January 13, 2021 Vol. LXXVI, No. 2 a weekly Aramco publication for employees

More than just a pretty place Aramco’s new

a natural wondersee pages 6 and 7 January 13, 2021 the arabian sun 2 company news JHAH Awarded ‘Gold’ Person-Centered Care Certification Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Nabeel A. (JHAH) has been accredited as one of Al-Jama’, JHAH only four organizations in the Kingdom chairman of the with Gold certification. Person-Cen- Board and tered Care is an international standard senior vice As of today, JHAH is established by Planetree International president of HR and Corporate for quality in health care, where staff, Services, officially the gold patients, and families have their needs delivers and desires heard and addressed. celebratory standard for person- remarks to The Gold Award was celebrated at a attendees after centered care in Saudi being ceremony Jan. 3 in . Nabeel A. introduced by Arabia. Together, you Al-Jama’, senior vice president of Hu- Dr. Amar Sattar, man Resources and Corporate Services co-chairman of have built a JHAH and JHAH chairman of the Board, and the Person- Dr. Susan Frampton, president of Plane- Centered Care culture that puts Council. tree International, joined the ceremony virtually to celebrate with JHAH leader- people and their needs ship, including Dr. Michael Walsh, chief right at the front and executive of JHAH; Salem Al-Shehry, and their families who’ve come with congratulations.” COO and Person-Centered Care advo- us on this journey. Together, you have center of everything cate; and JHAH employees. built a JHAH culture that puts people The Gold certification was achieved and their needs right at the front and after a weeklong validation visit by in- we do. “As of today, JHAH is officially the center of everything we do. ternational quality surveyors who as- gold standard for person-centered care sessed JHAH’s delivery of health-care — Nabeel A. Al-Jama’ in ,” Al-Jama’ said at the “This Planetree gold certificate is a services. As part of the assessment, sur- award ceremony. “This is thanks to the milestone and not an endpoint,” Al-Ja- veyors interviewed a number of focus hard work and determination of a great ma’ added. “We must build on and groups that included front-line staff, many people: doctors, nurses, techni- strengthen this culture. But for now, clinical staff, and patients. The survey- cians, support personnel, JHAH’s lead- you can all be incredibly proud of what ors visited all five of JHAH’s locations in As defined by Planetree, person-cen- ership, and of course, all the patients you have achieved. So thank you, and the Kingdom. tered care creates positive impressions and satisfying experiences, but beyond that, it improves lives. Person-centered care creates workplaces that energize and inspire joy at work. It improves health outcomes and unites commu- nities around health and wellness. Research has documented that per- son-centered care yields internal, exter- nal, and cultural benefits to health care organizations and improves organiza- tional performance in quality, safety, and experience.

The surveyors noted a number of JHAH’s services that demonstrate per- son-centered care excellence, including Patient and Family Advisory Councils, Patient-Directed Visiting Hours, Wel- Dr. Michael Walsh and Salem Al-Shehry are pictured with the From left, Dr. Elmotaz Ahmed (Al-Hasa Health Center), Dr. Ali Mollah ( Health “Gold” Person-Centered Care Award from Planetree Center), and Dr. Mohsin Jafri ( Health Center) accept the “Gold” standard come Guides, and a health encyclope- International. Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care by Planetree International on behalf dia for patients in and English, of their district health centers. among others.

Notable achievements in JHAH’s journey to Person-Centered Care Excellence • Experiential Communication and electronic medical record. peer staff or patients in the interview scaping. Research is finding that natural Compassion Training: 97% of JHAH • MyWay — Digital Navigation App: process for potential new hires. light in a health care facility can help employees completed Experiential JHAH’s wayfinding technology is here to • Welcome Guides: JHAH Welcome patients recover faster and reduce their Communication Training (four hours) and help JHAH patients and visitors find their Guides are available to assist patients, need for medication as well as reduce the Compassion Training (two hours) within 12 destination and information. family members, and visitors with direc- stress of health care workers while months. • In the Medical Intensive Care Unit tions within our hospitals. increasing their productivity. • Patient and Family Advisory Councils (ICU), JHAH staff holds multidisciplinary • Emergency Department Entrance New • Inpatient Welcome Guide Booklet: The (PFAC): JHAH established PFAC, which is a rounds partnering with patients and their Parking: Five new patient parking slots Welcome Guide Booklet is a part of partnership between patients, families, loved ones to take into account personal were added, including parking for people ensuring a comfortable stay, and to help and staff that works together to create a preferences and respect spiritual and with disabilities, close to the JHAH Emer- personalize our care and services for person-centered health-care culture. The cultural needs. gency Department entrance. patients and their loved ones. The booklet PFAC members include active employees, • JHAH’s Service Excellent Unit created • Executive Rounding: This takes place is available upon arrival in all inpatient retirees, persons with disabilities and “Welcoming to All — An Employee Guide across all JHAH facilities, with pairs of rooms. spouses who team up to improve patient to Communication.” This training provides C-suite leaders “rounding” or visiting • Radiology’s Calming Ambiance: JHAH’s and family experience. practical resources and tips on welcoming wards and offices, taking time to talk with Radiology Department has chosen equip- • Patient-Directed Visiting Hours: When all people to the hospital, including people staff, patients, and families. ment that combines advanced diagnostic patients are admitted to the ward, they with disabilities and special needs. • The courtyard area, near the main technology with person-centered design. It will be asked their visiting preferences. • JHAH’s Human Resources department lobby of the Dhahran Health Center, was provides a patient with controlled immer- This information is recorded in “Epic,” the includes the presence of either peer-to- re-opened in 2019 after extensive land- sive environmental display technology.

Dhahran Health Al-Hasa Ras Tanura Health Abqaiq Health Center Center Health Center Center the arabian sun January 13, 2021 company news 3 Journeying to new levels of road safety North Ghawar Producing Department merges technology with journey management by commissioning NGPD Field Operation Support Center By Eamonn Houston

Abqaiq — The North Ghawar Produc- ing Department (NGPD) has deployed cutting-edge technology to monitor in- the-field road safety of employees and contractors across its approximately 14,000 km2 area of operations.

The newly established NGPD Field Op- eration Support Center (NGFOSC), op- erating from its base at Abqaiq’s South Administration Building, is a centralized hub for the coordination and monitoring of all journey management related tasks.

Trip monitoring The NGFOSC is the latest initiative to President and CEO Amin Nasser on a visit to the newly established NGPD Field Operation Support Center, at its base in Abqaiq’s South Administration further boost field journey safety. Aram- Building. Vice president of Southern Area Oil Operations, Khaled A. Al Buraik, and vice president of Safety & Industrial Security, Aali M. Al Zahrani, were also in attendance. co employees and company contractors will benefit from this new trip monitor- to log their personal information and trip ing function when they are driving in re- details. Each trip is shown on the dash- mote areas for field operations. board where it is tracked by the JMCs.

The center has emerged as a pillar of If the trip is not completed (closed) safety excellence for NGPD, striving to during the intended period, notifications minimize the risks that personnel face are sent to the travelers’ direct supervisor when traveling in remote locations. to take action.

The department also has a number State-of-the-art features of vehicles equipped with SOS buttons. Among its state-of-the-art features, the When activated, a notification containing center has an integrated dashboard that the vehicle’s live location and number, as is overseen by journey management co- well as the driver’s name is sent to an ordinators (JMCs) 24 hours a day, and in- The center is another pillar of safety excellence for the North Ghawar Producing Department, and has emergency contact list. cludes a tracking and monitoring system. the goal of minimizing the risks that employees and contractors face when traveling by road to remote locations. • Contractor awareness: The NGDP has The NGFOSC provides a 24/7 fully conducted extensive awareness sessions manned operation to ensure that all em- scape area, our operations are not just gency Response Tool. with contractors to include the develop- ployees and contractors enjoy successful limited to on-site activities. Off-site or re- ment of their journey management pro- trips while availing state-of-the-art tools mote activities represent a great deal of • Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL): Ded- grams and incorporate their automatic and technologies to facilitate their safe our daily operations with an average an- icated JMCs are assigned to monitor all vehicle locator systems into the center. dispatch and return. nual driving distance exceeding 3 million travelers to ensure everyone returns safe- kilometers,” Al Saleh said. ly. These JMCs check the location of travel- NGPD has established several initiatives According to NGPD manager Abdulaziz ers every three hours and are able to com- to bridge the gap in traffic safety, traffic U. Al Saleh, the new center will further Top NGFOSC features include: municate with them by radio or mobile violations, and notifications. Since 2017, improve journey safety across its area of • Live Field Maps: The center is phone via a centralized tracking system. there has been a significant improvement operations. equipped with an integrated dashboard in driving behavior and a remarkable displayed on digital monitors, providing • Tracking System: The journey man- 93% reduction in violations and notifica- “Due to the extent of NGPD’s land- a live overview of the Corporate Emer- agement tracking system allows travelers tions.

North Ghawar Producing Department Operational Excellence & Compliance Group Journey Managing Utilization

Employee logs the The trip will then be Upon approval, the The JMC will check In case of an Upon completion of trip into the Journey forwarded to the employee will then the location of the emergency, travelers the journey, the Management department Jounrey dispatch to the traveler every three will activate the SOS JMCs will close the Tracking System. Management destination. hours and button, which will trip in the system. coordinator (JMC) communicate by send an emergency for approval. radio or mobile message to the phone. search and rescue responders. January 13, 2021 the arabian sun 4 company news Leading the way in cybersecurity, Aramco scoops a prestigious international award The cutting-edge efforts of Aramco’s ger alliances across the supply chain. Information Security Department (ISD) Aramco’s As such, the need of the Third Party have been spotlighted by an internation- Information Cybersecurity Program emerged in 2016 Security al organization pledged to digital trans- Department’s to address this gap. formation and boosting cybersecurity team, who won across the global industrial landscape. the prestigious award from Collaboration Aramco’s Third-Party Cybersecurity International Dheba S. Al Rashid, the lead for the Data Group. Program, which was designed to help Information Security Programs Devel- guard the company from cyber threats opment Group, said that the very nature stemming from third parties, received of Aramco’s business as a global orga- the prestigious CSO50 2020 award from nization requires strong collaboration the technology media company Interna- between the company and its partners tional Data Group. to effectively address cybersecurity chal- lenges. The award ceremony was held virtual- ly due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are using social engineering techniques. technology and information technology “We rely on many partners and restrictions. ISD’s program introduced Such techniques exploit human instinct infrastructure. This research is a global third-party suppliers to achieve our busi- governance and protection mechanisms to lure unsuspecting users into exposing community effort with a common in- ness objectives. This includes exchang- across Aramco’s supply chain to protect data, spreading malware, or giving ac- terest and commitment to strengthen ing data and extensive communication. against increased cyber risks. cess to restricted systems. cybersecurity capabilities,” Al Harbi Naturally, this raises the risk level around said. data governance and security,” Al Rashid It had a key role in not only secur- “Advanced technology and security said. ing the company, but also in increasing practices, no matter how sophisticated, As a founding member of the WEF’s cybersecurity awareness and capabilities will always be constrained by the hu- Center for Cybersecurity, Aramco and “The program strives to proactively of Aramco’s third parties. man factor. Therefore, we are committed the center, known as C4C, are leading a combat cyber risks originating from third to continuing our efforts in promoting a cyber resilience program specifically fo- parties by embedding cybersecurity at CSO50 is a prestigious global award resilient cybersecurity culture in Aram- cused on the oil and gas industry. every stage of the third-party engage- presented to the top 50 distinguished co through our Cybersecurity Behavior ment life cycle,” she added. projects that have resulted in the high- Management Program,” Al Harbi added. est positive impact to an organization’s Resilience ISD has also established the first digi- cybersecurity posture, community, and Aramco and the WEF are leading the tal certification for the company’s third ecosystem. Behavior management development of cyber resilience guide- parties, called the Cybersecurity Com- The program is undergoing a shift to lines for boards of directors to influence pliance Certificate, which strives to ele- create a vigilant culture, transforming it organizational and behavioral change vate cybersecurity capabilities across Ar- Pride into a collaborative behavior-centric pro- in the industry. The program creates a amco’s supply chain to ensure that best Chief information security officer Kha- gram. trusted network of collaboration to em- practice standards are upheld. lid S. Al Harbi spoke of his pride in the bed cybersecurity across the oil and gas award and the efforts of his team. Al Harbi said that ISD continues to ecosystem. Ali Al-Asseri, the lead for the Sup- scale its efforts through collaboration ply Chain and Third-Party Compliance “In ISD, our motto is, ‘Information se- with government agencies and critical “The company has therefore been Group, focused on the mutual benefit curity is everyone’s responsibility,’ which national infrastructure to promote posi- driven by the objective of strengthening of collaboration and how it is a key to highlights the role every employee plays tive cybersecurity behaviors nationwide. its cyber resilience to ensure the evolu- strengthening online security. when it comes to protecting the compa- tion of cybersecurity capabilities for the ny’s data and assets,” Al Harbi said. “We are currently co-leading global enterprise and its ecosystem,” said Al “ISD elevated third-party discussions research on ‘cyber resilience for the oil Harbi. and hosted multiple collaborative ses- Cyberattacks are growing in sophisti- and gas industry’ with the World Eco- sions Kingdomwide to unify national ef- cation, and rather than exploiting tech- nomic Forum (WEF). Efforts have a focus Aramco realized that this resilience is a forts in tackling supply chain risks and nologies and security systems, attackers on addressing cyber risk on operational collective effort and is built upon stron- raise security standards,” Al-Asseri said.

Your voice Mental health in the workplace: the biggest pandemic issue of 2021 My hope in sharing my story is to en- to brush it away, but it kept coming ety, and depression. But now, it may in- courage others to do the same. stronger and stronger. It started with spire more open discussions about men- a feeling of not being able to breathe. tal health in the workplace than ever On July 10, I got infected by Feeling trapped as if I was being buried before. McKinsey, a management con- COVID-19. I found out by surprise. I was alive, I couldn’t breathe. I was panick- sulting company, said in 2020 that, “If working with a cross-functional team ing and getting anxious. My symptoms companies make mental health services on establishing a COVID-19 protocol for kept becoming harsher — feelings of more accessible and intervene in the industrial trainees. As I suffered from a hopelessness, increased irritability, loss workplace in ways that improve well-be- runny nose and very mild flu-like symp- of pleasure, and trouble concentrating ing, they will simultaneously make toms, I decided to get tested. To my sur- and sleeping. investments that will provide real im- prise, I tested positive. Fourteen days provements in employee outcomes and later, I was back at work. During these Then my thoughts became dark. Dark consequently in company performance.” two weeks, I received numerous mes- and bleak ideas started infiltrating my By Steve C. Magnan sages inquiring about my health and mind. These thoughts became more and I wrote this while I was in an emer- Training and Development wishing me a speedy recovery. more obsessive. What if tomorrow was gency hospital stay for eight days. I was [email protected] like today? What is the pleasure of liv- diagnosed with severe depression and On Dec. 25, I was admitted to JHAH. It ing if you are in so much pain? What anxiety. Today, I am on the road to re- was like I had fallen off a 10-story high is wrong with me? I was slowly sinking covery. Like past sport injuries, I intend building and smashed my head on the and desperately trying to shout “Help!” to make this recovery a learning mo- concrete. My blood pressure was rising But no one was hearing me. This time ment, not a lifetime shame. It will be and falling without any apparent rea- I was sick, but without apparent symp- a lifelong journey. I am privileged and son. This condition started eight months toms. No one was wishing me a speedy lucky to be on the path to recovery. earlier in April when we first heard recovery, as my sickness was invisible to Privileged to have such a great family, of COVID-19 sweeping its dark cloak others. friends, colleagues, and job. However, throughout the world. neither privilege nor luck should have Your Voice reflects the thoughts and opinions of the writer, and not necessarily those of the pub- The COVID-19 pandemic created an to be part of anyone’s mental health lication. First, I tried to ignore it. Then, I tried international experience of stress, anxi- equation. the arabian sun January 13, 2021 company news 5 Expansive Refinery upgrade finished on budget and ahead of schedule A significant upgrade at the Riyadh Refinery that was originally scheduled The installation of two new to take more than two years to complete platformer was finished much earlier than antici- heat pated. exchangers being lifted in Thanks to the dedication and safe place with an 800-ton work of more than 2,000 field profes- capacity crane sionals, the Hydroprocessing Integri- during the ty Project was completed in July — 24 Riyadh Refinery months early. Although the work was upgrade. conducted 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, the project was executed within budget, and the expedited work saved a total of 3.1 million man-hours while re- quiring only a single shutdown, instead of the two originally scheduled.

With this significant acceleration, the refinery’s operational efficiencies were optimized while also reducing the load on all charge heaters, which effectively slashed operational costs.

The scope of the project was consider- able, as the team had to: • Demolish 61 pieces of equipment pleted the work within the allotted procured and transported from Europe weighing 3,638 tons shutdown period. The final stretch to Riyadh, requiring the project team to • Excavate and then backfill 3,013 m3 The final part of the revamp project diligently work beyond normal hours to on-site to make space for new instal- The upgrades are designed to help Ar- was an upgrade of the hydrogen re- meet a challenging deadline. lations amco meet domestic fuel demand in a former unit with a goal of producing • Design and install 17 new, large reliable and cost-effective manner. Con- 97% pure hydrogen to support demand. Following material procurement and sized reactors and 27 exchangers tinued operation of the hydroprocessing Faced with the challenge of generating delivery challenges, the installation pro- • Install 8,000 m of new piping units is essential for the operation of the updated vectorized drawings and maps cess posed new sets of challenges. • Fabricate and erect 800 tons of steel refinery. for a refinery that was built in 1979, the structures team used 3-D laser scans to survey and During the design period, the team • Install 141,000 m of cables for power To optimize the refinery’s operations, generate the needed data for the task, adopted a modular construction ap- and instrumentation the project’s scope of work focused on resulting in cost savings and expedited proach to reduce the shutdown window. • Execute 257 tie-ins the upgrade of aging facilities, with deliverables. The huge modular equipment installa- • Perform 339 hydrotesting packages. eight new reactors and 12 combined tions, with their massive tonnage sizes, feed/effluent exchangers to be installed Major work had to be done in the posed a strain on manpower. in the hydrocracking unit to process an hydrocracking unit due to aging reac- Challenges and accomplishments increased fresh feed rate. tors. Significant design changes and up- Therefore, the plan was revised and Although the shutdown took place grades to more than 20 pieces of equip- accelerated to execute the work with during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, Also, other reactors and exchangers ment were required to optimize the just one shutdown. This major under- the team persevered and safely com- were replaced to enhance production unit’s function and production capacity. taking was made possible by a team of and to optimize profitability, including dedicated professionals. the naptha hydrotreater, kerosene hy- Another challenge came from material drotreater, and platformer units that specifications and movement. Replace- produce gasoline, jet fuel, and liquefied ments had to comply with materials that petroleum gas. are produced by only a few fabricators around the world. The eight hydrocrack- ing reactors along with their 12 com- bined feed exchangers — amounting to a total weight of 2,670 tons — were January 13, 2021 the arabian sun the arabian sun January 13, 2021 6 company news company news 7 For community & environment Aramco’s new Mangrove Eco-Park a natural wonder ramco president and CEO foreign and domestic customers. Amin Nasser took part in a ceremony to open The Mangrove Eco-Park is visited Amin Nasser was on hand Monday for a ceremony the Mangrove Eco-Park by over 100 species of birds annual- nearA Ras Tanura on Jan. 11. The Eco- ly, such as the whimbrel and curlew marking the opening of the Mangrove Eco-Park near Park is the first facility in the King- birds that migrate from as far as Si- dom dedicated to the preservation of beria in Russia. Ras Tanura, the first facility in the Kingdom dedicated mangrove forests, which provide crit- ical buffer zones between land and Scientific research shows that man- to the preservation of mangrove forests. sea as well as breeding and nursery groves even play a role in purifying Begun eight years ago, the park protects one of the grounds for various marine life. seawater by absorbing pollutants and mitigating climate change by last naturally occuring mangrove forests in the Eastern The opening of the Eco-Park took capturing and storing atmospheric place during a gathering of exec- carbon within the surrounding sedi- Province and features a long boardwalk to provide utives in Ras Tanura (RT) to review ment. In line with the transition to a safety measures at RT area company circular carbon economy, mangroves visitors an opportunity to see conservation in action. facilities. provide a sustainable carbon seques- tration solution because they capture But mangrove forests aren’t just beautiful places to “Mangroves play an important role five times more carbon dioxide than in our environment as a line of pro- terrestrial trees and do not require visit. They play a crucial role in protecting our shores tection and as a nursery for marine ongoing maintenance once estab- from erosion while providing sanctuaries where fish, life,” said Nasser. “This Mangrove lished. Eco-Park will most certainly enhance shrimp, and other marine life can spawn and produce our longstanding commitment to sus- The Mangrove Eco-Park has been tainability and to protecting and en- designed to educate the communi- offspring, strengthening the ecosystem. hancing the environment around us.” ty — from schoolchildren to families and visiting tourists — about man- The park’s opening was attended not only by Nasser, Photos: Started in 2012, the 63-km2 Man- groves and their environmental and grove Eco-Park protects one of the economic benefits. Each element of but also other members of senior management as part Ding/MPD last naturally occurring mangrove the facility contributes to the mission forests in the Eastern Province and of environmental preservation and of their monthly Executive Management Safety features the longest mangrove local awareness. An on-site field lab Review. boardwalk in the Kingdom. Protect- is fully equipped with all the tools ing sensitive natural habitats in the necessary to study the mangrove for- areas where we operate not only est and coastal biodiversity. A board- demonstrates Aramco’s commitment walk has been built to allow visitors to environmental stewardship, it also to stroll into the estuary and to view provides an opportunity to increase the forest and the local wildlife up public awareness about the import- close. An adjacent mangrove nurs- ant role that mangrove forests play ery provides space for seedlings to in the Kingdom’s environment. be nurtured to expand the size of the mangrove forest, keeping the man- Mangrove forests are not only grove forest at RT alive and well for beautiful places to visit. They play a generations to come. crucial role in protecting shorelines from erosion. They also provide sanc- “We are delighted with this new tuaries where fish, shrimp, and other and exciting recreational and edu- marine life can spawn and produce cational facility for RT residents and offspring, which strengthens the lo- visitors,” said Community Services cal ecosystem. With healthy fish pop- executive director Faisal A. Hajji. “It ulations, local communities that rely will complement Community Ser- on fishing are able to enjoy more vices’ efforts toward improving the stable incomes, providing seafood to quality of life, and more important- ly, further strengthen the company’s carbon sequestration contribution.”

Environmental Protection general Visit: manager Omar S. Abdulhamid said, 2 million “Aramco, a pioneer in environmen- mangroves tal stewardship and biodiversity, is added to proud to establish the first Mangrove the carbon Eco-Park in the Kingdom. This is yet front line. another step in its journey toward a sustainable future.” January 13, 2021 the arabian sun 8 company news SPARK Dry Port: Helping realize Vision 2030 with a world-class hub for the movement of goods and commerce — The King Salman En- ergy Park (SPARK) Project Manage- ment Team (PMT) continues to make strides in the realization of Saudi Vi- sion 2030 with the development of a world-class dry port and logistics zone.

The dry port, which sits between Dammam and al-Ahsa, will serve both SPARK industries and the wider Eastern Province. The port is also in- tended to attract and expand private sector participation in the economy, and directly support Aramco’s objec- tives at SPARK.

Murad A. Sayed, general manager of Maritime, Building and Infrastruc- ture Management,, said, “This first- class system of the SPARK dry port will deliver significant improvements to the Saudi Customs’ services not only in SPARK, but also to all areas served by the Customs’ authority.”

The dry port is also a key enabler for the development of the wider SPARK site, as it will directly lever- This conceptual representation show’s the SPARK Dry Port main entrance gate. age the benefits of the Gulf railway, which will connect all six Gulf Coop- eration Council member states on the Arabian Gulf to provide new freight The dry port and logistics zone cy, resulting in construction cost The dry port’s automation, latest transport options and Customs facil- within the complex furthers the de- savings and a shorter completion technology, and Customs’ clearance ities. velopment and promotion of private schedule. procedures are based on the best sector investment in the eastern part international practices of risk man- To meet the projected demand at of the Kingdom. This will provide This ISF facility will be installed in agement and will be utilized for the SPARK, the dry port will be devel- significant benefits to future tenants the dry port entrance and features first time in the Kingdom, reducing oped in two phases. The first one be- in SPARK, enabling them to access sensors and scanners to screen in- manual inspection rates from 80% ing the implementation of facilities international markets in an efficient coming cargo as it passes through to 20%, enabling more cargo to be to operate the port using truck haul- way, in part by leveraging on-site the gate. This helps Customs decide handled and reducing the footprint age, and the second phase, which Customs with more feasible transport in advance to either release the car- of the Customs area and its required would be served when the railway is links. go or transfer it for manual inspec- resources. operational. tion. The ISF includes a radiation The dry port design implements portal monitor, an over height de- This dry port and logistics zone The primary objective for the dry an Inbound Screening Facility tection system, a weigh in motion, a project is evidence that PMT at SPARK port is to support the logistics needs (ISF) for Saudi Customs that helps truck photo camera, a license plate is continuously seeking excellence to of the SPARK industrial city, and sur- to reduce the buildup area by reader, an X-ray source portal, and a bring benefits to the project and to rounding industrial centers. 37% and increase port efficien- RFID reader. the Kingdom.

This conceptual representation shows the SPARK Dry Port main entrance layout. the arabian sun January 13, 2021 community 9 Back to school

ACCELBy Jim Cook International Center reopenscontinues one day per week. Plans to reopen included appropriate san- Sukaiynah Alhubail works one- itization, mask wearing, and social on-one with her students as they go distancing requirements. In-person through a series of math exercises on classes at ACCEL resumed in late Oc- a Monday morning at the Ajyal Cen- tober. ter for Comprehensive Education and Life Skills (ACCEL) International Cen- “It’s a relief to have the kids back, ter. Her class is smaller — there are it brings the life back to the center,” only four students per class instead of Phillip Tanner, executive director of the usual eight — and the rhythm of the center, said. “All of the extra pre- the day is punctuated by regular paus- cautions and added staff have been es to clean and disinfect classrooms, worth it to have the kids back.” but these changes don’t diminish the sense of normalcy Alhubail and her Tanner said that while online in- students feel. struction, coupled with parental in- volvement, can be helpful for ACCEL’s “We’re getting back to what we students, face-to-face instruction re- were doing before COVID,” she said. mains ideal for the educational and “Everything is the same, just now with therapeutic services provided by AC- extra cleaning and precautions.” CEL. The center is currently serving 96 students, and plans to add 35 more Like other schools throughout the upon successful piloting of the 4-4-4 Kingdom, ACCEL, which provides a plan. range of therapy and training ser- Juliet Toralde, a paraprofessional at the ACCEL International Center, works with a student. vices for individuals with develop- One benefit of the resumption of mental disabilities, had to suspend in-person classes has been the use of face to face classes earlier this year individual capabilities. Alhubail said ministered by an Arizona-based cen- COVID-19 precautions as a learning as a result of the COVID-19 pan- mastering Zoom, the software plat- ter, began adapting plans used by its experience. Students at ACCEL partici- demic. In March, ACCEL staff moved form used to hold class online, and parent organization in the U.S. to re- pate in sanitizing classrooms, learning quickly to develop a program of on- applying classroom management sume in-person instruction. The Min- how to clean and protect themselves line instruction for students that in- techniques have been helpful. istry of Education approved ACCEL’s from infection. cluded therapeutic and academic “4-4-4 plan,” which consists of having components. “As educators, we have to be flex- students in class four days per week, “Our greatest goal is to provide our ible, so while frustrating at first, this four hours per day, with a maximum students with the skills they need to Alhubail said some of the biggest was a great opportunity to grow,” she of four students in a classroom. live as independently as possible,” challenges with developing a program said. Tanner said. “In the era of COVID-19, of online instruction for her students Additional staff have been hired learning to properly clean and sani- involved providing differentiated in- As the new school year in Septem- to accommodate the smaller class tize is critical. It’s a healthy practice, struction, which caters to students’ ber approached, ACCEL, which is ad- size mandate. Online instruction also and we want them to be healthy.” Najmah youth put talents on display By Seema Nanda and Ali H. Al Sinan

Ras Tanura — Twenty-four young hopefuls sang, danced, played musical instruments, and even beatboxed in a bid to become Najmah’s top talent.

The Ras Tanura Recreation Services Unit hosted an online talent show, which was open to all Aramco com- munity children between 9 and 15 years of age. Recreation advisor See- ma Nanda coordinated with the 24 youngsters who registered for the Lucas Wang, the winner. Hamza Bustami, first runner-up. Jesse Li, second runner-up. show.

The top seven acts were shortlisted by a panel of volunteer judges includ- advisor Ali H. Al Sinan hosted a two- as a warm-up. Only the participants, Top placers included winner Lucas ing Andrew Redmon, Arianna de la hour live online show on Dec. 10, with judges, and organizers were present, Wang; first runner-up Hamza Bustami; Ree, and Ross Callander. Recreation Mohammed Quraish playing the oud socially distanced. and second runner-up Jesse Li.

You have the power to defeat it COVID-19 is still a threat. But we have the advantage to defeat it. Because the virus needs us to survive and spread. Sehhaty App Don’t give it that chance. January 13, 2021 the arabian sun 10 community

There is a feel about Galway you can wear around your shoulders like a cloak. It hangs in the air with its dampness; it walks the cobblestone streets and stands in the doorways of its gray stone buildings. — American author Claire Fullerton Along the wild Atlantic Way The West Coast of Ireland is a land of rugged beauty, where the frequently cruel Atlantic Ocean pummels its shores with azure surf, where the often tragic imprints of history and a wealth of culture abound, and it has now found its niche on the global tourist map as a must-see destination. by Eamonn Houston

The wild Atlantic Way stretches from the jutting northernmost reaches of Inishowen in Donegal to the deepest southern places of County Cork.

Along this 2,500-kilometer coastline — the last European stop before Ameri- ca — is a traveler’s treasure hunt where unspoiled isolated beaches jigsaw with lofty cliffs. Doting the landscape with distinctive charm are colorful Irish vil- lages and towns jostling to be renowned for their food and music.

Along the length of this coast, a mass of Ireland’s population left from ports to flee starvation and teem upon the shores of the Americas and Canada from 1845 to 1849, during the Great Hunger (An Gorta Mor). Galway street scene

Galway city and bay pace until it reaches the bay. land’s 900 native plants species, the Bur- Galway is the third largest city in the travelers tip ren is home to 70% of them. Republic of Ireland, but features a mod- Travelers may be tempted to hire a Salmon fly anglers can be seen in est compact population of almost 76,000 car, but using Galway as a base, it is waders along the banks, spanned by The highlight of the Burren is Poul- people — and what a mix it has with its convenient to use tour buses to ex- four bridges, seeking to catch the elu- nabrone, a portal dolmen that some- quirky broth of musicians, locals, and plore the surrounding area. The driv- sive fish for sport and supper. how has existed in a state of perfect multicultural students. ers are knowledgeable locals, and — balance for over 5,800 years. It guards as Ireland’s coastal roads are winding The coastal Salthill, 3 km west on the the remains of 22 people buried over six Lawrence of Arabia actor Peter and often narrow with agricultural outskirts of Galway City, has an old re- centuries. O’Toole was born here. So was world-re- traffic — this is the safest option. sort feel. Its seaside promenade (known nowned Claddagh jewelry. as “the Prom”) stretches for about 5 km On the seaside edge of the Burren, the and has stunning views of Galway Bay. charming village of Doolin is perched on façade of the former Meyrick Hotel, Salthill is a hotbed of cafes, restaurants, a gentle hill that slopes down to a har- Discovery built in 1852. and leisure facilities, including a golf bor where ferries serve the famous Aran As an Irishman, I must admit that, like course. It’s a vibrant place with a brac- Islands. Here, you can have the best sea- people from many nations, I never really But the real gem is William Street, just ing Atlantic air. Seafood restaurants food chowder and traditional chocolate. fully discovered my own country while I off the northwest corner of the square serve up the freshest oysters and chow- lived in it. Although, since joining Aram- where cobbled stones wind and slope der with freshly baked brown bread. Towering like a huge row of sentinels co in 2011 and meeting my wife, Jane, downward toward Galway Bay and the just south of Doolin are the Cliffs of Mo- from the Philippines, I have found my- harbor. her. Puffin colonies thrive here, and you self exploring it more and more. And Dungaire Castle, the Burren, can see the cliffs by walking from Doolin what a revelation it has been! Topped by a statue of famous Irish Doolin, and Inis Oir or from the sea on a ferry. writer Oscar Wilde and Estonian writer Built in 1520 by the O’Hynes clan, Arriving in Galway by bus from Dublin Eduard Vilde sitting in casual conver- Dungaire Castle, a restored 16th century The cliffs are one of the biggest tourist International Airport, the first thing that sation, William Street is a potpourri of tower house, sits on a rocky outcrop on attractions in Ireland; attracting people strikes you — besides the fresh, salty street entertainers, restaurants serving the shores of Galway Bay. It’s steeped in from around the world — mostly in the breeze of the Atlantic Ocean — is the excellent seafood from the bay, and history, and most tour coaches will stop summer. city’s centerpiece of Eyre Square, a leafy souvenir shops. Street entertainers and by this testament to Ireland’s rich history park named after U.S. president John F. artists pepper the sloping hill, giving it on the wild Atlantic Way. Kennedy, who visited in 1963. the feel of a permanent festival. The Aran Islands But more is yet to come. The Burren If ever there was a testament to the On mild days, people — mostly stu- The upper part of the River Corrib (rocky place) sees us cross into Coun- power of the Atlantic, it lies rusting on dents — loll here. Tourists stroll and ex- gushes swiftly from the lough (lake) of ty Clare and is an otherworldly glacial the limestone rocks of Inis Oirr (Inisheer) plore as locals relax at lunchtime. Eyre the same name into Galway Bay, with limestone rock formation that is home in the form of the Plassy wreck. Square is dominated by the grand gray a salmon weir (dam) gently slowing its to a wild and diverse ecosystem. Of Ire- On March 8, 1960, while sailing Oscar Wilde statue Dolmen Burren Cliffs of Moher through Galway Bay, the cargo ship was with busker caught in a severe storm and ran onto Finnis Rock, Inisheer, Aran Islands. All of the crew were saved thanks to the he- roic efforts of the Inis Oirr Rocket Crew, a group of locals who rescued the crew from the stricken vessel using a breeches buoy. The rescue is captured in a pictori- al display at Ireland’s National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire. the arabian sun January 13, 2021 community news 11 Pearl of the Red Sea benefits from beach cleanup and tree planting campaign By Raad Mulla and Waleed Alkhateeb The 2020 ’ Refinery Beach “We hope this will propel other vegetation they planted. Around Cleanup and Plantation Campaign refineries to follow in our footsteps 70% of the volunteers were under Yanbu’ — The ancient port city of was sponsored by the Yanbu’ Refin- and implement community-based ini- the age of 30 — part of the genera- Yanbu’ is known for its seaside and its ery manager, Abdulatif S. Al-Shami, tiatives such as this one to increase tion that will benefit most from the industry, and the two have come to- and attended by management and awareness about the environment plantings. gether with Aramco volunteers taking employees from the refinery, as well and reduce its indirect carbon foot- part in an annual beach cleanup and as members of the Loss Prevention print.” The refinery’s shores are home to vegetation planting campaign. Department, Environment Protection, the UNESCO nominated Red Sea man- the Community Services Department, The campaign is in line with the groves, which are known for their The “Pearl of the Red Sea” benefit- and the Royal Commission Hospital. company’s goal of nurturing the carbon capture mechanism. ted from the litter collection and the Kingdom’s biodiversity by planting planting of 200 trees and plants at “This is aligned with our 2022 vision 1 million native trees to preserve the The Yanbu’ Refinery has received Aramco’s White Sand Beach as part to become a role model supplier of environment and promote ecological the prestigious President’s Award for of the environmental initiative. Two high-quality refined products while balance. Environmental Excellence four times presentations on sea life protection maintaining the highest safety and in the past as a result of its environ- and organic agriculture were also de- environmental standards,” Al-Shami As part of the campaign, partic- mental stewardship. livered. said. ipants had his or her name on the

Photographic memory This mobile clinic is one of three that the company began operating in 1954 in the Abqaiq industrial area. The clinics toured industrial areas and gave on-the-spot treatment for minor injuries, thereby saving employees trips to a health center. Because of the distance required to get to a health center, most employees neglected their injuries and cuts. Each mobile clinic was staffed with one doctor and one nurse, and they toured areas as remote as Ras al-Misha‘ab, , and the Rub‘ al-Khali. (Photo by Khalil Rissas)

The Arabian Sun is a North Admin Building, Room AN-1080, Publishing director: Waleed Al Helal (A) Articles and coverage can be Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi weekly publication issued C-05A, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Editors: Jamsheed Din, Todd Williams, requested through CRM. Aramco) is a joint stock company, with free of charge by the Telephone (013) 876-0374 William Bradshaw Correspondence may be addressed to certificate of registration number Corporate Communication Email: [email protected] Editorial staff: Musherf Alamri, the editor, North Admin Building, 2052101105, having its principal office Support Department for ISSN: 1319-156X Eamonn Houston, Scott Baldauf, Room AN-1080, C-05A. at P.O. Box 5000, Dhahran, Postal Code employees. Articles may be reproduced provided Dalia Darweesh, and Rawan Nasser. 31311, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and The Arabian Sun is credited. Designer: Husam Nasr. with fully paid capital of SAR 60,000,000,000. the arabian sun January 13, 2021 12 Plassy Wreck Along the wild Atlantic Way On March 8, 1960, while sailing through Galway Bay, the cargo ship Plassy was caught in a severe storm and ran onto Finnis Rock, Inisheer, Aran Islands. see page 10

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