The Magazine for Retired Aramcons ISSUE 09 AUTUMN/WINTER 2014 OUR LAST REUNION! At long last the fifth Ukaramcons Reunion is here ASHEVILLE REUNION PLANNING ALL THE FUN OF A NATURALIST'S CONTINUES FOR THE THE FAIR DIARY Nearly 360 retirees and family members turned out for the 29th 2015 REUNION Our thriving community As winter bites, Colin Knight biannual Saudi Aramco Annuitants The Reunion Organizing has threads which link us likes to look back and remind Reunion. Committee has been making to its past through unique himself what fun he has had preparations... traditions... in the natural world. IN THIS ISSUE: Cover photo Intro | Message from the MD 5th UKaramcons Reunion, September 11, 2014 Message from the MD So far, so good... Fellow Aramcons, After more than seven months in my role here at AOC, I now feel like I have my feet well and truly under the table. As Managing Director, I can appreciate just how important a role our offices play outside of the Kingdom and how relations are maintained with former Aramco colleagues. I know that 2014 has proved a busy one on the reunion front, on both sides of the Atlantic. This year’s Ukaramcons reunion was particularly special, as it was the fifth and final occasion that Tom Henderson and his wife Eileen acted as hosts. I would like to personally thank them for their efforts over the years; these past reunions would not have been as successful without their valuable time and input. Also, a warm welcome to our new hosts Jim and Veronica Anderson and Michael and Sue Higgins, who I would like to thank in advance for the support they will be providing. It is particularly heartwarming to have such dedicated former employees who continue contributing to Aramco and underline why we describe employees as part of our ‘family’. Your efforts will always be acknowledged and appreciated. 2014 has been a unique year in many ways, though similar to many others, as the Aramco Alaela (Family) is produced for annuitants, families and business continues on its quest to being the biggest and brightest energy company globally. friends of Saudi Aramco and Aramco Overseas Company Reaching this target has been the result of years of hard work and endevour by employees (AOC) as well as its associated companies by AOC B.V. past, present and future. Indeed, your time working for Aramco remains a valuable component of this journey. Managing Director Fahad Al Abdulkareem Head of Public Relations Fahad Toryf I hope that you enjoyed yourselves over the festive period and I wish you the best Editor Kimberly Groat of luck for 2015… Assistant Editor Edward White Design Dhub Fahad Al Abdulkareem Contributors Muazzin Mehrban, Adil A. Al-Sadiq, Managing Director, AOC Martin Wingrove, Eileen & Tom Henderson, Donna Morris, Arthur Clark, Julianne Eveland, Alison Hooker, Colin Knight, Jessica Weirmier For those who prefer a digital format, Alaela can be read online at our corporate website: www.aramcooverseas.com. Meanwhile,your comments and suggestions are welcome, which should be sent to [email protected] Address correspondence to: The Editor, Alaela Aramco Overseas Company UK Ltd. 10 Portman Square London W1H 6AZ NB: Autumn/Winter 2014 ISSN 2044-4982ISSN 2044-4982 2 1 Intro | Japan - the Gateway to Asia Contents Japan - the Gateway to Asia Intro 1. Message from the MD Fahad Al Abdulkareem An eye on Saudi Aramco’s projects in “the Land of the Rising Sun” 3. Japan - the Gateway to Asia An eye on Saudi Aramco’s projects in “the Land of the Rising Sun.” Words Adil A. Al-Sadiq 8. Saudi Aramco's Architectural Innovation in Saudi Arabia Maybe not so many people realise that the company’s company’s vision of becoming a key source of energy and chemicals in achievements aren’t limited to facilities for the production 1 and processing of oil and gas. 10 the Far East, helping to achieve its strategic intent of becoming a leading global and integrated energy and chemicals company by 2020 — the goal of the Accelerated Transformation Program (ATP). Features 10. Our Last Reunion! At long last the fifth Ukaramcons Reunion is here… York Currently, the Kingdom exports 1 million barrels per day of crude oil here we come! Every reunion has been slightly different – will this one be as good as the last? to Japan, or 30 percent of Japan’s total crude oil imports — and Saudi 15. Friendships Revisited Aramco’s business in Japan is growing enormously. Since December Donna Morris reminisces about attending her first UK 2010, the company has used a site for commercial crude oil storage in the Aramco reunion in York. island of Okinawa. The total capacity of the leased crude oil tanks is 16. Annuitants Celebrate ‘Wonderful Years’ in 6.3 million barrels. Mountain Reunion Nearly 360 retirees and family members turned out for 22 Aramco Asia-Japan: a lever for energy projects the 29th biannual Saudi Aramco Annuitants Reunion, in Asheville, N.C., Sept. 5-8, refreshing memories and rekindling friendships at the classic 101-year-old Omni Asia is a major market for Saudi Aramco’s crude oil and petroleum Park Grove Hotel. products and is also one of the main destinations of Saudi Aramco’s 22. Planning Continues for the "Welcome Home!" for sales, establishing another important role for the AAJ office: making it a 2015 Expats Reunion in Saudi Arabia lever for Saudi Aramco projects in the country. Dhahran – In the spring edition of Alaela we announced that planning was well under way for the highly In recent years, steady growth has made East Asian markets the main anticipated 2015 KSA Expatriate Reunion to be held in marketing outlet for Saudi Aramco’s petroleum products. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia March 9th– 20th, 2015. East Asia is one of the most important suppliers of operational materials 26. All the Fun of the Fair! and services to Saudi Aramco, contributing to the development of the Any thriving community has threads which inextricably link its past to its present through the development of 26 Saudi economy and supporting economic growth throughout the Asian particular and unique traditions, and Saudi Aramco is no region. exception. 32. A Naturalist's Diary Previously, two Saudi Aramco subsidiaries, AOC and Saudi Petroleum As winter starts to bite Colin Knight likes to look back Ltd., did business in Japan. The establishment of Aramco Asia over the year and remind himself what fun he has had in merged these subsidiaries into AAJ, a step that came with a variety of the natural world. challenges. 37. Happy New Year A new year's greeting from Fahad Al Abdulkareem. Though it may be new, AAJ has achieved a number of breakthroughs in 38. Welcome to Salalah! growth and expansion. Regional partners welcomed the launch of AAJ, Located on the Southwestern-most tip of Oman in the with the launch decision described as "timely and crucial" to provide Dhofar region, Salalah welcomes visitors with Hawaii- like breezes blowing through coconut and banana 32 more opportunities for the Kingdom and the Far East, as well as for Saudi plantations. TOKYO — The value of work is deeply rooted in Aramco and local companies. 40. In Memorium Japanese culture. Whatever difficulties they face, it is a Remembering Ian MacLeod and Rosemary Nelson. dedication to hard work that has pointed to success for On July 13, 2012, Khalid Al-Buainain, senior vice president of Technical 41. Capture the Moment centuries in the island nation. Services (who was then Saudi Aramco’s senior vice president of Aramco's trailblazers delivering supplies. Downstream), opened the offices of AAJ at a gathering of 300 guests in That work ethic has paved the way for an economic cooperation between Tokyo. Saudi Arabia and Japan, but the relationship between the two countries has gone beyond mere trade; it is a bond between a developing country “The establishment of this company is a testimony to Saudi Aramco’s and an industrial giant in search of markets and sources of energy. firm commitment to the Japanese market,” said Al-Buainain. 38 Saudi Aramco has played a key role in providing Japan with the energy “The newly established company is based on the long term and strong it has needed to become one of the world’s major industrialized nations. relationship between the two countries. The scope and focus of the The partnership between the company and Japan goes back more than company will go beyond oil trading and procurement to include other three decades. areas, such as research and development, and taking advantage of mutual investments in new technology and the Capital Power Initiative, Recently, that partnership has grown. In 2012, Saudi Aramco’s launched which was recently launched to support the energy industry.” Aramco Asia-Japan (AAJ) as part of a new phase in the realisation of the 2 3 Intro | Japan - the Gateway to Asia Intro | Japan - the Gateway to Asia Deepening Saudi Aramco’s presence The Kingdom exports a total of 1.2 million barrels of crude oil per day to constructive meetings with the competent authorities,” says Al- Japan and Taiwan, which also falls within the responsibilities of AAJ. Khunaini. “We are always searching for new “As part of expanding our business on a global scale, Saudi Aramco’s Although Saudi Aramco’s initial presence in Japan was mainly for the subsidiaries all over the world are offering a wide range of services, sale of crude oil, the company’s portfolio is expanding, especially at a “There is no doubt that Eastern Asia has a promising economic future, advanced technologies that serve Saudi including marketing of crude oil, natural gas liquids and chemicals, as time when Saudi Aramco is moving toward development and change and we are betting on our students who are getting their degrees there Aramco’s operations, and we then find well as coordination of joint ventures, procurement, inspection, research through the application of the ATP initiatives.