions nevertheless align with company objectives and compliance standards. This is a synergy between technology and human expertise that sets a strong standard to commitment for responsible, technology driven innovation. 

Traders and shipping companies, coming to terms with challenging maritime security issues, are increasingly relying on automated and AI-based systems to navigate uncertainty. Central in these efforts has been its integration of a real-time Automatic Identification System (AIS) which assists with challenges such as tracking data pertinent to the industry, along with predictive weather forecasts and port specific analytics, allowing innovative actors to reroute vessels and make shipping routes more efficient. These sorts of proactive approaches contribute to the reduction of demurrage costs while making shipping routes more efficient.  

Looking outside the realm of AI at the question of sustainability, BGN International has invested heavily in the global shift towards a low-carbon future. As one of the largest buyers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from the United States, which it is responsible for distributing globally, helps meet international energy demands while reducing the environmental impact. This is especially true in developing nations where switching from biomass or wood to LPG is profoundly reducing carbon footprints. Operations also include clean transition fuels like Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), all representing a firm dedication to sustainable energy and commitment to reducing scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.  

Further initiatives highlighting BGN’s proactive role in driving the energy transition and which have seen the company investing in green technologies include carbon capture and storage, and expanding its focus to invest in a broad range of clean power and carbon reduction mechanisms to ensure competitiveness across carbon markets. These efforts shape the company’s strategic direction.  

BGN International has been recognized as a company that leads among its peers in terms of diversity and inclusion – two issues which it has been dedicated to alongside its sustainability commitments. Rüya Bayegan, the company’s CEO, has succeeded in prioritising female hires – half of the firms onboards last year were women. This is perhaps a unique achievement in a heavily male dominated industry. The energy and commodity trading sectors would greatly benefit from more diverse hires with broad sets of skills and experience to encourage creative thinking and solutions. Being one of humanity’s most crucial industries, fresh and innovative approaches should be warmly welcomed. 

By maintaining a human-centric approach, BGN has created both a strong people and culture movement for the industry while protecting its technology stack from being overly reliant on technology. 

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