December 9, 2020 Vol. LXXV, No. 48 a weekly Aramco publication for employees Amin Nasser recognized by peers for excellence at industrysee page 3 awards

Driving green initiatives Aramco’s CO2 EOR demonstration project at ‘Uthmaniyah receives the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) award in the ‘Green Initiative Award’ category. see page 4

Biodiversity in action: ‘Abqaiq’s Heaven’ and ‘Nature Reserve’ launch see page 5

You have the powerCOVID-19 is still a threat. to But we defeat have the advantage toit defeat it. Because the virus needs us to survive and spread. Don’t give it that chance. December 9, 2020 the arabian sun 2 company news

Motaz A. Al Mashouk and Hasan J. Al Zahrani appointed as Executive Directors Motaz A. Al Mashouk was appoint- Al Zahrani has extensive experience ed as the executive director of En- covering oil and gas operations, cap- gineering Services effective Dec. 1, ital projects management, facilities 2020. Prior to this position, he was planning, and corporate engineering the general manager, Maritime, functions. Building and Infrastructure Project Management, since February 2019. Prior to his current assignment, he Al Mashouk was responsible for exe- was president & CEO of Luberef — a cuting a portfolio of building and in- -Jadwa joint venture — frastructure projects with a value ex- from Dec. 2012 to May 2015. ceeding SR 75 billion. These projects include large-scale housing develop- Al Zahrani led the Consulting Ser- ments, public buildings, maritime fa- vices Department (CSD) for several cilities, and transportation infrastruc- years. CSD is considered the technical ture. think-tank in several engineering dis- Motaz A. Al Mashouk Hasan J. Al Zahrani ciplines serving all surface production During this time, Al Mashouk has facilities. also had several acting positions, including vice president of Project fice Department, from July 2008 to gineering from the Imperial College He was head of Facilities Planning, Management and vice president of April 2010 following an assignment of Science, Technology and Medicine which is responsible for planning and Engineering Services. He had previ- as manager, Southern Area Projects in the U.K. He also holds an MBA developing capital investment pro- ously served as the general manager Department. from the Massachusetts Institute of grams, and has also served as man- of Community Infrastructure & Pub- Technology. ager of Production Facilities at vari- lic Projects, beginning in April 2016, Al Mashouk joined Aramco in 1995 ous onshore and offshore oil and gas after serving as general manager of as an engineer in the Consulting Ser- Hasan J. Al Zahrani was named ex- fields. Public Service Project Management, vices Department, progressively as- ecutive director of Power Systems beginning in September 2012. suming the positions of specialist, con- effective Dec. 1, 2020. Prior to this Al Zahrani, who joined the company sultant, and senior consultant before position, he was assigned as the gen- in 1980, has a B.S. degree in Mechan- Prior to that, Al Mashouk had been taking on a number of supervisory eral manager, Downstream Project ical Engineering from King Fahd Uni- general manager, Southern Area and managerial roles. Management, responsible for the ex- versity of Petroleum and Minerals, an Projects Management, from April ecution of a portfolio of hydrocarbon MBA from the University of Hull, and 2010 to July 2011. He had also been Al Mashouk holds a B.S. degree and infrastructure projects, since July a Ph.D. in Engineering Management manager, Project Management Of- and a Ph.D. degree, both in Civil En- 2015. from Dublin City University.

Your voice Take the time to be grateful for friends, family, and those around us Time is a strange thing. We around us for granted. We assume Let’s wake up and realize that get delusional, delaying import- there will always be a time to say now is the time to take action ant things in our lives, think- “thank you,” “sorry,” or a simple — while the clock is still tick- ing that we have all eternity to "I love you,” until a moment of ing. There’s still time to embrace do them. We lead our lives in a truth comes to us — the moment those chances that come our way reckless way, failing to realize of our death. It takes away the op- to appreciate people in our lives. the fact that time is running out portunity from us to express our There’s still time to show our grat- and slowly slipping through our feelings. itude and apologize wherever and hands. whenever it's due. We face a moment when we wish We have many people in our to have a little more time in our Let’s make a pledge not to take lives, each deserving some kind of lives. Time to be more susceptible things for granted anymore. Re- human courtesy from us. But we and more responsive to our fellow member to take a moment every often fulfill our relationships and beings. If only we had expressed single day to thank and appreciate By Mahvish Baig obligations casually without real- ourselves openly and appreciat- the people around us. izing that with each passing day ed things around us more. Wish- [email protected] and with each ticking of the clock, ing we had taken care of people Let us work together toward a part of us is gone. around us a little more than we showing our emotions and never actually did. But the irony of the lose our priorities by getting lost Many times, the daily grind fact is that once the clock stops, in the daily grind of our lives. Let’s takes its toll on our relationships. we have no chance to do anything take charge of our lives while the We start taking people and things about it. clock is still ticking.

Your Voice reflects the thoughts and opinions of the writer, and not necessarily those of the publication. the arabian sun December 9, 2020 company news 3 Amin Nasser recognized by peers for

excellenceDhahran — Aramco president at industry awards and CEO, Amin Nasser, received The Chemists’ Club Kavaler Award, sponsored by Independent Com- modity Intelligence Services (ICIS) in a virtual event on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020.

The event featured a fireside chat between Nasser and ICIS Chemi- cal Business’ global editor Joseph Chang and Roland Stefandl from The Chemist Club, in which Nasser discussed Aramco’s business strate- gy, outlook, and how the company is positioning itself for the future.

Nasser’s Kavaler Award is in rec- ognition of achievements in Ar- amco and in the chemicals indus- try at large, as voted by his peers in the ICIS Top 40 Power Players — a global ranking of the leaders making the greatest positive im- pact on their companies and the industry.

‘Their award too’ Amin Nasser was presented with the award at a virtual event last week. “I am proud to accept this award on behalf of the thousands of men “Despite COVID, and all its chal- Nasser said. “I see it as part of the and women of Aramco who are lenges, our work is going on at global energy mix for decades to showing great determination and re- Aramco and we are continuing to come.” silience in a year that has been un- pursue our long-term strategy to like any in our lifetime,” Nasser said. be a bigger player in chemicals Abdallah S. Jum‘ah, former Ar- “This is definitely their award too.” through projects here in the King- I am proud to accept amco president and CEO, congrat- dom of and around ulated Nasser for winning the 2020 the world,” Nasser added. “The this award on behalf Kavaler Award. progress we have made is just the beginning of a major transforma- of the thousands of “I have known Amin as a profes- tion positioning Aramco for the fu- sional and as a visionary member ture.” men and women of of the Aramco executive team. I have always admired his strong During the selection process, in- Aramco who are character, his relentless work eth- dustry peers invited by ICIS and the ic, his empathy, his humility, and Chemists’ Club voted for three in- showing great his incessant drive for results,” dividuals based on achievement in Jum‘ah said. “How many busi- one or more of the following cate- determination and nesses executives have been faced gories: with opportunities and challenges that Amin has in the last two years • Profitability or shareholder val- resilience in a year from the successful Aramco IPO to ue the acquisition of SABIC to dealing I have known Amin • Environmental, social, gover- that has been unlike with horrendous attacks against nance Aramco facilities to steering the as a professional • Innovation in technology, prod- any in our lifetime. company during this difficult uct, business process COVID-19 era? Amin, you make us and as a visionary • Merger and acquisition or proj- — Amin Nasser all proud.” member of the ects global priorities and challenges Other esteemed recipients Aramco executive Online discussion are addressed adequately, Nasser Previous winners of the ICIS Ka- In an online panel discussion with said, and Aramco’s strategy is to valer Award include CEOs from team. I have always Chang and Stefandl, Nasser laid out provide the world with the ener- some of the world’s top chemical his vision for the company’s future, gy and petrochemical products it companies, including Lyondell- admired his strong and indeed the future of the ener- needs, but with a constant eye to- Basell CEO Bob Patel (2018, 2019), gy industry. ward sustainability and lowering BASF CEO Kurt Bock (2017), INEOS character, his emissions. chairman Jim Ratcliffe (2016), for- “Energy transition is a key topic in mer Dow Chemical CEO Andrew relentless work any discussion of the future of en- “So, I see a future where oil will Liveris (2015), former Lyondell- ergy,” Nasser said. “At Aramco, we be produced with much lower emis- Basell CEO Jim Gallogly (2014), ethic, his empathy, recognize that new energy sources sions, and I do see a bright future and former PPG CEO Charles Bunch will play an important role in cre- ahead for the petroleum industry,” (2013). his humility, and his ating a sustainable energy future. However, we also believe that the ICIS is a trusted source of infor- incessant drive for transition will be gradual and won’t mation for global energy, chemical, be an easy road or path. The reality and fertilizer industries. The Chem- results. is that conventional and new energy Amin Nasser ists’ Club is a nonprofit educational sources will run in parallel for many receives organization founded in 1898 with decades to come.” Chemist’s Club the goal to “promote the interests — Abdallah S. Jum‘ah, of chemists and those interested Kavaler award. former Aramco Access to energy and reliable en- in the science and applications of president and CEO ergy systems are critical to ensure chemistry.” December 9, 2020 the arabian sun 4 company news Driving green initiatives Aramco’s CO2 EOR demonstration project at ‘Uthmaniyah receives the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) award in the ‘Green Initiative Award’ category Dhahran — Aramco’s carbon diox- That integrated approach has paid ide enhanced oil recovery (CO2 EOR) off substantially. Since the initial in- demonstration project at ‘Uthmaniyah jection of CO2 in 2015, the produc- has received the Asia Corporate Excel- tion rates have more than tripled and lence and Sustainability (ACES) Award about 60% of the injected CO2 has in the “Green Initiative Award” cate- been permanently sequestered. gory. The ACES Award is an interna- tional respected venue that recogniz- The project is an excellent example es sustainability efforts cross-industry of Aramco providing, and actually and across Asia. This is the first time implementing, innovative solutions Aramco has been recognized by this to address the issue of global climate award for the CO2 EOR demonstration change. During the past four years, project’s sustainability efforts. The the project has been recognized with project has now received a total of eight prestigious international awards. eight international awards during the last four years, exemplifying the com- “The demonstration pilot is part pany’s superb efforts in sustainability. of Aramco’s corporate carbon man- agement strategy and road map. It demonstrates the company’s pivotal Carbon Capture Utilization efforts to proactively address global and Storage (CCUS) environmental challenges and reduce Capturing and storing CO2 under- its carbon footprint. I am proud of the ground has the potential to reduce great teamwork by the project team global emissions significantly. CCUS from across the entire company,” said A 3-D model of the CO2 capture plant, injection, production, and processing facilities. is the process of capturing waste CO2 Ashraf M. Al-Tahini, manager of EX- from large sources, such as power and PEC Advanced Research Center (EXPEC gas plants, and depositing it under- CO2 injection started in July 2015. monitoring and surveillance program ARC), the department that spearhead- ground for storage so it will not enter The project involves capturing a large to evaluate the project. ed the project. It involves many of the the atmosphere. amount of CO2 per day that would firsts in terms of technology deploy- have been otherwise emitted into the “The primary objectives of the proj- ment, some for the first time in the “We are committed to reducing atmosphere, compressing the CO2, ect are to permanently sequester a Kingdom, some for the first time in greenhouse gas emissions by focus- and piping it across 85 km, and inject- portion of the injected CO2, and en- the Middle East, and some for the first ing our research, development, and ing it into a watered out zone of the hance oil recovery beyond water- time in the world. funding on high impact technologies ‘Uthmaniyah field — part of the giant flooding — a win-win technology that reduce cost and create significant Ghawar field. solution,” said AbdulHameed A. Al- environmental advantages,” Saudi Ar- Rushaid, vice president of Petroleum Reducing the carbon footprint amco president and CEO Amin Nass- “Reducing greenhouse gas emis- Engineering & Development. The The removal and reduction of CO2 er said during an Oil and Gas Climate sion has been a top priority for our demonstration project is uniquely emissions is part of a new initiative by Initiative (OGCI) event. OGCI is a part- Upstream operations for several designed as an intelligent field proj- EXPEC ARC on sustainability. It focuses nership of 13 national and interna- years. This includes near zero flaring ect. The entire infrastructure — CO2 on reducing the carbon footprint and tional oil companies that strives to re- and CO2 capture and sequestration capture plant, pipelines, injection intensity of Upstream’s operations. duce greenhouse gas emissions from in our giant oil fields,” said Nasir K. manifold; injection, production, and The primary driver here is to balance the industry. Al-Naimi, acting business line head observation wells; wellheads, fluid profitability with sustainability. of Upstream. The project has been handling facility, etc. — is fully instru- an epitome of multidisciplinary and mented to provide real-time data for The program strives to capture the First CCUS project multidepartmental teamwork. It was monitoring and surveillance purposes. impact of current technologies, iden- Aramco launched the Kingdom’s started with in-house research, fol- tify new opportunities, develop, and first CCUS and CO2 EOR project at lowed by the capture facilities’ design deploy new solutions. It adopts the ‘Uthmaniyah. This project strives to at the Hawiyah NGL plant, pilot de- State-of-the-art circular carbon economy framework demonstrate the enhancement of oil sign, drilling of injection, production, communications and covers its “4R” pillars of reduce, recovery while supporting the and observation wells, tie-in with the The project’s state-of-the-art com- reuse, recycle, and remove. Depict- company’s sustainability ef- gas-oil separation plant, injection munication system allows reservoir ing the 4Rs on Upstream operations, forts, reducing the carbon of CO2, and a comprehensive engineers to capture and leverage four major areas have been identified footprint through proper cap- sensor-based data across the whole as operational challenges, but at the ture and utilization of CO2. It spectrum to monitor and control the same time, seen as sustainability op- is the first of its kind in the project’s performance in real-time as portunities. These areas are carbon Middle East in terms of scale well as improve efficiency, sustainabil- sequestration, water management, and operation, and one of ity, quality, and safety. operational lost time, and reducing the largest in the world. material consumption. the arabian sun December 9, 2020 company news 5

Biodiversity in action: ‘Abqaiq’s Heaven’ and ‘Nature Reserve’ launch By Andreina Nunez the main Abqaiq’s Heaven seating and resting areas. Abqaiq — As part of Community Ser- vices’ (CS) continuous efforts to protect During a quick view into the Green the Kingdom’s biodiversity and to guar- House, Mohammad F. Al Khaldi, admin- antee a greener and better future for istrator of the Abqaiq Residential & Rec- our communities, on Monday, Dec. 7, reation Services Division, explained that 2020, Aramco’s president and CEO Amin this facility offers residents and visitors Nasser, officially launched two new fa- the opportunity to learn how to plant cilities in Abqaiq: Abqaiq’s Heaven and and harvest their own vegetables. Inside the Abqaiq Nature Reserve. the Green House, participants witnessed a presentation about Heaven’s Produc- Following the Green Communities pro- tion Bank, a gift shop that will offer gram, Abqaiq’s Heaven and the Nature residents and visitors a wide range of Reserve are novel additions to the mul- seeds, fruits, and vegetables organical- tiple CS initiatives that have been devel- ly produced at Abqaiq’s Heaven and the oped within Aramco communities made Abqaiq Community Farm. to enhance the company’s living envi- President and CEO Amin Nasser views a map of the "Abqaiq Heaven" during an executive ronment, promote environmental aware- management visit to the sanctuary this week. During his visit Nasser inaugurated the ‘Abqaiq The tour later stopped at the Flamin- ness, and improve the quality of life. Heaven’ and "Abqaiq’s Nature reserve." go Lake, where Nasser walked over the bridge to throw special palettes to Participants were guided to the land- an elegant style gazebo located feed the fish and marine life living in A natural paradise scaped grounds of the eastern side of at the highest level of the facility. Recy- the lake, which includes several species, Located in the heart of the Abqaiq the sanctuary and walked through the cled materials like palm leaves, wood, such as the guppy, balloon molly, gam- community and carefully designed by Path of Light, a 60 m arch with rows and ropes were used to build the struc- busia, janitor, koi, turtles, pond snails, the Southern Area CS Department (SA of carefully positioned sparkling LED ture of the pavilion, carefully put to- and small frogs. CSD) team, Abqaiq’s Heaven is a natural lights, illuminating the pathways to the gether in-house by the Abqaiq mainte- paradise that holds a sanctuary of color- Citrus Garden, where a variety of flow- nance base crew. ful , vibrant plants, water features, ers, lemon and orange trees are fea- Virtual visit fish and turtles, striving to preserve the tured. Guests proceeded to witness the pre- The launch of Abqaiq’s Heaven end- environment and protect the biodiversi- sentation of the specially designed avi- ed at the Dawaniya, a Saudi tradition- ty of Abqaiq. The journey continued to the Duck ary, haven for more than 1,500 birds, in- al room exquisitely decorated to merge Garden, where a lovely crafted house cluding the golden sparrow, turtle dove, the Saudi culture to the sanctuary and Surrounded by abundance of vibrant, was placed in the middle of a pond to fruit dove, Barbary dove, weaverbird, an ideal venue to host corporate and colorful flowers and the captivating me- be the new home of ducks and geese. sandgrouse, zebra , diamond dove, educational events for the community. lodious sounds of birds in the morning The Flower Walk, containing more than common quail, Java sparrow, and pea- Here, Nasser conducted the virtual visit breeze, Faisal A. Al-Hajji, executive di- 4,500 seasonal flowers and bounded by fowl. These birds are gathered and living to the Abqaiq Nature Reserve. rector of CS, along with Mohammad A. various trees, was the final path taken peacefully in a crafted birdcage, deco- Al Sultan, CS Operations general man- on the east side of this piece of heaven rated with 450 colorful handmade wood The Abqaiq Nature Reserve, situated ager and Mohammed A. Al Hajri, SA in the desert. birdhouses and 300 woven small nests. at the northern side of the Abqaiq com- CSD manager, welcomed Nasser to the munity and recently opened for resi- inauguration tour around the beautiful “We are delighted with this new addi- Moving through the surroundings of dents and visitors, is the first designated entrance scenery of Abqaiq’s Heaven. tion, which will bring a new excitement the sanctuary, the group admired the area within an Aramco community that to Abqaiq’s residents and ultimately Heaven’s waterfall, a marvelous cas- is dedicated to Saudi Arabia’s native flo- “Abqaiq’s transformation through contribute to improving the quality of cade built with rocks collected from the ra and fauna. these initiatives is yet another example life. It is also in line with Aramco’s con- community itself, with its calming and of Aramco’s work in the communities tribution toward its Green Communi- peaceful sound. Right in front of the wa- Attendees enjoyed a quick video and areas where we operate to ensure ties,” said Hajji. terfall, guests encountered the Peacock about this new sanctuary, a safe haven their biodiversity and natural ecosys- Plaza, home to two stunning peacocks for Saudi Arabian sand gazelles and os- tems are protected and preserved,” said On the western side of this new green who live in harmony with the environ- triches, and more than 2,000 local desert Nasser. space, the group headed to the Leewan, ment and can be found beside one of trees.

At the end of the Abqaiq’s Heaven tranquil tour, Hajji said, “We are de- lighted with this new addition, which will bring a new excitement to Abqaiq’s residents and ultimately contribute to improving the quality of life. It is also in line with Aramco’s contribution toward its green communities.”

Abqaiq’s Heaven and the Nature Re- serve have come to life to truly enchant and inspire all Aramco residents and visitors. CS is delighted to launch these greener initiatives to the Abqaiq com- munity, serving as a quiet and idyllic space for residents to explore and re- connect with nature. As such, it will serve as a potential tourist destination and an educational outlet for the com- munity and beyond. December 9, 2020 the arabian sun the arabian sun December 9, 2020 6 community community 7

Yemen serin Crithagra menachensis The serin is not quite as common in Saudi as the Arabian serin. I’ve seen them far less often than the latter. Where- as the latter prefers trees and shrubs, the Yemen serin tends to occupy more open terrain. I first saw them at the Tawi Al Tayr Jewels sinkhole near Salalah, Oman, in 2017. Subsequently, summer 2020 rewarded me with what might be the most reliable spot to find them in Saudi’s southwest — the cliff edge near Al Habala Hanging Village, in the Crown south of . While both rather drab, Arabian scops owl Otus pamelae Arabian partridge Alectoris melanocephala the Yemen serin can be distinguished from The Arabian scops owl is quite common The Arabian partridge is much more the Arabian serin by its browner, streakier Introducing the endemic in the wooded hills and wadis in the Asir abundant than Philby’s, and is one of the plumage and dark moustache — the stripe highlands. Like all scops owls, it is possible most widespread of the Arabian endem- running down at an angle from its eye. to stumble upon one in its roost, as I did at ics. Unlike Philby’s, the Arabian is much Al Muraba’a National Park this past sum- less particular about habitat selection and birds of Arabia mer, yet the best way is to get out with a can be found at lower elevations than By Gregory R. Askew flashlight in areas where they’re calling. its congener. Like Philby’s though, they In Saudi, I’ve seen but more often heard can be shy and difficult to approach. them around Tanomah and Abha. Like the I've encountered them several times Arabian Spotted Eagle-Owl, they can occur around Abha and Tanomah, frequently at different elevations — near sea level hearing them before seeing them. In outside Salalah, Oman, and close to 3,000 flight, watch for black tail feathers and meters at the edge of the Asir escarpment. the Arabian’s white throat and eyebrow.

Yemen linnet ( yemenensis) The last and surely the sweetest Arabi- an endemic to be found in Saudi Arabia is the Yemen linnet. This is one of the most abundant and easily encountered of all the Arabian endemics, perhaps second only to the Arabian serin. These lovely birds, whose Arabic name translates as “Yemen apple finch,” can be seen in the audi Arabia stands as the easiest country highlands throughout the year, but they can be more reliable during the non-breed- in the world in which to view the highest Philby’s partridge Alectoris philbyi Arabian wheatear Oenanthe lugentoides Yemen warbler Sylvia buryi Arabian golden-winged grosbeak Yemen thrush Turdus menachensis ing months when they form larger flocks. Philby’s partridge is one of two endemic The status of the Arabian wheatear as The Yemen warbler is the biggest skulk- Rhynchostruthus percivali The Yemen thrush is quite common in On one brisk winter morning above 2,800 number of endemic species. Not to partridges on the Arabian Peninsula. Like all a distinct species is still being debated, er among the Arabian endemics. My The Arabian golden-winged grosbeak wooded areas — particularly those with meters, I found my chilled spirits ele- S partridges, this species is quite shy and rare- with some arguing it’s a subspecies of most recent encounter with this white- just might be the most difficult endemic — in the Asir highlands from mention it’s the only place in the world where vated by their lively songs as I explored ly allows a close approach. As they some- mourning wheatear. However, female eyed lovely produced the image included to track down in Saudi Arabia. The most around 2,000 meters and above. I’ve a wadi near Al Soudah Mountain. times forage together with the Arabian par- mournings resembles the male while here, but this was by no means typical for recent sightings I’m aware of were from seen them as far north as Taif as well as you can experience the Asir magpie, a The best thing about the birds of Sau- tridge, separating the two in a blur of wings the male and female Arabian wheatear, the species, which is often tucked out of near Taif in 2015, despite the recent ef- throughout the year at prime spots near di Arabia’s southwest highlands is their charismatic corvid endemic solely to the and bodies can be tricky. Watch out for red- which are often never far apart, are di- sight in deep tangles. Like the Arabian forts of Frank Rietkerk and myself. Tanomah and Abha. In fact, there’s no spot relative abundance. A tour of the natural dish-brown tail feathers on Philby’s, and of morphic, meaning the female has a very , they can be found in the The grosbeaks’ attraction to the wadis along the Asir escarpment from Abha to wonders of the region and you can’t fail Kingdom. course, their distinctive black throat patch. distinct appearance from the male. highland forests, but prefer aca- near the edge of the Taif escarpment ap- Tanomah where I haven’t seen them. to notice the diversity and sheer num- I’ve seen them in the western highlands Either way, these smart-looking wheatears cia trees with flaking bark for feeding. pears to be on account of the large stands That said, the further east away from bers of the birds all around you. With just south of Taif and around the hills and are resident and quite abundant at a range Unlike the woodpecker, I’ve had no of Euphorbia ammak, a succulent plant the escarpment into drier terrain the less upwards to 500 species potentially occur- escarpment edge near the scenic town of of elevations from Taif down through Jazan trouble finding them around the Asir region this species favors; however, the fruiting common they become. They can also be Some subspecies of more widespread African ring in Saudi throughout the year, there’s Tanomah. While not as abundant nor as Province to the south. They can be reliably throughout the year. They can be encoun- season for this particular euphorbia is in found associating with Song thrushes far more to encounter in the southwest birds, such as the Arabian Spotted Eagle-Owl, widespread as the Arabian partridge, they found on a tour of the picturesque farm- tered at virtually all of the birding hotspots November, outside of which these birds during the winter months. My favorite than the 13 species featured here. have been quite reliable around the latter. ing villages around Al Soudah Mountain. around Tanomah, Billahmer, and Abha. have not been seen. This Arabian endemic place to watch the Yemen thrush is at Buff-breasted Wheatear, and the Arabian As noted, these birds are endemic to the has proven much easier outside of Salalah, Al Soudah waterfall, near the village of Arabian Peninsula and can’t be seen any- Oman, where I saw a male in 2017. Azizah, which is a short drive from Abha. Shining Sunbird, have been proposed for full where else in the world, some of the boldest representations of the Kingdom’s unique species status as well, holding out the promise biodiversity — treasure of the avian kind! Arabian woodpecker dorae Frank Rietkerk, a veterinarian with the of a further boost to the endemic appeal of The Arabian woodpecker is the sole National Wildlife Research Center in Taif, Arabia for birdwatchers and ecotourists around woodpecker species occurring on the Ara- has seen them on several occasions in bian Peninsula. For many years I fantasized his area, and I’ve seen and heard them the world. about this bird, wondering when the infa- in areas with ample mature from mously closed off Kingdom would finally Tanomah to just south of Abha. As they open its doors to international visitors. appear to be an altitudinal migrant — re- Ultimately, my work got me access, but now treating to lower elevations in the winter Listed next are the 13 species whose endemism that Saudi Arabia offers tourist visas, more — the best time to see them in the Asir on the peninsula is currently considered beyond foreign birders will be seizing the chance highlands is during the summer months. to experience this fascinating species. dispute. For those, like me, keen to identify birds by ear, you can scan the QR code in each picture with your mobile or tablet camera to Asir magpie Pica asirensis and Billahmer. The magpie’s population at The Asir magpie is the one Arabian the moment is believed to be around 100 Arabian serin Crithagra rothschildi listen to their vocalizations on Xeno-Canto. endemic found exclusively in Saudi Ara- pairs at best, making it one of the rarest The Arabian serin, also known as bia. It was once considered a subspecies birds in the world. Hopefully, the Saudi olive-rumped serin, is very common of the widespread Eurasian magpie, but government with the help of concerned Arabian waxbill Estrilda rufibarba in the western highlands through- differences in voice and appearance led entities, like Aramco, will implement a The Arabian waxbill is a denizen of dense out the year. I’ve seen them from Taif Scan the QR code on each bird to get more to the DNA work required to establish it viable plan for keeping this species — a vegetation in western wadis and agricul- south to the steep cultivated slopes of as a separate species. Its range appears to potential flagship for Saudi’s budding tural areas at a range of elevations. They Jebel Fayfa in the Jazan Province. information on each species and hear the have shrunk over the years and current- ecotourism industry — from going extinct. do seem to be easier to find in the high- These honey-toned songsters are found ly the magpies have only been encoun- As depressing as the magpies’ current lands during the summer months, when in open areas, usually with trees wonderful voices of these beautiful tered from Al Namas south to Billahmer, status is, they can be encountered fairly the Tihama lowlands are scorching hot. present, like some of the drier wadis east of a distance of only about 80 kilometers. easily within their current range in wooded I’ve seen these little beauties from the Al the Asir escarpment. This is another species creatures. I’ve seen them in mature juniper wood- wadis in the Asir highlands as well as near- Shafa area near Taif, around Tanomah and that can be readily encountered on a casual lands at a few locations near Tanomah by villages and adjacent farming terraces. Abha, and as far south as Jazan Province. tour of the farming villages around Abha. December 9, 2020 the arabian sun 8 company news Aramco and Baker Hughes commence construction on nonmetallics joint venture in Saudi Arabia Dhahran — Aramco and Baker sustainability benefits. The partnership Hughes have announced the forma- with Baker Hughes reinforces our com- tion of Novel, a 50/50 joint venture (JV) mitment to expanding the use of inno- to develop and commercialize a broad vative nonmetallic materials in our op- range of nonmetallic products for mul- erations to drive efficiency and reduce tiple applications in the energy sector. maintenance and replacement costs, A ceremony was held on Tuesday at the while also positively impacting the King- project site to commence construction, dom’s economic development through which was attended by Aramco’s senior job creation and local expertise.” vice president for Technical Services, Ahmad A. Al Sa’adi and Baker Hughes Neil Saunders, executive vice presi- chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli. dent, Oilfield Equipment, Baker Hughes, said, “As an energy technology compa- The ceremony comes after both com- ny, we are investing for growth in stra- panies signed a memorandum of under- tegic areas like nonmetallics, and our standing (MoU) to create a nonmetallics deep background in nonmetallic prod- JV in July 2019. Novel’s new facility is be- uct development will benefit a wide ing developed at the King Salman Energy range of industries. Aramco’s vision to Park (SPARK), in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern expand its product development in the Province. SPARK is a 50 km2 energy city region aligns with our vision to support mega-project, which will position Saudi Aramco’s senior vice president for Technical Services, Ahmad A. Al Sa’adi (center) participates in innovation and manufacturing in Saudi Arabia as a global energy, industrial, and yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony with Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO Baker Hughes (left) and Wael Arabia.” technology hub. Initially, the facility will Tashkandi, CEO Novel (right). produce onshore nonmetallic pipelines Nonmetallic products are being de- — including reinforced thermoplastic new opportunities in oil-based prod- growth of an emerging and innovative ployed in a variety of industries, from pipes — from composite materials. ucts, which not only offer performance sector in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s the oil and gas sector to automotive, benefits but also strives to reduce car- Vision 2030. building and construction, packaging The JV is based on a shareholders bon emissions. It also supports Saudi and renewables. In addition to being agreement signed in February this year Arabia’s efforts to expand its commer- Al Sa’adi said, “Nonmetallic products more sustainable, these advanced mate- during Aramco’s fifth In-Kingdom Total cial ecosystem and promote domestic are reshaping the industries and prod- rials make them lighter than their con- Value Add Forum & Exhibition. The JV investment. The new facility will not ucts we all depend on because they are ventional counterparts and resistant to aligns with Aramco’s strategy to seek only create jobs, it will also help foster more reliable, cost-effective and offer corrosion.

First ConXtech modular steel building at SPARK As part of the company’s vision to bolting, which is a time-consuming deploy efficient building technolo- process carrying safety risks if not co- gies, adopt modular design concepts ordinated carefully. and improve construction productiv- ity, the SPARK Project Management ConXtech was developed as a mod- Team (PMT) has piloted the ConXtech ular steel erection method that neat- steel technology for the Administra- ly fits into the company vision, lend- tion Building. ing itself as an effective alternative method to that on offer from conven- In a recent site visit to the SPARK tionally applied methods. project, Aramco senior vice president Ahmad A. Al Sa’adi stated that al- In its simplest form, ConXtech is though the ConXtech modular tech- made up of standardized compo- nology was optional for the contrac- nents of interlocking collar connec- tor, he recommended to apply it on tors mounted on columns that allow the rest of the SPARK buildings to beams to be slotted into position. capitalize on the benefits. While ConXtech technology has Abdulkarim A. Al-Ghamdi, vice been widely available in residential president of Projects Management, and commercial buildings through- was impressed by the speedy and out the U.S. and Canada; having safe erection of 400 tons of steel in been used in well over 1.3 million 2 weeks. square meters, it had yet to find ex- Site exhibition of first ConXtech building to Aramco senior management at the SPARK project. tensive use in buildings in Saudi Ara- Traditional steel construction meth- bia. ods have always relied on the abil- rience to advocate and expand the ConXtech eliminates the require- ity to join steel beams to the main SPARK PMT has initiated a move use of ConXtech on future company ment for bracing and also reduces support columns using welding and to adopt this modular technology by projects. the total bolts needed. implementing it for the first time in the Kingdom. Conventional methods have Advantages of ConXtech been shown to require well over The multilevel SPARK Adminis- modular system 10,700 man-hours to assemble 400 tration Building has been designed Because ConXtech requires no field tons, while when using ConXtech, to international standards with the welding, safety is greatly increased this assembly time is significant- structural steel design being facili- and steel wastage is minimized. ly brought down to around 5,400 tated and reviewed by the Consult- man-hours for assembling the ing Services Department (CSD) and When using conventional erection same mass. ConXtech Inc. Fabrication of the methods, a single crane may be able structural steel was achieved locally to achieve the installation of 15 tons This technology holds immense by Al-Zamil Steel in with on a given day, while ConXtech has benefits to Aramco in terms of con- SPARK PMT being actively involved. been shown to be capable of install- struction safety and speed of produc- By the monitoring of the steel erec- ing twice as much tonnage on com- tion, weight of building reductions, tion process, whereby tracking the mercial structures, and even tripling and yet still offers more safety than Example of interlocking ConXtech column and construction production, Aramco this to 50 tons per day on industrial that granted by the conventional beams. strives to capitalize on this expe- structures. methods. the arabian sun December 9, 2020 company news 9 Celebrating diversity: Creating a culture of inclusion By Rawan Nasser cannot work for a company that doesn’t that People with Disabilities are always have a clear policy and isn’t ready to pro- on medical leave or that reasonable ac- On Dec. 3 of every year, the world cel- vide reasonable accommodations. commodation will cost a fortune, but ebrates International Day of People with working remotely is one of the best Disabilities (PwD), and at Aramco we are “Of course, no policy is one-size-fits- solutions to hire more People with Dis- no different. With a growing workforce all,” said Al Amri. “But it’s important for abilities and we’ve seen how quickly and around the world and a commitment to every company to have the willingness to efficiently companies adapted to allow creating a diverse and inclusive environ- create a culture of inclusion. And these employees to practice that option,” said ment, the company continues to enhance efforts of diversity and inclusion general- Al Amri. its policies and create an environment ly have a positive impact on companies.” where all can thrive. Wael Al Amri Working for the silent majority “We are pleased to celebrate the Inter- Accessibility is key The Diversity and Inclusion Division national Day of People with Disabilities Disabilities, to have more opportunities The company increased the transpor- provides awareness sessions, webinars, at Aramco,” said Nabil K. Al-Dabal, vice within the company, not just in hiring tation allowance for People with Disabil- and workshops such as “Ready and president of Human Resources. We fully and recruitment, but also to excel on the ities in 2018 to cover their expenses, in Able” that help in including People with recognize the talent, potential, and ben- leadership ladder,” he said. addition to introducing a reduced work Disabilities and explaining barriers that efit that People with Disabilities bring to schedule for persons with disabilities in keep People with Disabilities from excel- our company and our country. By con- April 2019. “Our employees are entitled ling in the workplace as well as how to tinuing to celebrate the diversity of our Diversity helps companies grow to adjustments or modifications to make provide reasonable accommodations. employees, we make Aramco a more in- Al Amri has been working with the the office more accessible to them as well clusive place for all.” Staffing Department on an updated GI as additional equipment, and in some To help employees better understand 101.001 to help define the term “People cases, flexible work schedules,” said Al the experience of People with Disabili- with Disabilities.” Including such a defi- Amri. ties, how to communicate effectively, and Equal opportunities nition is important because it protects the how to promote inclusion, the Diversity & in the workplace rights of employees with disabilities and People with Disabilities face a chal- Inclusion Division has published a com- Currently, 15% of the world’s popula- ensures their access to services. Al Amri lenge in the workplace because of com- munications booklet titled “Inclusion for tion are living with disabilities — that is explained that a person with a disability mon misconceptions. “The mindset is All: A Conversation about PwD.” over 1 billion people. And while aware- ness has been rising steadily on the needs and rights of People with Disabil- ities, they still face considerable barriers to equal opportunities in the workplace.

“There is an ecosystem that we need to tackle to ensure the inclusion of People with Disabilities in the workplace,” said Wael Al Amri, the company’s Disability Inclusion Program lead. “Accessibility is a major issue: to education, to suitable job opportunities, and to accommodations for those employed to aid in their profes- sional development.”

Al Amri’s own experience with disabil- ity has helped him step into this leader- ship role and support a companywide strategy to advocate for and drive the inclusion of People with Disabilities. “Our ultimate goal is to make Aramco the number one choice for People with

Najmah Community more inclusive and accessibility friendly By Charmain D. Ford dous difference for people being able to go to the beach without having to de- The Najmah community is well-known pend on others or forego their trip al- for its beautiful stretch of beach. On the together because of the lack of ease of weekends it serves as a family gathering access. spot, where locals, residents, and visitors spend their time enjoying the ambience The NA/WRCSD is striving to enable and the warm sea breeze. The elderly, everyone, including persons with dis- parents with young children in strollers abilities, to be integrated and indepen- and people that are wheelchair bound dent. More vibrant disability parking are all members of our community as signs have been added to 13 community well. Yet one could only imagine the facilities parking lots, and appropriate obstruction they may experience trying signs are being placed throughout the to get closer to the shorelines without community to help visitors and residents the stress of battling through the sand. identify these amenities. Many of those that use a wheelchair of- More vibrant disability signs have been added The beach ramp and pathway are the first in ten have to experience the Arabian Gulf to 13 community facility parking lots. Aramco and part of NA/WRCSD’s initiative to In addition, 11 business and leisure ac- from afar as the task of getting closer ensure all facilities are adapted to commodations have been upgraded to could be arduous and even overwhelm- accommodate people with disabilities. provide dedicated accommodation for ing for their caregivers as well. people with disabilities. program, which was introduced by the adapted to accommodate people with The Northern Area/Western Region Ministry of Labor and Social Develop- disabilities and provide ease of access to Najmah community is to be enjoyed Community Services Department (NA/ ment to support working and living en- all of its patrons. by all its residents and visitors alike, WRCSD) recently completed the installa- vironments to become more inclusive and according to NA/WRCSD manager, tion of a disability beach ramp and path- for people with disabilities. Now the beach that had once been Abdullah S. Al Shemaly, “We are about way complete with sturdy handrails and out of bounds for people with disabil- raising awareness among community signs. This project is in line with interna- The beach ramp and pathway are the ities and challenging to access for par- members about living with persons with tional standards, Saudi Building Codes, first in Aramco and part of NA/WRCSD’s ents and caregivers with small children disabilities and creating a sustainable, including Saudi Arabia’s Mowaamah initiative to ensure that all facilities are has a ramp. The ramp makes a tremen- user friendly and safe community.” December 9, 2020 the arabian sun 10 health page Well-being Caring for your health and wellness

SaveDhahran — Every athree lifeseconds worldwide … somebecome- What is the blood donationa JHAH process at the JHAH blood donor one needs blood, and nearly 120 million units of blood blood bank? FactsFacts aboutabout bloodlood donationonation are donated every year. Regular blood donations from When you arrive to the JHAH blood bank, you will b d healthy people are needed to ensure that safe blood first answer a questionnaire to assess your health and will be available to save lives when people need trans- eligibility. If you are eligible to donate, you will then ItIt isis safesafe toto donatedonate blood during COVID-19 in fusions due to severe trauma from accidents, complex be directed to sit in a recliner chair and will be given a facilities such as JHAH where stringent surgery, cancer treatment, or for regular transfusions stress ball to squeeze as 450 ml of blood is drawn from facilities such as JHAH where stringent infection prevention measures are in place. for conditions such as sickle cell disease. There is a con- you using new single-use and sterile equipment. After infection prevention measures are in place. stant need for blood donations because blood can be donating blood, you will be asked to relax and have ThereThere isis aa constantconstant need One blood One unit of blood One blood forfor regularregular bloodblood One unit of blood stored for only a limited time before use. some refreshments to make sure you are feeling well donation can save three donation donationsdonations because blood can save three uses about enough to stand up and head home. The blood dona- uses about cancan bebe storedstored for adults, or up to six 650650 calories.calories. onlyonly aa limitedlimited newborn babies! We caught up with JHAH Blood Bank manager, tion process is conducted and monitored by well-qual- timetime beforebefore use.use. Aqeel Al-Otaibi, who shared his expert advice on how ified nurses or blood bank technicians and takes ap- to become a JHAH blood donor. proximately 20 minutes. RegularRegular bloodblood donationsdonations fromfrom healthyhealthy people are needed to ensure that safesafe bloodblood willwill bebe availableavailable to save lives when people need transfusions duedue severesevere traumatrauma fromfrom accidents;accidents, complex surgerysurgery;, cancercancer treatment,treatment, How much blood can I donate in one session, and oror for for regularregular transfusionstransfusions forfor conditions such as sickle cell disease. how often can I donate? BecomeBecome aa #JHAHBloodDonor#JHAHBloodDonor today! You can donate 450 ml in one session, and you can donate every eight weeks. ForFor moremore informationinformation onon howhow to donate blood at JHAH visit:visit: jhah.com/blood-donationjhah.com/blood-donation.. Will donating blood negatively affect my health? Blood donation is safe and there is no risk on healthy donors. It can even burn a few calories as one blood donation session uses up to 650 calories.

Is it safe to donate blood during the COVID-19 out- break? It is safe to donate blood during COVID-19 in facili- ties such as JHAH where stringent infection prevention measures are in place. and improve blood circulation. Avoid exercise (partic- ularly strenuous exercise) immediately after blood do- What are some general blood donation safety and nation. Why should we donate blood? health guidelines? • Practice deep breathing. Donating blood is a selfless act that can help save • Anyone under the age of 17, underweight (weight • Avoid alcohol and smoking (active or passive), as lives, one unit of blood can save three adults, or up to under 50 kilograms), or those with infectious diseases they do not help your body make new blood cells. six newborn babies! or anemia cannot donate. • Reduce caffeine intake, as caffeine reduces iron ab- • Donors are advised not to donate blood when they sorption, depletes the body’s fluids and may lead to What is the most needed blood type for donations? are hungry or dehydrated. You should drink adequate dehydration. It is better to replace caffeinated drinks The most needed blood type for donation is the O amounts of water and eat a good meal two hours be- with decaffeinated ones. blood type, a blood type that is compatible with all fore donation. Drink water after blood donation to re- • Do not drive for long distances after donating blood types, it is followed by blood types A and B. place fluids as blood is mostly water. In addition, con- blood. sume fruit or drink a cup of fruit juice to prevent blood • If you experience dizziness during or after dona- How can I become a JHAH blood donor? sugar from dropping. This is healthier than consuming tion, inform the blood bank technician, keep your You can become a donor if you have a valid ID (Saudi fatty meals after blood donation. head lower than the donation chair, and drink an ade- Aramco ID, National ID, or passport), are healthy, at • Eat healthy and well-balanced meals that are rich quate amount of water (around two cups). It is import- least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds (50 in protein, iron, and other nutrients and increase your ant to not leave the donation chair by standing up too kg). To register to donate blood at JHAH you can call fluid intake before and after blood donation. Good quickly. +966-13-870-6770 or +966-13-870-6638 or complete nutrition helps you to restore your blood volume after the blood donation sign-up sheet available at JHAH. blood donation. Remember, there is no substitute for human blood. com/blood-donation. • Practice regular activity to strengthen your body Become a #JHAHBloodDonor and donate today.

JHAH Webinar Invitation “COVID-19 Safety and Vaccines” Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) invites you to our physician-led webinar: “COVID-19 Safety and Vaccines.” This lecture covers a current overview of the pandemic globally and locally; what is a ”second wave,” where it is happening and why? COVID-19 vaccines, a status update and informed perspective.

Join us online to learn more from Dr. Mohammed Ghamdi on this subject. COVID-19 Safety and Vaccines Thursday, December 10, 2020 English 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Speaker: Saturday, December 12, 2020English Dr. Mohammed Al Ghamdi English 1-2 p.m. Arabic 2-3 p.m. Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare

Become a patient at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) Eligible Saudi Aramco employees and their dependents are Scan the QR code to attend the webinar. invited to register for healthcare at JHAH. For more information on how to change your registration, contact your local HR Service Center or visit HR Online, or scan the QR code for detailed instructions.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: All health and health-related information contained in this Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare company material is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a health care professional. The advice is intended to offer only a general basis for individuals to discuss their health and medical conditions with their health care provider. Your health care provider should be consulted regarding matters concerning the medical condition, treatment, and needs of you and your family. the arabian sun December 9, 2020 this and that 11

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Photographic memory In 1966, two Fokker F-27s were the latest aircraft to join Aramco’s fleet — which consisted mainly of Fairchild F-27 planes. The Fokker’s versatility meant that it could be used for cargo, passengers, a combination of both or as an executive aircraft. In this photograph, Captain S.R. Wolters and Captain J.E. Hollenbeck examine the slight differences between the Fokker-27 and the Fairchild F-27. Photo: B.H. Moody

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