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IN THIS ISSUE​​​​​

PUBLISHED BY​​​

Exolum

MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION​​

Mavi de Lamor
José Antonio Galán

CONSULTANCY, EDITING AND DESIGN

ATREVIA Publicaciones

IN THIS ISSUE

Marcelino Arias
José Luis Conde
Ana Dorado
Tania Duque
Agnès Estay
Jorge Guillén
Pablo Hontiyuelo
Cristina Jaraba
Jorge Lanza
Daniel López Cabornero
Jesús Manso
Ana Otero
David Pérez
Antonio Pinargote
Laura Rivas
Andrea Ruzo
Iván Saco
Mari Luz Salido
Adrien Souchet
Andrés Suárez

Editorial​

Our focus: responsible operations everywhere

“Today we’re more diverse and more diversified, and we’ve taken new steps to improve our operational reliability”

We’ve begun the year immensely excited about the challenges already known and those yet to come. Starting up in new locations, strengthening our operational excellence with the impression that we’ve never had so many project as we did in 2023, when we our day-to-day was all about adapting to the needs as they arose considering they were not originally on the agenda.

Today, we’re more diverse with the start of operations at the airports in Lisbon (Portugal) and Shannon (Ireland). We’re also more diversified because we’ve begun managing new biofuels at the Barcelona facility.

And we’ve taken new steps to improve our operational reliability and the maintenance of our assets.

All of these successes could not have been possible without the great team we have at our facilities and airports, Maintenance, Laboratories, and Control Centres in addition to all the professionals supporting us at headquarters and in all the other areas that work in close collaboration with us. And I mustn’t forget the North West Europe Operations team, which helps us find the best solutions and acquire new knowledge of businesses in which we are not experienced.

Only a couple of months have gone by in 2024 and we already know that, besides our safety and efficiency agenda, we have very demanding challenges lying ahead such as extending the Exolum operational model to a new terminal at the Port of Gijón, beginning operations at the Charles de Gaulle airport (Paris) and starting up the new airport fuel plant in Lima (Peru).

And that’s not all. Bit by bit, we’ll be coming across more new challenges. And we’ll face them as always: with people as our main asset and with all the enthusiasm and passion inherent in Exolum.  Thank you all for your commitment and dedication!

José Luis Conde

Operations Aviation & Network Lead in Spain Region

About us​​​

WE MOVE ON​​

Entering the US with the purchase of 50% of a leading ammonia and LNG storage facility in Houston

Continuing to Grow! We’ve landed in the United States with the acquisition of 50% of the Vopak Moda Houston terminal. The plant is located at one of the world’s main chemical industry hubs.

We’re moving forward with our diversification strategy by purchasing 50% of the Vopak Moda Houston (VMH) plant, an ammonia storage, import and export terminal situated on the Houston Ship Channel, from the company Moda Midstream. Following this operation, Royal Vopak will remain as a 50% shareholder in the new joint venture along with Exolum. 

This transaction is an opportunity to develop new business in the United States, as well as acquire fundamental competencies in order to implement innovative projects in Spain that are in line with the energy transition. VMH currently offers ammonia and liquified natural gas (LGN) storage services, and is developing one of the most advanced low-carbon ammonia production and exportation projects in the world, with an annual capacity of 1.1 million tonnes which will enable an increase in storage capacity of 70,000 tonnes.

What’s more, it’s the only maritime ammonia terminal on the Houston Ship Canal which is equipped with a deep water mooring dock suitable for Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGC) and is connected by pipeline to the Port of Houston petrochemical complex, the largest petrochemical hub in the US and the second largest in the world, which means it’s a key facility.

The three parties involved in the operation have expressed their satisfaction. The CEO of Exolum, Jorge Lanza, underlined that “Exolum would like to be a main player in the development of supply chains for the new sustainable energy products such as ammonia and green methanol; and this operation, the first we’ve completed in the United States, will allow us to boost our positioning at strategic ports and promote the energy transition and mobility decarbonisation all around the world”.

“This operation, the first we’ve completed in the US, will allow us to promote the energy transition and mobility decarbonisation all around the world”

The President and CEO of Moda Midstream, Jonathan Ackerman, expressed his desire to see “how Vopak Moda Houston will use its solid foundation to expand and seek opportunities for growth alongside Exolum, the world’s storage leader, as its new partner”.

On the other hand, Maria Ciliberti, President of Vopak for United States and Canada, said, “I’m quite pleased that Exolum has joined us as a shareholder. By combining our knowledge, networks and experience, we can develop this terminal and strategic maritime infrastructure even further.”

Jorge Lanza

CEO

What is THE TERMINAL like?

  • It’s equipped with the most advanced technology related to safety.

  • A newly-built dock with next-generation marine loading arms.

  • A deep water dock with the capacity to add additional deep water mooring points.

  • A very large carrier dock.
  • Current storage capacity: 30,000 tonnes for ammonia and 14.3 MBbls for LNG.

  • Extensive undeveloped surface area with expansion capacity for additional storage.

Why are we betting on ammonia?

Ammonia is set to become the driver of decarbonisation due to its capacity to reduce emissions in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise such as electricity generation, heavy industry, marine fuelling and other mobility systems. The Houston terminal will be an essential link in the supply chain for the energy transition given its capacity to store and transport ammonia and other pressurised gases safely and reliably.

WHO WE ARE

Committed to green hydrogen at Tees Valley

As part of our progress towards sustainable business, we’ve begun building a production plant and a green hydrogen refuelling station through the Tees Valley Hydrogen Vehicle Ecosystem project in the United Kingdom.

We want to be relevant in the energy transition and decarbonisation. Thus, we’ve joined the Tees Valley Hydrogen Vehicle Ecosystem project and have begun building a water electrolyser and a hydrogen refuelling station at our Riverside terminal near the centre of Middlesbrough.

The electrolyser will produce green hydrogen by using renewable electricity and will supply both the future refuelling station, with a capacity of 1.5 daily tonnes, as well as other customers in the region. We are cooperating with pioneering companies of the likes of Electra Commercial Vehicles, a manufacturer of fuel cell electric vehicles, and the German company Quantron AG, in collaboration with Novuna Vehicle Solutions.

With this project, for which we have received a two million-pound grant from the British Ministry of Transport and which is expected to be operational by 2025, we’ll be contributing to the acceleration of the transition in the United Kingdom towards zero-emissions fuel cell vehicles the reduction in carbon emissions.

Andrés Suárez, Clean Energies Lead, emphasized, “Exolum would like to play an outstanding role in green hydrogen technology, which is becoming an efficient energy vector in helping decarbonise sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy vehicle transport.”

“We would like to play an outstanding role in green hydrogen technology” 

Andrés Suárez. Clean Energies Lead

Meeting Our Goals and Continuing to Grow

We’ve begun the year with two gatherings featuring our CEO, Jorge Lanza, during which he went over our 2023 and plans for the future.  We’re making progress together!

In Spain Region, the Exolum Talks meeting was attended either in-person or through Teams. In NWE, the event took place as part of the All Colleague Calls, along with NWE Lead, Nacho Casajús. These are the topics that were covered.

Safety and the environment

Safety, which is our primary value, has been reinforced with greater procedural safety yet more must be done to improve in personal safety. As concerns the environment, we’re working to reduce our carbon footprint with the start-up of new solar power plants in Huelva and, soon, in Hallen (United Kingdom) and Arahal (Seville).

Our economic results

Our CEO ranked 2023 as “the best year in our history financially”. The group ended the financial year with 597.5 million euros in EBITDA, which is 12% more than the year before.

The strategic plan

  • Improving our existing business. We’ll continue developing a Premium Offer for our customers and will be adding new functional features to our service platform. Some of the most outstanding projects include the new propane storage tanks at Seal Sands, the awarding of the Galp terminal in Gijón, and the agreement to build a new mooring quay in Huelva in collaboration with Cepsa.

  • Diversification. We’ve entered two new airports, Shannon (Ireland) and Lisbon (Portugal); we’ve made progress on the construction of our plant in Peru; and we’ve been awarded a contract for the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. With respect to hydrogen, the new hydrogen refuelling station in Torrejón will be inaugurated shortly and we have a similar project underway at Tees Valley (United Kingdom).
  • 100% responsible operations. We’ve strengthened our Compliance, Internal Auditing and Financial Oversight Department (SCIIF).
  • Motivated people. We’ve implemented actions to optimise people’s time management and better cover vacancies.

    Agnès Estay has joined us to promote our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) plan. Plus, we’ll be starting up the Sherpa programme, which will develop inclusive leadership. As far as digitalisation, the main challenge lies in extending the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence to everyone at the company.

The NWE Managers Conference is inviting us to ‘Live in the Present’

More than 100 managers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain gathered at the historic hotel Edwardian in Manchester to celebrate all the achievements made in 2023 and look towards the future.

The future was discussed for two days last November in the Free Trade Hall, which has hosted Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill and Bob Dylan in the past. Living Our Today was the motto used to pay homage to everyone who works at Exolum, recall the road taken to today’s successes, and face all the new challenges ahead.

Our Chairwoman, Rosa García, reflected upon the need to work more efficiently and prepare for the future. On the other hand, Jorge Lanza, our CEO, and Nacho Casajús, NWE Lead, thanked everyone at Exolum for their commitment and explained the new business opportunities we’re engaging in. Professionals from different areas also shared information on the progress being made in clean energy as well as diversity and inclusion, among other issues.

The Managers Conference left us with several memorable moments. Paul McGreevy, Director of the Belfast terminal, was recognised with the 2023 Best of the Best award for his great work and commitment. And two inspirational speakers took the stage, moving those in attendance. Jason Anker shared the story of a workplace accident that left him paralysed at the age of 24, highlighting the importance of safety. 

John Nichol, a former RAF officer, shared his experience as a prisoner of war during the 1991 Gulf War and how to discover one’s own inner strength to overcome adversity.
Thanks to everyone for participating!

PARTICIPATING

We participated in the XII International Symposium organised by Funseam

Our Chairwoman, Rosa García, participated in this event organised by Funseam, Foundation for Environmental and Energy Sustainability, in Barcelona. Rosa was on the panel for the ‘Net Zero-Emissions Strategy. For a Competitive and Sustainable Industry’ roundtable during which she went over the current geopolitical situation and advocated “regulation, taxation, market design and incentives to ensure technology neutrality”.

We debated the energy transition

Our CEO, Jorge Lanza, participated in the 21 IESE  Energy, a gathering organised by IESE Business School, which revolved around the energy transition. During the roundtable ‘Spanish National Energy and Climate Integrated Plan (PNIEC): Networks and Storage’, Jorge stated that “we need measures and incentives that stimulate demand yet without any further regulation”.

We attended the annual Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK Gala Dinner

Nacho Casajús, NWE Lead, and a team representing Exolum, attended the event at which José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman and CEO of Telefónica, was the guest of honour. We participated as a company with a relevant presence in the country where we provide storage and transport logistics services to several military facilities and some major airports.

We collaborated with the Renmad H2 2024 Congress in Zaragoza

As sponsors and speakers, we collaborated with this congress in Zaragoza organised by ATA Insights Renewable Energy Webinars & Events. Miguel Martínez de Aguirre Miral, H2 Project Manager, participated in a panel on green methanol and ammonia. Miguel said, “The use of hydrogen as an energy vector needs to be promoted considering all of the corresponding technologies and formats.”

We launched ‘El Prisma’, our all-new podcast on energy trends!

Let’s welcome ‘El Prisma’ (The Prism), an informational podcast for all audiences through which we’ll analyse the trends and challenges in the energy sector each month. Assisted by the doctor in Chemistry and disseminator Deborah García Bello, each episode will feature experts that will help us understand emerging energy technologies, innovation and strategies for achieving sustainability. The episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.  Don’t miss a single one!

You can listen to the podcast here

OUR EXPERT​

We were awarded a contract to operate at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport

Iván Saco
Commercial Aviation Lead 

We’ve consolidated our international presence with a new contract. We won the tender to operate and expand the fuel distribution facilities at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Iván Saco, our expert, tells us about this new milestone.

The contract was signed in Paris in mid-January. Representing Exolum were Jorge Lanza and Jorge Guillén, CEO and Spain Region Lead, respectively.

We’ve taken another step forward in our internationalisation process. This contract, which was awarded by the group Aéroports de Paris, was signed last January for a minimum term of 20 years. We expect to begin operating in April 2025. The tender included the operation and maintenance of the fuel distribution facilities and hydrant network at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport, which is some 80 km long.

Iván Saco, Commercial Aviation Lead, explained the importance of this operation, an enormous challenge, which will be a real test for us as a company. “Being awarded this contract means that we’re internationally renowned for the management of aviation fuel distribution and storage infrastructures. We’re already working in this area at airports in six European and Latin American countries, such as those in Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lima (Peru). We can compete for a major European airport and win. This means we’re doing things well.”

Our expert also highlighted that we’re becoming market leaders: “We’re a reference and one of the leaders as far as independent operators. I believe we can be proud of all the operations we’re handling. And it also means, of course, that we have a lot of work ahead.”

An investment of 200 million euros

Throughout the term of the contract, Exolum’s role will be to invigorate the management of this infrastructure, as Iván explains. The project includes an investment of more than 200 million euros to maintain and update the existing facilities in addition to developing new infrastructures to support the growing integration of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) at the airport.

“Our commitment is to provide excellent services and meet the airport’s needs,” says Iván. Moreover, SAF may require new developments and it’s important to be able to rely on a flexible operator like us with the technical capability to meet all the needs at Charles de Gaulle and make the necessary changes to maintain these world-class standard operating infrastructures.”

Our most immediate challenge will be starting operations by 1 April 2025. Between 40 and 50 people will be working there: “It’s going to involve major efforts from the entire company. The first obstacle will be beginning to operate in a complex environment without anyone noticing the change. Then, we’ll have plenty of time to detect all the needs with those at the airport.

The third airport with the most passengers in Europe

With more than 67 million passengers in 2023, Paris-Charles de Gaulle is the third airport in Europe with the most traffic behind London-Heathrow in the United Kingdom and Istanbul in Turkey. It has several special characteristics, Iván says.  “Our tanks will be on the ground at a third-ranked leader. We’ll create an industrial platform: several companies will be working at the same worksite. The size is another unique characteristic. At more than 80 km long, the hydrant will be the largest we handle anywhere.” Our expert points out that we’ll also have the challenge of working in a new and different country, with its own complex issues, which is another thing that makes it special.

“Being awarded this contract means that we’re internationally renowned because we’re doing things well”

What excites us​

EXOLUM-LIVE

Exolum - Our history

We’re proud of our history. Our company, which was founded in 1927, is nearly a hundred years old and has a long history as reflected in ‘From CAMPSA to Exolum Passing Through CLH’, a permanent exhibit that highlights our evolution and our heritage.

Adaptation

We care for the past and look towards the future. Our history, technology and ability to adapt to new circumstances are the focus of this exhibit set up in a warehouse in Torrejón de Ardoz next to the storage facility, central laboratory and control centres. We were born as CAMPSA, the acronym for Compañía Arrendataria del Monopolio del Petróleo Sociedad Anónima. After 65 years and with the end of the oil company monopoly, the brand evolved to become Compañía Logística de Hidrocarburos (CLH) in order to adjust to the new hydrocarbon storage and transport logistics business. And in 2021 we named ourselves Exolum, coinciding with our international expansion and diversification.

 

This space focuses on who we are through documentaries as well as a library and document archive area in addition to a number of objects which tell our story. It is all a part of our memory and it is our will to preserve this wealthy heritage which not only explains what we’ve been, but also indicates what we want to be.

This exhibit space in Torrejón de Ardoz houses our entire history through documents and numerous objects

Preserving the passing of time

The CAMPSA historical archive is the largest statistical and documental database on the sector in Spain and it can be accessed via the Spanish Energy Market Commission website. More information at: campsa.cnmc.es

Dispensers from all eras

Dispensers, measuring devices and other items that have been used to distribute fuel have been restored. These objects have been conserved thanks to the work of many people who were keen enough not to have them destroyed.

Supporting sports

In 1984, CAMPSA was able to form its own Formula 3 team and with the company’s sponsorship, Sito Pons won the 1988 and 1989 World Motorcycling Championship in the 250 cc category. Since 2011, we have been supporting the San Fernando de Henares social sports school and sports as a value.

The transformation of a brand

This is how our logotype has evolved since 1927 until we became Exolum, passing through CLH. It was a very familiar image for Spaniards for many years and now, it’s our trademark throughout the world.  

The evolution of transport

Our history is closely linked to the evolution of transport for oil product distribution: the railway, various lorry models, vessels and pipelines. Continuing with this transformation towards new energy vectors, we now manage hydrogen.

The company’s growth

Our company’s history is a reflection of Spain’s history and the evolution of the energy sector. Decisions have been made in meeting rooms like this one that have led us to our internationalisation and the energy transformation.

MEETING...​​

“DE&I is a true driver of change, creativity, innovation and growth”

The new Global DE&I Lead believes that Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) is a continuous journey requiring ongoing commitment and effort from all levels of the organization. Welcome Agnès!

Agnès Estay joined Exolum last November. “My first impressions have been very positive,” she says. In these first few months, she has focused on listening to many of her colleagues, one by one, to see how they feel about working at Exolum. “I am very grateful for their generous insights. This has helped me gain a much clearer understanding of the strengths but also the areas of improvements of our DE&I strategy”, she explains. For Agnès, helping Exolum to become a more inclusive company is a journey we have to walk together.

AgnÈs ESTAY

Global DE&I Lead

What does DE&I mean?

DE&I stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. These are three interconnected concepts that work together to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected, regardless of their background or identity. Each concept is different, but all  are all necessary to create a thriving workplace.

If you had to choose one example to explain what DE&I is, what would it be?

Let me use the metaphor of a party: Diversity is being invited to the party, Equity is having an accessibility ramp to the door and Inclusion is being asked to dance. Diversity involves having employees with different demographics characteristics, identities and experiences. These employees should feel welcome to contribute and bring fresh perspectives to the table. Equity encourages fair processes, treatment, and possibilities for everyone, resulting in an equal playing field for all employees. Inclusion refers to a state of belonging. Inclusion is to be engrained in our daily operations and work culture, with employees feeling comfortable being their authentic selves at work.

Why is DE&I so important?

DE&I as a true driver of change, creativity, innovation and growth. DE&I is key to ensure every single employee reach their full potential. Diverse teams bring together individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and cognitive styles. This diversity of thought fuels creative problem solving and leads to more innovative solutions. By considering different viewpoints, teams are less likely to fall victim to groupthink and are more likely to identify new opportunities and untapped markets.

Do you think we are an inclusive company?

Exolum is certainly a company that cares about its employees. I believe that an increasing number of our colleagues see the value of implementing DE&I initiatives to ‘earn our place’ in tomorrow´s economy. Can we become a more inclusive company? Yes, absolutely, there is always room for improvement. DE&I is definitely a journey, not a destination. It is an ongoing process of learning, growing and making changes to shape Exolum’s workplace culture.

What does your work consist of?

My role is to drive Exolum’s DE&I agenda and foster an equitable and inclusive environment across the organisation. As the Global DE&I Lead, I am joining forces with leaders and DE&I ambassadors across the business to develop and evolve practices, policies and programmes to ensure Exolum develops a strong culture of inclusion, one that fosters an open environment for everyone to be their authentic selves at work.

What do you like the most?

My job is about influencing every part of the organisation to embed DE&I practices into the very fabric of our business operations and practices. The most challenging part of working as a DE&I Lead is that you don’t own any place where the work gets done. You are driving change through influence, which is exhilarating, but can also be challenging. It is gratifying to be able to fill this vital role and shape the Exolum’s culture in such a significant way.
I feel incredibly privileged and humbled to do this job. This role is fully aligned with my Ikigai, my purpose and values. I always look forward to Mondays!

What are your main challenges for the future?

My top three challenges for 2024 are to scale up our existing efforts to build our female talent pipeline, in line with our ambition to achieve 27% of women in leadership positions by 2027. We need to dispel the myths about the ‘Gender Ambition Gap’. Research has shown that there isn’t an ambition gap, but an opportunity gap.

This is what we intend to close at Exolum. Creating a culture that enables more women to be ambitious does not put men at a disadvantage. It just creates a more inclusive leadership where everyone is encouraged to thrive.

The second is to build accountability: DE&I without clear lines of accountability is doomed to fail. The management adage ‘What gets measured, gets done’ is particularly fitting for DE&I. Establishing effective accountability measures is essential for monitoring our progress and evaluating the success of our DE&I initiatives. I’ll dedicate a lot of my time to get that DE&I is perceived as a shared responsibility, shouldered by everyone at Exolum.

And the third challenge?

Stay laser-focused on fewer initiatives, but executing them exceptionally well. My priority will be to ensure that every single DE&I initiative ties back to our DE&I plan and more broadly to our business strategy. Each initiative needs to deliver a tangible outcome to drive meaningful change. In that regard, I am looking forward to working with our DE&I Executive Sponsors and Ambassadors on our 6 drivers for inclusion. Stay tuned for more updates on this!

Outside the office

I love trekking, hiking and climbing… I love being surrounded by nature and greenery. Being in the great outdoors feels like getting recharged for me and is a great mental boost. For those visiting London, I highly recommend the Thames Path Walk, starting in the Cotswolds and finishing at the Thames Barrier… Walking in Corsica on the mythic GR20 has been on my bucket list for a while.

I would love to say that I have a very active social life at the weekend. I certainly used to in a past life. Nowadays, I manage a few outings & exhibitions here and there, but I have to confess that my children have a more exciting social life than I do. I guess they are my hobby.

In four lines

A place:
I am captivated by Sydney. I only visited the ´Emerald City´ once but instantly fell in love with its natural beauty.

A food:
Ceviche. Last December, the UNESCO added it to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a very well deserved recognition!

A song:
Music is such an emotional compass for me. If I had to pick one, I would choose: ‘Le premier jour du reste de ta vie’ by Etienne Daho. This song has a particular significance for me as it gave me hope at one of the lowest points of my life.

A film:
‘Talk to her’ by Pedro Almodóvar.

TransformACTION

GROW

We earned ‘Top Employer 2024’ certification

This recognition situates us among the top 130 companies in Spain and 2,300 in the world which stand out due to their excellence in people management practices.

At Exolum, we care about people and are proud to share our recognition as ‘Top Employer 2024’. This certification positions us as one of the companies 

offering the best working conditions to employees, thus maintaining stable, quality jobs so that our professionals can fully develop. In order to be awarded this seal of excellence, we had to pass a rigorous analysis process. Top Employers Institute, the organisation that awards this certificate, evaluated our efforts in the area of Human Resources in three complete phases: HR Best Practice Survey, Validation and Audit. The process analyses and evaluates 20 issues such as workforce planning, talent acquisition, employee wellness programmes and social learning.

Cristina Jaraba, Global People Lead, is quite pleased with this recognition.  “Being named a Top Employer highlights the efforts we’ve been making through our ESG Framework Plan in the area of people management, fostering values such as diversity and equality and encouraging a work/life balance in addition to talent attraction and professional and personal development.”

“Being named a Top Employer acknowledges the efforts we’ve been making to foster diversity, equality and a work/life balance”

Cristina Jaraba

Global People Lead

The Másfamilia Foundation has acknowledged our commitment to a work/life balance

The Másfamilia Foundation has acknowledged our commitment to managing a work/life balance through our EFR certification. Cristina Jaraba, Global People Lead at Exolum, participated in the event, which was attended by Ana Dávila-Ponce de León, Regional Minister of Family, Youth and Social Affairs in the Regional Government of Madrid.

NETWORKING

Cyberattack-proof: Protect yourself with a password

When was the last time you changed your password?  Do you think it’s secure?
Knowing how to protect yourself at work and in your life is essential. We’ll tell you how to shield yourself and strengthen your cybersecurity.

 

People sometimes use the same password to access all the accounts and apps they’re registered for and even use numbers like their birth year. Cybersecurity experts are constantly warning us of the risks we run when we don’t take extreme precautions.

To prevent cybersecurity risks, we must control all access to our information system. This ‘door’ stands on three pillars: user authentication, password confidentiality and the use of multi-factor authentication. If these concepts sound a bit too technical for you, we’ll explain why it’s important to understand them: they’re essential to maintaining information privacy, integrity and availability.

Confidentiality: the key is secrecy

Your passwords must be confidential. You must keep the login information you use to access systems a secret. Passwords are the most common authentication factor, but also the most vulnerable. Attackers can steal them, guess them and even intercept them. Our advice: choose strong passwords, don’t share them with anyone, change them periodically and store them securely.

User authentication: Is it you?

The idea is to verify that a person is who they say they are when accessing a system.  How is this done? The system requests one or

 more authentication factors; a username, for example. It can also ask for something only you know such as a password, or verification on something only you have, such as a code sent to your mobile phone. It can also sometimes request a fingerprint. In any case, user authentication is essential because it prevents unauthorized people from accessing information or sensitive resources such as personal, financial or health-related data.

Multi-factor authentication: even more security

Don’t let that term scare you. It’s all about much more secure user identity verification than previously mentioned because it combines two or more authentication factors. More than one piece of evidence is requested to prove one’s identity upon accessing a system. For example, in addition to a password, you may be asked for a code sent to your mobile phone or a fingerprint. This multi-factor mechanism makes it difficult for attackers to steal a user’s identity, even if they’ve been able to steal or guess the person’s password.

Make it difficult for machines

Did you know that a machine can guess a password comprised of 12 numbers in just 25 seconds? But that same machine would take 2,000 years if the password included numbers, lower case and upper case letters as well as symbols. So make it difficult! Don’t just put words in your password: machines use the terms in dictionaries to guess login details.

4 tips for creating more secure passwords

  • Use two words and two numbers of at least six figures, and separate them by symbols.
  • Never give out your password to anyone.
  • Don’tuse your corporate email address to access personal accounts or apps.
  • Don’t use the same password for different personal applications. If one of these applications is compromised, your password will be published in criminal networks and could be the gateway to enter any application that may be related to your identity.

TRENDS

“We must give everything we’ve taken back to the planet”

ANDREA RUZO 
Director of the Ecoalf Foundation 

Plastic in our seas and oceans is a serious problem that affects us all. Andrea Ruzo invites us to find out about the actions being taken by the Ecoalf Foundation against marine litter in collaboration with fishermen from four countries.

In the Pacific, there’s an ‘island’ comprised of huge accumulations of plastic three times the size of France. And that’s just one graphic and shocking example of this global problem. Andrea Ruzo is Director of the Ecoalf Foundation, which was created in 2015 by Javier Goyeneche, the founder of the Ecoalf sustainable lifestyle brand. This organisation urges action “because if we’re not part of the solution, we’re part of the problem”.

What is the goal behind the Ecoalf Foundation?

To protect the oceans and fight marine litter all while promoting a circular economy. We seek to unite all sectors of society, the civil population, the public and private sectors, the third sector, the scientific community, etc., in order to spread awareness for the damage caused to the environment and find joint solutions to help reverse the situation.

‘Upcycling the Oceans’ is your most ambitious project. What is it all about?

It’s an international adventure that began thanks to three fishermen from Villajoyosa, Alicante. Concerned about the quantity of rubbish they were finding in the sea while out fishing, they decided to join us for a pilot

 project aimed at cleaning up the oceans. Now there are already more than 4,300 fishermen in four countries (Spain, Italy, France and Greece) who are voluntarily collaborating by collecting the rubbish they find in fishing nets and taking it to port.

What is then done with that rubbish?

It’s deposited into specific containers and collected by waste management companies which make sure it’s treated and recycled. To date, these fishermen have collected more than 1,500 tonnes of rubbish from the bottom of the sea.  What’s more, thanks to collaboration with Ecoalf, the bottles that are collected are processed and turned into ‘sea thread’, a material that’s used for Ecoalf’s collections and with which we make garments and accessories with the same design and quality as other similar products not made with recycled materials.

What has made you most proud over what has been nearly a decade?

The fishermen’s commitment to healthy seas. They’re the ones who voluntarily clean up rubbish that’s not theirs day after day. Their altruist collaboration is our greatest source of pride and what moves us every single day to keep on working.

What’s the greatest challenge you see ahead over the next few years?

The quantity of rubbish entering the seas is much more than we’re able to remove. The equivalent of a whole bin lorry is dumped into the oceans every minute. That’s why our goal is to change the pattern of consumption and fight against the problem at the source. It was with this idea that we launched the ‘Clean Rivers, Save the Oceans’ project in 2020, along with the cosmetics company Biotherm.

What is the ‘Clean Rivers, Save the Oceans’ project all about?

We work with the population to protect and clean up aquatic ecosystems by removing litter from rivers, which is the

 greatest source of marine pollution. To date, we’ve removed more than 25,000 kg of litter from river environments in the Region of Madrid thanks to the collaboration of more than 2,500 volunteers.

How do you go from good intentions to actually doing something?

By actively changing our consumption habits to give the planet back what we’ve taken. Trying to be more sustainable is not enough.  We have to rethink the foundations of our very economic development and being measuring our environmental and social impact on the ecosystem.

As citizens, can we be drivers of these changes?

We not only can, we must. Citizens have been the driver of many changes throughout history, and in a consumer society like ours, their power is even greater.

How can we contribute?

By making conscious and informed decisions and by choosing services and products that put the social and environmental impact first. This is how we can put direct pressure on industries, which are beginning to think of other ways of doing things. Sustainability is more and more present, largely because consumers are demanding it.

Spreading awareness is part of the Foundation’s work. Is progress being seen?

We’ve consumed the planet’s environmental resources at a disproportionate rate and the consequences are becoming more and more visible. Need has made us all more aware nowadays of the environmental emergency, and that awareness in and of itself can be considered progress.

Did you know...?

  • 8 million tonnes of rubbish reach the seas
  •  70% of all rubbish ends up on the seabed
  • By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea
  • 80% of the rubbish in the sea comes from our lands

  • For more information, visit their website. 

A global vocation

Following her initial work experience in India, Andrea Ruzo began a 15-year career developing social and environmental sustainability projects which has led her to working in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East in both the public and private sectors. In 2022, she joined the Ecoalf Foundation as the Director. Originally from La Coruña, in her free time she enjoys the sea and nature in addition to taking photographs of hidden spots in Galicia.

Safety and health

Safety

How to become aware of the risks and avoid accidents

People’s health and safety is one of our values. Jesús Manso, Global HSSE & Technology at Exolum, and Marcelino Arias, Senior Consultant at Dekra, explain how to develop and maintain a high level of awareness when working, the tools available and the habits that can be developed.

Situational awareness is the term we use to simplify the idea of being aware of things happening around us and the impact they have or could have on what we’re doing. Developing and maintaining a high level of situational awareness is the most difficult part of most jobs and it’s one of the most critical challenges at present.

For example, if you stop and think about all the information we must all remember while doing any sort of work, do you think we’re truly able to retain it all in our heads while remaining aware of everything happening around us?

 Tools and habits

Companies with a mature culture of safety use simple and useful tools to enhance situational awareness. They may sometimes seem to be of little importance, but in all reality they’re quite effective. One typical example are alarms, but there are many others of an administrative type such as dynamic risk assessments, behavioural observations, field supervision and interventions among colleagues.

Our abilities and skills are another factor that influences situational awareness. Habits are behaviours we’ve repeated several times that eventually become automatic. We don’t have to think about them, just do them.  Have you ever driven home from work, entered the door and wondered how you got there? Moving into automatic mode and using our habits can be quite positive. Those who commit the least errors and have the least accidents have often learnt to safely automate tasks to avoid them.

How to make progress in our safety culture

The answer is simple: adding checks, tasks and verifications to our habits that help ensure what we’re going to do is safe. It may seem difficult, but… have you ever gone on a diet to lose weight?  How many times have you set the goal of going to the gym every day?  And stop smoking? In general, these resolutions are not easy and require a whole lot of conviction, concentration and willpower. The first step is wanting to change a habit and convincing yourself it’s the only way to improve.  Once that’s done, a significant portion of the road will already have been travelled.  

Safety foundations and other tools

At Exolum, we have many tools to increase situational awareness, such as preventive alarms and work monitoring sheets, which not only guide us as to how to do a certain task, but also provide rules, safety tips, procedures, formal risk assessments and training.

And then we’ve got our Safety Foundations, which are our golden rules for Safety, as well as Field Verification Critical Controls or FVCC , which are practical checklists that help us detect dangerous situations when doing a certain task all while making it easier for leaders to go out into the field and talk about safety with their teams. After all, when it comes to safety and risks, people are our priority which means disseminating knowledge and training them.

It’s essential to internalise these tools and incorporate them every day into our work. By doing so, we’ll all acquire the habit of taking all the necessary steps and doing all preliminary checks almost automatically. The challenge is worth it and we’re certain we can overcome it with our team’s commitment and will. As Henry Ford, one of the most visionary business owners in history, once said: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself”.

Always have our SAFETY FOUNDATIONS in mind to do your work more safely.

Check them out here

WEllness

IN SHAPE at HOME

If you’re one of those who plan on going to the gym, but always find an excuse not to, turn your home into your workout centre. Choose a good app and most importantly: consistently work out.

Just as some are gym addicts, others aren’t really attracted by these places or their personal or work situation doesn’t allow them to go regularly. There are tonnes of apps and online platforms that can help you stay fit from home.

The first thing is to mentalise the fact that physical exercise is necessary. French doctor Frédéric Saldman, the author of the book ‘Cure Yourself Healthy’, reminds us that “the human organism is a precision machine that requires certain daily care”.

Experts say the body benefits from several different types of exercise:

  • RESISTANCE. It prepares the body to withstand low-intensity physical exercise for a long period of time or high-intensity physical exercise in short spans. Resistance exercises improve heart, lung and circulatory system health.
  • FLEXIBILITY. Stretching the muscles helps fight stiffness, the loss of muscle fibre and joint mobility. Flexibility makes daily tasks easier.
  • BALANCE. Balance exercises, whether static (standing) or dynamic (in movement) can help prevent falls and even more so as you get older.
  • STRENGTH. Strengthening the muscles is essential to fighting aging. Having good muscle tone helps you in your daily life all while ensuring proper posture and back support.

Exercising from home means being aware of your physical condition.

If you don’t do regular exercise, you should begin gently. Most apps have different levels from beginner to advanced. And always take great care when warming up and stretching so you don’t get injured.

All experts insist on warming up. Doctor José María Neira, a specialist in Physical Education Medicine, suggests the following simple warm-up exercises in his book ‘The Dr Neira Method’:

  • Exercise 1. Jump from a straight position with your arms spread out, bringing them together above your head.
  • Exercise 2. Touch your feet with the palms of your hands all while keeping your legs separated.
  • Exercise 3. Touch the tips of your toes with your fingers for a bit while keeping your legs stretched.
  • Exercise 4. Floor dips. If it’s too difficult at first, you can put your knees down to make it easier.
  • Exercise 5. Hold onto a table or chair, bend and come back to your initial position.

There are more and more apps out there to help you do exercise at home. Most of them are available for iOS and Android systems. Here are just a few:

Sweat

Kayla Itsines, a home exercise guru, is the creator of this famous app featuring tutorials and personalised programmes to improve your physical condition gradually starting at the beginner’s level. It offers high-intensity programmes, post-partum exercises, bodyweight exercises, cardio, yoga and Pilates, among others.
www.sweat.com

Sworkit

It allows you to do personalised training sessions as well as create them yourself. You can choose from among strength exercises, aerobics, stretching, Pilates, cardio and yoga and even choose the time you’ll dedicate to each exercise from 5 to 60 minutes. The app allows you to select the muscle group you prefer to work on.
www.sworkit.com

Home exercises

Before each exercise, this app indicates how to warm up and explains how to stretch at the end. There are detailed explanations for each exercise. You can create alarms for you training sessions and program routines as well as track your weight and body mass index.

7-minute training

Those looking for exercises based on High Intensity Circuit Training (HICT) can find intensive suggestions that last just a short time: 12 routines in 30-second spans with 10-second breaks in between. There are blocks of exercises by categories. Each exercise is explained in detail.

HIIT and CardiO TRAININGS

Esta app offers High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), alternating between short, high-intensity periods and recovery or light exercise periods. There are four training programmes and 90 exercises, all with video tutorials and several levels of difficulty.

Pocket Yoga

This app allows you to choose everything from isolated exercises to full classes. The videos explain all the movements step-by-step. Whether you’re just starting out with different types of asanas (yoga poses) or you want advanced exercises, this is an intuitive, easy-to-use and very complete app.
www.pocketyoga.com

Involved

de&i

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Let our professionals do the talking

We’re joining this celebration with some testimonials by a few of our female professionals at Exolum. Four of our colleagues encourage women and girls to take up science as a vocation and occupation. Without limits. 

Once again this year, we’re seconding the promotion of access and full and equitable participation of women in STEM careers. We’d like to give our women in science visibility, so we sat down to talk with Tania Duque, Aviation Maintenance Operations Analyst; Ana Otero, COE-Engineering; Laura Rivas, Global Engineering Lead, and Ana Dorado, Head of the Central Laboratory.

As young girls, science was already their thing. Tania knew for certain she wanted to study engineering.  “If you look around, everything is full of industrial processes that make life easier, and I was always interested in being a part of it all.” Laura was always strong in science-related subjects and she still thinks she made a good choice “because the aviation sector is amazing”.

Breaking down barriers

One of the big challenges is doing away with stereotypes and fostering the presence of females in STEM fields. For Ana Otero, “These occupations are creative. Wasn’t Leonardo da Vinci a great engineer?” Ana Dorado, on the other hand, believes “we have to break down barriers in schools, motivate children to do what they like and boost them as people.”

For these four professionals, there is no gender in science. They say there are no limits nowadays to working in a team on a project or even leading it, and believe women offer innovative outlooks and approaches. Above all, there’s one phrase they all agree on: Be daring!

4 messages for girls

  1.  Ana Dorado: “Don’t let any barriers get in your way. Think about what you enjoy and not what others would like.  We’re the ones that can make the change!”
  2. Tania Duque: “Social media is fine, but science in real life is full of exciting opportunities that can change lives.”
  3. Ana Otero: “Keep going despite any obstacles! And to the fathers, mothers and educators out there, I’d say support the choices girls make and support them in times of difficulty.”
  4. Laura Rivas: “Be brave. Believe in your abilities. The world needs diversity to see
    challenges from a different perspective.”

Real women

To make this date more visible, we’ve launched an AI-based campaign with the message: “Women in science are real”. We’ve also come up with a fun trivia game about the most important female scientists and researchers in history.

We promote diversity and have joined Inclusive Employers

We’ve joined Inclusive Employers, a British-based international consulting firm which aims to help companies create more inclusive and safer workplaces.  Let’s make progress in diversity and inclusion!

We work so everyone at Exolum can feel valued. With a view to making diversity and inclusion a reality at our worksites, we’ve joined Inclusive Employers, a consulting firm that specialises in helping companies create more inclusive and safer workplaces where employees feel valued and contribute to the company’s overall success.

Inclusive Employers will make the support of experts on inclusion and diversity available to us in addition to providing us with advice, training and leadership in this area so inclusion can become a reality at Exolum, which will allow us to speed up our learning curve on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I).

Agnès Estay, Global DE&I Lead, believes that “DE&I is a relevant issue for Exolum in line with its ambition to adopt a global mindset. Inclusive Employers will give us the chance to delve deeper into specific inclusion-related challenges we’re currently facing at Exolum.”

Being part of this network will allow us to stay up-to-date on the latest regulatory changes in the area of equal job opportunities and connect with similar organisations around the world.

Global DE&I Committee Meeting: in search of synergies

The Global DE&I Committee has been joined by Agnès Estay and Steve Land. New people have also joined the NWE Local Committee. During the first meeting of the year, issues were discussed such as strengthening our ability to take on responsibilities and find solutions in the area of DE&I Responsibility, as well as how to do more work together and increase synergies among both committees.

FEEL GREEN

We’ve joined Forética to promote sustainability

With this alliance, we’re giving a new boost to our environmental and social strategy which is in line with our ESG Framework Plan.

e’ve taken one more step in our commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility by joining Forética, a reference in Spain and Latin America. This association of businesses and professionals facilitates the integration of social, environmental and good governance aspects (ESG) in companies’ strategies, and encourages responsible and sustainable leadership.

With 25 years of history behind it, Forética is made up of more than 200 members, including 40% of the IBEX 35 companies, multinational subsidiaries, small and medium enterprises, and leading NGOs, all committed to sustainability. This association is a representative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in Spain and leads the Spanish Business Council for Sustainable Development, comprised of chairs and CEOs of large Spanish companies.

For Cristina Jaraba, Global People Lead, “Joining Forética is one more milestone in our decisive engagement with ESG values, as reflected in our Sustainability Framework 

Plan. We’re convinced that Forética is going to help us strengthen our performance in sustainability, by learning from and sharing best practices with other companies and institutions in order to drive our agenda and meet the SDGs set out by the UN.”

Forética is a reference on sustainability in Spain and Latin America, made up of more than 200 members 

On the other hand, Germán Granda, Director General of Forética, underlined, “Exolum’s inclusion means becoming a part of an ecosystem of partners working on a triple goal: expanding corporate ambitions in the area of sustainability, accelerating action to handle ESG challenges and promoting alliances for sustainable recovery that’s green and inclusive.”

Reaffirming our commitment to green hydrogen

Huelva was the scene for the 1st National Congress on Green Hydrogen in Spain, and we were sponsors and speakers. This new energy vector is proving to be fundamental in the effort to decarbonise the planet.

Our commitment to clean energy was made clear in Huelva, the city that hosted the 1st National Congress on Green Hydrogen in Spain, as Exolum was one of the sponsors. During this event, which brought together large enterprises and institutions for three days, the relevance of this energy vector for the planet’s future sustainability was emphasized in addition to the role Spain and, specifically, Andalusia and the province of Huelva, must play when it comes to leading this energy-driven future.

Those participating highlighted the importance of public-private cooperation, a stable regulatory framework, and the need for more training and more funding to boost this energy revolution throughout Europe.

This event featured the participation of Jorge Lanza, our CEO, and Adrien Souchet, Strategic Planning & Business Development Lead for our Clean Energies division.

Jorge Lanza explained that “at Exolum we’re already working on tangible projects to develop and operate the new infrastructures that will be required”, yet warned that “there is still much to be done in order for green hydrogen to become a competitive option”. Our CEO spoke of the pending challenges such as the evolution of technology, a regulatory framework that evolves along with technological development, better streamlining the processing of permits and aid, and further development of renewable energies as well as the electricity transmission and connection point network.

Adrien Souchet referred to our strategy and stated, “Exolum is committed to being the logistics partner of reference  for hydrogen and derivatives, ammonia and methanol, covering all the infrastructure needed to facilitate the flow of products to end consumers.”

“We’re already working on tangible projects to develop and operate the new infrastructures that will be required”

Jorge Lanza

CEO

“Exolum is committed to being the logistics partner of reference
for hydrogen and derivatives”

Adrien Souchet

Strategic Planning & Business Development Lead de Clean Energies

Green power: plants to heal soil and produce biofuel

Can you imagine using plant species to clean soil polluted by hydrocarbon remains all while producing clean biofuel? That’s the goal of Phy2Climate, an innovative international project we’re a part of, which has been up and running for two and half years now and is making significant progress.

The year 2020 saw the birth of Phy2Climate, an ambitious project driven by the European Commission with an original goal: to heal land affected by hydrocarbons through phytoremediation, a technique based on the capacity of certain plants to absorb soil pollutants, and take advantage of the raw materials from those crops to produce clean biofuel. It’s a circular economy idea that benefits the environment in two ways.

As explained by Daniel López Cabornero, Operations Analyst for Safety, Pwr & Environment, “This project is directly aligned with the Exolum sustainability strategy because it involves researching more sustainable forms of energy, minimising the generation of waste and contributing to global carbon footprint reduction.”

The project consortium, which is part of the European Union H2020 strategy and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, has brought together 17 partners in 10 different countries conducting four pilot studies in Spain, Serbia, Lithuania and Argentina. The research being done in Spain, first in the laboratory and afterwards in the field, has been developed in Tarragona. 

Pilot testing in Tarragona

“The Catalan Waste Agency contacted us because they were looking for a partner with experience in soil recovery. The idea seemed interesting to us and we chose our storage facility in Tarragona as the site,” says Daniel.

At the laboratory, testing was done in pots in collaboration with the Leitat Institute. This testing involved a study of various plant species which had been pre-selected due to their high efficiency, in order to analyse their capacity to clean hydrocarbon remains and their potential to produce biofuel.

The next step included a study of the characteristics of the plants at the beginning and end of the experiments, as well as visual inspections every 15 days to watch for potential plagues or nutritional deficiencies, as well as control the quality and quantity of the plant tissue. Growth differences between the species and scenarios tested were identified during testing.

Studies in the field

The species that best responded to the testing were used for a pilot study in situ, on a plot at our storage facility in collaboration with a company specialising in soil remediation, Litoclean. The land and species were monitored to check for adequate biomass growth, as well as their capacity to eliminate hydrocarbon remains from the soil. The results were a success and proved that, under the right conditions, plant species can cure land.

Finally, the species grown were harvested, dried and turned into pellets to be refined. This final step was also done in collaboration with the technology institute Leitat. The plant tissue refinement process led to the production of sufficient quality biofuel to be used as diesel oil, which closed the project’s circle.

If you’d like to know more, visit the project website. 

An encouraging project

In just two and half years of study, the progress made has been significant which offers a hopeful outlook.

The restored land is now available for agriculture, to generate biomass and for biorefineries to produce biofuel.

But the Phy2Climate goal doesn’t stop here. It includes an impact assessment of the project from a sustainability perspective and is associated with a business plan to evaluate the feasibility.

Finally, it provides for a study of the legal requirements for potential implementation on a real scale and the corresponding dissemination work.

This project is aligned with the Exolum sustainability strategy because it involves minimising the generation of waste and reducing the carbon footprint”

Daniel López Cabornero

Operations Analyst de Safety, Pwr & Environment

FEEL betteR

The San Fernando de Henares social sports school: a goal in favour of values

This school is a team success: by the local government of this city in the Madrid region, the Real Madrid Foundation and Exolum. Together, we’ve worked for 13 years during which the prize has been the social integration of children and young people through sports.   

At Exolum, we know just how important it is to work as a team and do so with the best allies. One of the projects we’re most proud of is the San Fernando de Henares social sports school, which was founded in November 2010 thanks to the collaborative efforts of Exolum, the local city hall and the Real Madrid Foundation. This entity promotes education, social action and charitable engagement through Real Madrid, one of the most relevant sports institutions in the world.

The school has reached its thirteenth season in top shape. The idea was proposed by the Real Madrid Foundation as part of an effort to foster the values inherent to sports and encourage the use of sport as an educational tool, which is capable of contributing to social integration and development. The local government in the city where the school’s headquarters are located joined this initiative, and we got on board as well: participating minors receive either a half or full scholarship for the activity thanks to the support received by Exolum.

Integrating and creating ties

Ever since then, hundreds of children and young people aged 5 to 17 have come to this school which goes well beyond just sports to train and enjoy football. It’s a place where boys and girls of various nationalities can build relationships with Spanish youth to achieve their integration through sports.

The school instils values of companionship, teamwork, tolerance and solidarity. It does not seek to become a factory for future stars, but rather a place to have fun and do so with a healthy lifestyle.

When the school was founded, the Real Madrid Director of Institutional Relations, former footballer Emilio Butragueño, explained that the goal was to socialise, integrate, and establish and create ties among the young and old alike, “using football and the Real Madrid name”. Nowadays, the sports values which we appreciate so much at Exolum have created a championship team out of all those who share this project.

13 seasons playing as a team

As it began its thirteenth season, the San Fernando de Henares social sports school received a visit from its promoters. Cristina Cepeda, Third Deputy Mayor of San Fernando de Henares, mentioned the importance of social values in sport and said the project fills San Fernando de Henares and its residents with pride.

Jorge Guillén, Spain Region Lead, indicated that for Exolum, “This project incarnates two of the cornerstones the company is deeply committed to: diversity and inclusion, in addition to promoting fundamental values such as tolerance and social cohesion, which play a crucial role in today’s society.”

On the other hand, the ambassador and trainer of the Real Madrid Junior A team, Álvaro Arbeloa, reminded everyone that “sports teaches values for life, and the right to play as a child is a basic pillar for a person’s whole development. That’s why it is a part of the Sustainable Development Goals we all share in order to build a better world.”

Iker Casillas

“We can’t improve the society of the future if we don’t educate those who are going to build it. Sports is our tool, but we need a good team to play that ball. And, in this case, the support received by Exolum and municipal collaboration make it possible.”

Santiago Solari

“Football offers many positive values because it’s much more important to be a good person than a good player.”

Álvaro Arbeloa

“As a former professional footballer and as a father, I can say that sports and the inherent values create better people, people who are more complete and whole.”

Discover

Do you know which…

... living structure is the largest on Earth?

The Great Barrier Reef off the northeastern coast of Australia is the largest single structure comprised of living organisms on the planet. It spreads across more than 2,300 kilometres with a height of over 500 metres and is an ecosystem that is home to thousands of marines species. It’s the only coral reef that can be seen from space. In 1981, it was declared
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

... inorganic structure is the tallest in the world?

Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, is the tallest building in the world with 162 floors and 828 metres in height. Its construction involved the work of 12,000 people. This skyscraper, which was designed by architect Adiran Smith, is inspired by the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture. Covered by 28,601 stainless steel and aluminium panels resistant to high temperatures, it has been equipped with 57 lifts.

Find out what your personality is like with the four-colour test

Tell me which characteristics define you and I’ll tell you which colour you are

This test is a classic in people’s work and personal lives. It measures two pairs of personality opposites: introversion versus extroversion and thinking versus feeling.  Dare to be colour bold and test your personality!

BLUE/Sea

Introversion and thinking predominate with this personality type. These people are pensive, planners and methodic. They value intelligence, independence and complete and accurate information. They’re prudent: they think before acting.

RED/Fire

Extroversion and thinking dominate with this personality type. These people are direct, competitive, passionate and love action. They reflect a resolved character, are fast and efficient and can’t stand indecisiveness. They tend to react quickly to crisis situations and are natural leaders.

GREEN/Earth

People with this personality type reflect introversion and feelings. They’re conciliators and help resolve conflicts. Green personalities are understanding and patient. Respectful and tolerant, they create long-lasting relationships based on personal attention.

YELLOW/Sun

People with this personality type reflect extroversion and feelings. They’re highly sociable and spontaneous, and tenacious when it comes to meeting goals. Enthusiastic and fun, ‘yellows’ know how to be persuasive and encourage others to make decisions.

IF YOU NEED MORE CONNEXION…​

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