Connexion EN 3 2023 N7 – Connexion Exolum

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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 we hear from

Diego Abajo
Claudia Bello
Pilar Castelao
Julie Cloutier
Daniel Fomperosa
José Antonio de la Fuente

Cristina Jaraba
Jorge Lanza
Ángel Ordóñez
David Pérez
Cristina Sánchez
Andrés Suárez

Editorial

The energy transition: an opportunity within view

“We’re moving forward with the diversification of our business to support the energy transition”

The term “energy transition” has been dropped in forums and conversations for years. It’s a change in production, distribution and energy consumption models that is gaining more and more ground all the time yet progressing at a slower speed than expected or desired by the policies being developed on a European level.

With a traditional business that is highly dependent on oil products, our company is adjusting its strategy by putting the focus on a diversification towards lines of business that are more sustainable for the planet all while ensuring Exolum’s competitiveness. Achieving this objective will help our environment and allow us to continue contributing value to society for a hundred more years.

As part of our 2022–2026 Strategic Plan we’ve defined the lines of action to boost this transformation. A few months back I had the opportunity to mention the pillars of this diversification with all of you.

Now, I’d like to share a few additional details with regard to biofuels, hydrogen and derivatives.

In recent months, biofuels and synthetic fuels have particularly gained in relevance.

Many are advocating their development considering their capacity to significantly reduce the carbon footprint and associated benefits as today’s infrastructures and vehicles require no adaptation for their use.

We continue developing investment opportunities along with other companies to transform different types of waste into biofuels and facilitate their distribution to users. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has a very relevant role in this area since it’s currently the only feasible means for decarbonizing the aviation sector and we have several initiatives of this type in our portfolio.

Moreover, we continue making progress in opportunities related to hydrogen and its derivatives. Several projects are currently under way to this end. Our hydrogen station in Torrejón has been operative since the month of July refuelling two H₂-powered coaches on a regular basis and we’ve been awarded a subsidy to purchase various portable hydrogen charging stations in

Spain. In the United Kingdom, we’ve been granted a subsidy to do a pilot project transporting H₂ through a pipeline in organic liquid form and our Tees Valley project has received two subsidies with the engineering work already beginning. We’ve also invested in the start-ups H2 Vector and Hysilab, which focus on LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers).

What’s more, we’re continuing to develop an integrated H2 lorry transport and storage solution that has raised quite a bit of interest. In fact, we’ve been talking with more than ten companies interested in this service. To finish up, we’re still developing green ammoniac production and delivery projects at several Spanish ports in collaboration with various companies.

In short, we’re moving forward with the diversification of our activities to support the energy transition, an opportunity and challenge for reinventing ourselves as we’ve already done in the past.

Andrés Suárez

Global Strategy & Innovation Lead de Exolum

About us

WE MOVE ON

We’ve moved into Portugal to manage the Lisbon airport fuel terminal

We continue growing and have entered Portugal for the first time. We’ve been at the Humberto Delgado airport in Lisbon since July where we handle the operation and maintenance of the fuel storage facility and the hydrant network infrastructure.

After Panama, Ecuador and Ireland, the start of operations at the Lisbon airport is one step further in our internationalization strategy in the aviation fuel supply sector where we already have extensive experience.

Daniel Fomperosa

Lisbon Terminal Manager

“This contract is a milestone of great value and involves great responsibility as well as a business opportunity”

Daniel Fomperosa, Terminal Manager in Lisbon, underlines the strategic importance of this first Exolum project in Portugal: “This contract is a milestone of great value and involves great responsibility as concerns managing the airport as well as a business opportunity to expand our presence to other facilities and projects in Portugal”.

Daniel explains that “Exolum manages the fuel farm, or rather the airport fuel storage area, engaging in fuel reception, storage and delivery operations as well as the maintenance of all the infrastructures and hydrant network.” The agreement includes making improvements in existing infrastructures to enable the supply of biofuels such as SAF.

At Exolum, we’re proud to have won the tender announced by ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal Vinci Airports. The process, which began in 2020, has been long and highly competitive. “The Vinci group manages numerous airports throughout the world. Good management of this airport could open up the doors for us to other facilities, not only in Portugal but in the rest of the countries where Vinci is present,” says Daniel.

The Lisbon airport is the main one in Portugal and one of the largest of the network we operate

The bid preparation was led by the Sales Department with support from Operations and Engineering, “as there was a significant construction portion,” in addition to other areas contributing their knowledge such as Systems, HSSE, Economics-Finance and Legal.

The Lisbon airport is the main one in Portugal and one of the largest of the network we operate. Moreover, it’s the hub of the country’s biggest airline, TAP Air Portugal, which offers numerous connections to Brazil, the United States and African countries in addition to hosting many other international airlines.

Capacity and team

The Lisbon airport facility has a storage capacity of more than 12,000 m³distributed among three tanks, four road tanker delivery islands, which can handle up to 140 deliveries a day, as well as pumping equipment to supply aircrafts with fuel through a hydrant. Eighteen people work at the airport “although the workforce right now is being reinforced with Exolum personnel from other airports,” says Daniel.

FACILITIES REQUIRING A LOT OF PRESSURE

The Lisbon airport has a unique feature: its limited storage capacity. Since it’s the most important airport in the country, there’s heavy passenger traffic which means the facilities are at the limit of their operational capacity. “Fuel management is especially delicate as it involves immense precision in fuel reception/delivery, as well as preventive maintenance planning and flexibility in corrective maintenance,” explains Daniel Fomperosa who nonetheless emphasizes that Exolum set a historical record in output at the facility in the first month of operation.

WHO WE ARE

Making Progress Together to Achieve the Goals for the Year

Our CEO, Jorge Lanza, informed us of the company’s evolution so far this year and the projects underway during two gatherings in Spain Region and NWE. We’re making progress!

Responsibility, improvement and business growth in addition to looking after and motivating our people are some of the issues covered by our CEO, Jorge Lanza at the two meetings he held with people from Spain Region and NWE. Our priority is people’s health and safety. Jorge insisted on continuing to work on personal safety and highlighted improvements in industrial safety as “there have been no serious accidents thus far this year”. There have also been advances in cybersecurity and in environmental responsibility: we’ve moved our commitment of being a “zero emissions” company up to 2040, with new photovoltaic facilities in Spain and very soon in the United Kingdom. With respect to business, our CEO explained that “it’s all in line with what we’d set out in the yearly budget,” within our different divisions (storage and aviation) as well as in the countries where we’re present.

He also discussed the progress towards unifying work processes and the progress made on digital projects with the use of artificial intelligence.

Projects and searching for new business

Jorge Lanza referred to the projects underway, such as the new Lima airport facility and the liquefied gas storage project in Seal Sands, in the United Kingdom. In Aviation, he highlighted our entry into the Lisbon airport and revealed that we’ll begin looking for new business in Asia, a continent “that has a large number of new infrastructures to be developed”. We’ll also move forward with green hydrogen management and focus on decarbonization projects linked to ammonia.

But no improvement is possible without a commitment from our people. The People team has approved the company’s competencies model and will soon launch a new leadership programme. Moreover, in the coming months we’ll be announcing new diversity and inclusion committee actions.

VENTURES HAS CHANGED ITS NAME TO CLEAN ENERGIES

Ventures, the Exolum division dedicated to the development and search for new business opportunities associated with decarbonization, innovation and the circular economy, has a new name: Clean Energies. This new name reflects the evolution seen since it was created more than three years ago, a time during which it has refined its diversification strategy as the energy transition process has moved forward.

Forum 2023: The stars of our own future

We celebrated our annual Spain Region managers convention with an excellent, engaged and committed cast.

Those of us who make up Exolum are the stars of the company’s future. Thus was verified and experienced at Forum 2023, our Spain Region managers meeting which was recently held in La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia).

Like every year, the Forum was much more than just an event; it was a unique chance to meet up and share some fun, exciting and encouraging time together. A ton of people from our company as well as a few surprise guests were on stage. Our CEO, Jorge Lanza, and our Spain Region Lead, Jorge Guillén, were responsible for opening the event with our President Rosa García, closing the Forum along with them. Susana Gómez, Co-Founder and CEO of Smart Culture, and the young entrepreneur Pablo Vidarte, were the main speakers. They shared their experiences related to the importance of diversity and being proactive within companies.

Framing it all was breakthrough staging based on the seventh art. The stage replicated a movie theatre and a dressing room. There was a makeup artist, an usher and, of course, a director who made sure the film went perfectly: actress, comedian and hostess Sara Escudero (the voice of our “One Exolum” podcasts) who was the master of ceremonies.

Each presentation was associated with a film based on the topic, and the speakers came out dressed up like the stars of the films. Among others, we saw the superheroes of “Xmen (& Women)”; Ethan Hunt’s doubles in “Mission Impossible”; as well as our wonderful Dorothy from the “Wizard of Oz” and Marty McFly from “Back to the Future”.

They all talked about the present and future of our business, safety and the environment all while inviting us to be proactive, think out of the box and find innovative solutions for our day-to-day work. Our new leadership programme known as SHERPA was also presented. The aim of this programme is to prepare the organization’s future leaders.

The gathering was completed with group dynamics activities and a short film contest with those participating letting their creativity and sense of humour run wild.

Thanks to everyone for attending and being an active part of this fascinating film!

Operating a new photovoltaic plant in Huelva

We’re moving forward with strengthening our network of self-consumption solar energy plants. We’ve started up the fourth facility to self-supply ourselves with clean and sustainable energy at our terminal in Huelva.

The new plant, in which we’ve invested 2.3 million euros, has 3.88 MW of installed power through 9,000 solar panels distributed over a 59,000 m2 plot. This infrastructure will ensure the supply of 100% renewable energy, which is the equivalent of nearly 32% of the total electricity consumption at the Huelva facility. Its operation will prevent more than 1,332 tonnes of CO₂ from being emitted into the atmosphere each year.

The Huelva plant will prevent more than 1,332 tonnes of CO₂ from being emitted into the atmosphere each year

This is our fourth clean energy self-supply plant. We’ve got other infrastructures already in operation at our facilities in Mora (Toledo), Algeciras (Cádiz) and Barcelona, and we’re building another two in Poblete (Ciudad Real) and Arahal (Seville). There are also plans to build another one in Hallen (the United Kingdom).

The goal with these infrastructures is to contribute to our sustainability strategy: we’re working to reduce our emissions by 68% by 2030 and become a ‘zero emissions’ company by 2040. That’s why we’re adding new technological developments, diversifying our energy supply sources and developing initiatives associated with eco-fuels and other vectors such as hydrogen. We’re making progress on our sustainability!

EXOLUM HAS IMPROVED ITS GRESB SCORE IN 2023

Exolum received five stars on the GRESB 2023 Sustainability Index with a score of 97 out of 100 points, five more than last year. We’ve become leaders in maintenance and operation within the natural resource transport company sector.

A team from Sonangol, from the Luanda airport (Angola) visited our facilities in Lisbon.

A VISIT FROM SONANGOL EMPLOYEES IN LISBON

We’re creating closer ties with Angola. A group of six employees from the Angolan fuel company Sonangol (Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola) visited our facilities at the Lisbon airport where they received training.

Daniel Fomperosa, Lisbon Terminal Manager, was the host. In addition to an informational chat, the participants were able to go out into the plant to gain a better understanding of fuel receipt, storage and delivery operations through hydrants and refuelling units. They also visited the control room where they were able to see how the airport system works. For Daniel, “the day was a complete success and allowed the Angolan operators the chance to reinforce their knowledge.”

FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN PANAMA

Five years ago we began operating at Tocumen, Panama’s main airport, providing operations, maintenance and into-plane fuelling services. This international project was Exolum’s first in the Americas and since then, we’ve become present at another six airports in the same country as well as in Guayaquil (Ecuador) and soon Lima (Peru). The Panama team celebrated with a very special lunch during which they were able to share anecdotes from the past five years, which we hope will be the first of a long history in this Central American country. Congrats to everyone!

WE GAVE OUT THE INFO-EXOLUM ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARDS IN MURCIA

Yet another year again, we sponsored the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards along with INFO, the Region of Murcia Development Institute. Javier Alonso, Global HSSE & Technology Lead, was responsible for giving out one of the awards in addition to accepting recognition from the Regional Ministry of the Economy, Taxation and Business for our history and ties to these awards for eight years now. Congratulations!

A team from the United Kingdom has visited Barcelona. We’re learning together!

We’re diverse yet one. At Exolum, we share best practices that enrich all of us. To get to know us better, colleagues from the United Kingdom visited the Barcelona facility.

Visiting various Exolum facilities throughout the world allows us to create closer relationships and work in the same direction. A team from the United Kingdom, including Lee Wilson, Neil Stennett, Graham Bell, Ryan O’Donnell, Laura Blackburn, Courtney Wells, Victoria Napier and Glenn MacDonald, visited our infrastructures in Barcelona. José Ramón Guijarro, Head of the Barcelona facility, Santiago Moya, Cristina Cabo and Rosa Pavón welcomed them as hosts.

Our colleagues from the United Kingdom and Barcelona exchanged ways of working

José Ramón Guijarro explained that the team “wanted to get to know our infrastructure not only as concerns the size and activity, but also the different departments”. Our colleagues from the United Kingdom toured the facility and got a first-hand look at all the operational processes such as vessel and lorry loading and unloading as well as the quality laboratory.

The goal behind these visits is to share knowledge and learn from each other. “The group from the United Kingdom met with the facility management and were able to gain in-depth knowledge of our way of working,” says José Ramón.

The visit was a chance for both teams to make connections, even to the point of suggesting the idea of doing a return visit to get to know the organization and coordination of operations and security measures at the United Kingdom facilities. And, of course, to keep people in contact with each other.

We Attended the XII Annual Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK Gala Dinner

Nacho Casajús, NWE Lead de Exolum, was one of the guests at the XII annual Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK gala dinner. Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Chamber of Spain in the United Kingdom, Eduardo Barrachina; the Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, José Pascual Marcos; the Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, Ralph Smith, as well as 300 representatives of the British government and the main British and Spanish companies.

OUR EXPERT

An improved SCADA system for our Pipeline Control Centre in Spain

José Antonio de la Fuente
OT Service Lead

The SCADA at our Pipeline Control Centre is a powerful computer system that allows us to remotely control and manage our pipeline network in Spain. To achieve more faster, more efficient and safer management, we’ve recently installed the fourth generation.

Different oil products, such as gasoline, diesel oil, biofuels and kerosene, are transported through the Exolum pipeline network from the refineries to the main points of consumption. The products circulate through the same pipes, certain products right behind others, meaning they must be properly managed to arrive in optimal conditions.

SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) is the system that allows us to operate our pipeline network in Spain remotely and in a centralized manner from a single control centre, located San Fernando de Henares (Madrid), which is operative 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Each operator manages more than 1,000 km of the pipeline and it’s only possible due to our high level of task automation and alerts, and because we have well-trained and highly-qualified operators.

Fourth generation SCADA

To stay on the cutting edge, we’ve recently installed the fourth generation. The first solution was implemented in 1991, and we’ve been improving it for more than 30 years now.

Each SCADA version is more complex and powerful than the previous one: technology changes very quickly and the continuity of our systems must be ensured by guaranteeing support and maintenance for all parts.

What the new system offers

The fourth generation SCADA offers greater operational agility because the systems gain in speed, availability and in cybersecurity, which is one of our priorities.

It also boosts the exploitation of operational data. We’ve added new functional features, such as data integration capabilities (to become a data-driven company) and flexibility managing zones controlled by each operator, a characteristic we were missing during the COVID isolation periods, which is now integrated.

Plus, the new version simplifies maintenance processes and facilitates the implementation of new automation solutions and future updates.

Teamwork

Participating in the SCADA update were mainly the Operations Pool, OT and Infrastructure IT/OT teams, in addition to end customers. The award phase also involved incredible work by Procurement. In all, completing the entire project took our teams a year and a half of work.

What excites us

EXOLUM-LIVE

Get to know our new Competency Model

At Exolum, we want to successfully overcome the changes in the sector. To do so, we need tools that help us work as a team and grow professionally and personally. This was the goal behind our all-new Competency Model.

The new Competency Model is one of the tools Exolum provides so all of us can reach our goals in a transforming process. “Competencies are a series of pieces much like a Rubik’s cube: everything must fit perfectly together. All the pieces are important, just like in a team,” indicates Claudia Bello, COE Talent Management.

To this end, we can define these competencies as a set of behaviours, skills and attitudes that are identifiable and measurable, allowing a person to effectively perform their work. We all have innate competencies that we contribute in our day-to-day at work and within the organization, but we must have an umbrella so we can focus on those that everyone must develop in order to make faster progress.

Above, former basketball player Fernando Romay, and our CEO, Jorge Lanza, during the presentation in Madrid. Below, the gathering that took place in London.

Julie Cloutier
NWE People Lead

“With this new model,
we all win”

Claudia Bello
COE Talent Management

“Competencies are a roadmap to know how
to do things”

A road to personal growth

At Exolum, we needed a change in model because our environment is evolving as is our company. “We have experienced transformations in the company size, geographical reach, product diversification to name just a few. That’s why we also updated and built One common (One Exolum) competency model to improve performance and attract and retain talent”, says Julie Cloutier, NWE People Lead.

The all-new Competency Model is the result of contributions by many people. It’s led by the People projects team and by a consulting firm that specializes in Human Resources. There were sessions with Jorge Lanza, our CEO; Nacho Casajús, NWE Region Lead; and Jorge Guillén, Spain Region Lead. Meetings were organized with the EXCO and LTs from Spain Region and NWE in addition to interviews with reference employees. Likewise, a benchmarking study was done to observe the competencies most highly in demand in the market with contrast sessions.

Claudia clarifies that “certain levels will be established for each competency with the level required for each job defined. As a whole, it’s a roadmap to know how to do things. How they’re developed depends on each one of us.

What these competencies will be used for

This Model has one aim: to have a team of people who are better prepared to face the challenges of the present and future, by facilitating their development and growth. We’ll also use these seven competencies to have shared and inclusive language that integrates all cultural perspectives where we operate and spread awareness for and manage the skills we need to meet our strategic goals and overcome the challenges we face.

Other uses include aligning our people management with the corporate transformation process; fostering a productive and satisfactory work atmosphere for all employees, and managing people (hiring, evaluating, promoting and developing) using the same criteria.

As Julie underlines, “this new model concerns us all, some competencies we have developed already and others that may require a little more focus. But we are all going to win”.

THE 7 COMPETENCIES

We care. I get ahead, identify and solve my internal and external customers’ needs.
We do. I proactively face opportunities and challenges with energy and enthusiasm, and take responsibility for my actions.
We connect. I listen, share information and communicate clearly, transparently and openly.
We include. I welcome, respect and value the uniqueness of all people.
We get together. I actively collaborate with other people to achieve shared goals.
We inspire confidence through trust. I act with integrity and in coherence with our values and comply with all commitments undertaken.
We think different. I contribute, explore and experiment with new approaches to challenges without being worried about being mistaken.

And this is how we told you about it…

To implement the Competency Model, we organized presentation meetings in Spain and in the United Kingdom.

At the Madrid headquarters, we enjoyed the presence of a Spanish basketball legend, Fernando Romay, who highlighted the importance of working as a team and valuing the differences between all teammates.

In London, Rich Pratley, Air Vice Marshal with the British Ministry of Defence, one of Exolum’s major customers, was the one who highlighted the importance of teams and leadership.

Above, former basketball player Fernando Romay, and our CEO, Jorge Lanza, during the presentation in Madrid. Below, the gathering that took place in London.

SEE IT AGAIN!

MEETING...

“Capturing an image is inspiring”

Ángel Ordóñez has been at Exolum for 14 years in a very specialized role. However, in his free time, he’s developed a great passion for ten years now: photography. In this interview, he talks about his most artistic side.

He joined Exolum in May 2009 (then known as CLH) as a Fuel Delivery Supervisor in the Quality Department, a job that is now the equivalent of Fuel Receipt Technician. To receive Quality training, he spent three weeks at the central laboratory in Torrejón, in Madrid, and still has good memories of that time: “A wonderful team with a very state-of-the-art worksite. I fell upon a fascinating world.” Ever since then, he’s been doing very technical work. Off the job, Ángel is a person with all sorts of interests: sports, humanitarian… but above all, artistic.

Ángel Ordóñez Herrera

Fuel Receipt Technician in Algeciras

What do you do now?

My position covers two very different things. On the one hand, heavy and clear fuel receipt operations at the Algeciras terminal through tanker vessels and pipes, doing work such as being the loading master, supervising the all-around as far as the delivery plan, plant operations, customer coordination, into-vessel fuelling work as concerns quantities, quality and in-plant control.

And the second part?

It’s related to fuel delivery operations from the Cepsa Gibraltar-San Roque energy park to our logistics network by pipeline or loading into tanker vessels, along with coordination work with customers and supervising delivery schedules, analytical quality control, supervising quantities and customs documentation associated with each operation, product certification and correct deliveries in time and form. All internal and external customer coordination.

I also handle the supervision of ship unloading operations at the Motril facility and military deliveries through the pipeline to the Rota naval base for Americans.

Do you have any special hobbies for your free time?

I do sports, especially all water sports like recreational diving and surfing; winter sports like skiing, hiking/trekking, and daily things like going to the gym, biking, running… Whatever comes my way. I also really like reading novels and non-fiction books. The last thing I read was the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. It was amazing.

You began volunteering for the Red Cross last summer.

That’s right. I spend some of my time on projects associated with employment, the environment and digital teaching and training.

But there’s something very much present in your life: photography.

Of course! My eyes are always wide open. Photography is one of my main leitmotivs for traveling. Photography is an artform that requires dedication. I forget about everything else when I’m focusing on the shutter.

Did someone get you into this or was it spontaneous?

I started out because a former colleague, later a friend of mine, encouraged me to enrol in a beginner’s course. He was a source of inspiration for a type of art that is undeservingly becoming less relevant nowadays. The prestige of quality images is dropping as there’s this belief “we’re all photographers” just because we’ve got a mobile on hand.

What do you like most about taking photos?

What I like most is getting away from reality and fully concentrating on capturing the best image. I focus on getting the right take, proper composition and best light. It’s a time of abstraction, inspiration and happiness.

How would you define your style?

Documental. From landscapes (nature, urban) to street photography, as well as more abstract, intense and personal work with deeply-rooted feelings. It all depends on the place, my own mood and stage in life.

"What I like most is getting away from reality and fully concentrating on capturing the best image"

A DREAM COME TRUE

Ángel’s dream of exhibiting came true in December He did it in his native city of Algeciras with the ‘2M20_1.RAW’ project on the two years of the pandemic. Now he’s planning on exhibiting “something a bit emotionally lighter”: a project on his trip to Iceland for which he is currently in contact with various exhibition rooms and galleries.

For more on his work, go to his Instagram account: @angel_o.h_photo

IN FOUR LINES

A place:
Madrid.

A food:
Tuna from my hometown [Algeciras, Cádiz].

A song:
‘Something’ by The Beatles.

A film:
‘Manhattan’ by Woody Allen.

TransformACTION

GROW

We’ve received new certifications for our activities

The Aviation team has earned ISO 166002:2021 certification for its R&D&I Management System covering aviation technology, oil technology, sustainable biofuels and fuels, and the development of fuel storage and delivery, and resource planning software.

Our Aviation colleagues have also received UNE 50001:2018 certification for their energy management activities at their main building and for the distribution and storage of fuels as well as into-plane fuelling at the Barcelona airport.

Moreover, our storage and aviation facilities in Spain have been granted ISCC EU, Plus and Corsia certification. With these accreditations, we’ve become the only operator that can certify SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) traceability in Spain, a guarantee that favours companies with their own aircraft fleet which would like to reduce their CO₂ emissions and prove the quantity of SAF they consume either voluntarily or as part of an obligation.

Congratulations to the colleagues who have made it possible!

We’ve become members of IndesIA

Our commitment to the digitalization and transformation of Exolum through new technologies has a new name: IndesIA. This association, which was created in 2021 and which we recently joined, aims to encourage the use of data and artificial intelligence in the Spanish industrial sector and position Spain as a benchmark to boost the country’s economic development. To date, more than thirty companies have joined this project including ours as well as others such as Sacyr, Enagás and Naturgy.

xpirit

The home straight for completing the year’s projects

It’s almost time to close our 2023 projects and we believe it’s a good time to take a look at the role of Sponsors and Project Leads.

WHAT IS A PROJECT LEAD?

The PO (Project Owner) is the person actually responsible for getting a project done.

He/she belongs to the area that executes the plan and is the person who receives the vision from a Sponsor to correctly execute it, as well as transfer it to the executing team. It’s a single person, not a committee, who can have no other role for the same project. This person is the owner of the product.

His/her responsibilities:

Gathering the needs from customers and stakeholders (the areas involved) and establishing the business priorities with the team.
Being the customer’s voice with the execution team and the sole liaison with them.
Handling compliance and updates of the project data sheet in conjunction with the Sponsor.
Remaining responsible for prioritizing backlogs (lists of work to be done).
Approving increases in the value committed in each sprint (delivery of value).
Showing sufficient autonomy to carry out the project execution.

WHAT IS A SPONSOR?

He/she performs a fundamental role in a project lifecycle. This person belongs to the area with the need, defines the objective and supports the execution of the plan throughout the entire lifecycle. The Sponsor evaluates the results achieved by the Project Lead and his/her team in accordance with the criteria for success originally defined.

His/her responsibilities:

Defining the targets and criteria for success for the project along with the Project Lead.
Helping identify and mitigate risks and any barriers that may exist.
Having a sufficient level of authority to support the team with the execution of the project.
Remaining responsible to clear up conflicts and approve variations in the project goals.
Providing guidance to the Project Lead to maximize the likelihood of the success of the project.
Participating in the identification of Lessons Learnt.
Performing an overall assessment of the result of the project.

NETWORKING

Cybersecurity begins with physical security

In an ever more digitalized world, we can’t forget that physical security continues to be essential. We receive training to prevent cyberattacks yet physical failures can be the door to unlawful activities. Learn to protect yourself!

A large portion of companies’ physical assets have become digital. In order to keep them safe, we have to be prepared to prevent cyberthreats yet all such precautions must always be accompanied by physical security. Reinforcing it is essential at offices and our facilities. Never let your guard down!

Why physical security is essential

We must take even more precautions to avoid any unauthorized access to our work areas. If an individual with bad intentions takes a corporate device such as a laptop, the likelihood of accessing delicate information and improperly using it multiplies.

There may also be information or credential losses or leaks if information is stored on physical elements, such as notebooks and diaries. That’s why it’s important to keep them in a secure place and never leave them in plain view.

How to protect our facilities and offices

The best way to stay safe is for employees and people from other companies or visitors to follow all access and identification rules.

That’s why everyone external to Exolum must wear their identification cards in a visible place and know and follow all safety instructions. Remember that visitors must always be accompanied by Exolum personnel and may not access restricted areas without express authorization.

All employees at headquarters must also wear their cards in a visible place at all times and must report anyone suspicious or who is not wearing identification to Security.

Your desk is full of information

Desks with computers are also information areas as we handle emails, reports, contracts, presentations as well as paper documents. Remember that it’s essential to keep your desk clean: you have to be careful with notebooks, diaries and documents, and take precautions like these:

When you print something, get it off the printer right away.
Keep your corporate devices and storage devices in a secure place.
If you’re going to be absent from your workstation for some time, lock your computer session to prevent other people from sitting down and accessing the information.

Don’t leave any important documents within view on your desk.

Know the nature of all documents

Responsible information management is everyone’s work. Identifying, classifying and labelling documents based on their type helps improve data security and privacy. Information may be:

Public: disclosing this information does not involve damage and may even be desirable.
Reserved: information needed for proper performance of Exolum tasks and business, which must never leave the company without control.
Confidential: information that must only be known by one department or team, not all the organization. Disclosing it may have a minor short-term impact on operations or objectives.
Secret: information that must only be known to a small group of people. Disclosing it may make a serious impact on the company’s strategic goals or put our survival at risk.

TRENDS

CRISTINA SÁNCHEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT SPANISH NETWORK

“Sustainability is already being seen as a competitive value”

There are only seven years left before 2030, the date established by the United Nations to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a challenge that affects all aspects of life. Cristina Sánchez, who tirelessly fights against inequalities, talks to us about these challenges.

She’s passionate about defending sustainability. Cristina Sánchez found her true vocation in the UN Global Compact for Spain. As Executive Director, she leads teams, forges strategic alliances and actively searches for new partners to join the cause. Cristina incarnates the vision and passion needed to build a fairer and more sustainable world.

We’ve just commemorated the 8th anniversary of the 2030 Agenda. Can the 17 SDGs be met in seven years?

The honest thing would be to acknowledge that, for now, we’re not on the right path to achieving them. Only 15% of the 169 goals comprising the SDGs are showing satisfactory progress. But there’s still hope we’ll get achieve many of them, if not all of them.

What should worry people the most?

This figure: 37% of the goals are showing a lack of progress and even regression. But rather than discourage us, it should make us speed up our actions and ambition to achieve these Goals. The UN Global Compact isn’t giving up and we don’t want anyone else to either.

On what aspects has there been more progress?

In health and wellbeing (SDG 3), where 146 of the 200 countries assessed are on the road to reducing child mortality; access to energy (SDG 7), as the proportion of the world’s population with access to electricity has increased from 87% in 2015 to 91% in 2021, and in aspects related to water and sanitation (SDG 6), innovation (SDG 9) and reporting on sustainability (SDG 12).

Which SDG is in the most urgent need of action?

Although we always talk about climate change as the most urgent challenge,

and it continues to be true, there are other areas that require immediate attention such as the eradication of poverty and hunger: 575 million people will continue living in situations of extreme poverty in 2030 and the world has returned to hunger levels not seen since the year 2005.

Do you think companies are showing greater awareness of the 2030 Agenda?

There’s no doubt about it. Companies are playing a fundamental role as levers of change. In just four years, we’ve gone from knowledge among the private sector of 69% to 86% and practically 9 out of 10 companies are taking actions with a positive impact on the SDGs. Sustainability is now seen as a competitive value.

How is the energy sector, where Exolum operates, contributing to the SDGs?

This sector is decisive to achieving a more sustainable system for several reasons: the main one is the weight it has on our economy as it represents 3% of the GDP. On the other hand, because energy and natural resources are the foundation for all other sectors. Not surprisingly, SDG 7 (Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all) ranks fourth as far as the work being done by Spanish companies irrespective of their size or sector. Energy is also a key pillar of one of the major sustainable development goals: climate action.

What can average citizens do?

As citizens, we can all contribute to sustainable development by being conscious consumers. “This means choosing environmentally-friendly products that are produced in an ethical manner and foster fair labour practices,” says Cristina. All the little day-to-day decisions add up: how we get around, the education we receive, the values we support. “In the end, the 2030 Agenda is the agenda for humanity. It’s designed so people can live better and with more rights,” she concludes.

Committed to the SDGs

At Exolum, we joined the celebration of the 8th anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the UN by proudly displaying our commitment to the SDGs on the facade of our headquarters in Madrid. As members of the United Nations Global Compact Spanish Network and at the equator of the 2030 Agenda, we continue to drive this shared challenge of sustainability to reach the goals to end poverty, reduce inequalities and protect the planet.

Safety and health

Safety

Cooperating to work safer

At Exolum, we prioritize safety wherever we have infrastructures. To reinforce this, we collaborate with local organizations.

The Santovenia facility participated in a self-protection day

Our Santovenia facility (Valladolid) participated in a Castilla y León Self-Protection Promotion Plan conference promoted by the Civil Protection services to reveal and disseminate among companies the measures included in this Plan, which applies the Seveso accident prevention regulation.

Participating in the meeting was our Santovenia team, represented by Pablo Malo, the facility head, who reported on our self-protection plan. Forty people attended the conference including the Director of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Agency of the Regional Government of Castilla y León, Irene Cortés Calvo, and the Head of Civil Protection, Isabel Lorenzo Vicente, as well as risk specialists from Seveso companies.

“It’s a very good opportunity to debate safety with the teams that participate in emergency drills when the External Emergency Plan is activated,” explains Pablo Malo.

Asturias firefighters visited our Gijón facility

Different shifts of firefighters from the Principality of Asturias Emergency Service (SEPA) recently visited our Gijón facility to gain in-depth knowledge of the emergency drills we regularly carry out.

The visits were quite practical and aimed at intervention: accesses to the facility, risks and the products stored, the location of critical zones, coordination with our personnel and emergency operations. What’s more, they were shown the most vulnerable areas and coordination methods to be used with our intervention personnel.

Thanks to all of you for your commitment to safety!

WEllness

There is no health without mental health

One out of eight people in the world has some type of mental health issue, according to the World Health Organization. Companies can help spread awareness and prevent. At Exolum, we’re committed to your emotional wellness.

Looking after our emotional wellness is essential to enjoying a full life. Talking about mental health on the job may have seemed taboo until now. But “companies play a fundamental role in this matter,” as indicated by Pilar Castelao, a psychologist at Stimulus, a consulting firm that specializes in the prevention of psychosocial risks at the workplace with which Exolum has just started up a new emotional wellness service.

“More and more organizations are committing the goal of spreading awareness and developing skills related to mental health to prevent possible complications among their employees,” says this expert. With 30 years of experience, Stimulus says the most common reasons for consultations are usually anxiety, depressive moods, uncertainty, a lack of social support, interpersonal conflicts, the loss of loved ones, addictions, sleep disorders and stress, whether deriving from work or any type of personal situation.

Am I suffering from stress or anxiety?

Two of the most common disorders which are sometimes confused with stress and anxiety. Knowing the difference is important. Pilar Castelao clarifies, “When you’re stressed, you experience symptoms like irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive discomfort or difficulty sleeping in view of a demanding factor.” However, “when you’re anxious, you are constantly worried and your worries don’t disappear when the stressful factor goes away. ”We feel stress as our body’s response to a challenge or demand while we suffer anxiety in the form of persistent concerns and fears in view of what we interpret as dangers that may be occurring or may occur.

The important thing, Pilar points out, is sensitizing people and spreading awareness while never forgetting that “mental health is the foundation for individual wellness and effective community functioning”.

Tips for managing stress

If you believe you’re suffering from stress, Stimulus recommends “trying to adequately manage your thoughts associated with responsibility; dedicating time to doing gratifying activities; bringing past successes to mind when going through hardship, and always getting plenty of rest and sleep”. Some useful strategies are:

Maintaining a lifestyle with physical exercise and socialization.
Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, body awareness and progressive muscle relaxation.

Don’t let job-related anxiety paralyze you

Some factors that can lead to job anxiety include an organizational context that’s not very clear, a lack of control or recognition on the job and even conflictive relations at the workplace. To control your anxiety, Stimulus recommends:

Identifying your thoughts and emotions: what you’re feeling and where, what thoughts led to such emotion and what is maintaining it.
Give yourself positive self-instructions. Tell yourself things like “this is only a passing thing”.
Practice breathing
deeply and progressively relaxing your muscles.
Stop all thoughts that are ruminative
(obsessive) and restructure them as other more adaptive ones.
Activate your body (walk, talk with loved ones, read, etc.).

Involved

de&i

We’ve joined the Alliance for Vocational Training

We’re collaborating with the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to promote the creation of quality jobs for young people and foster their employment insertion.

In line with our commitment to creating quality jobs and fostering diversity, we’ve signed an agreement with the Spanish Ministry of Education to boost and develop vocational training in Spain: the ‘Alliance for Vocational Training’. This initiative is part of the Vocational Training Modernization Plan backed by the Government to consolidate effective, dynamic and excellent teaching.

At Exolum, we’re collaborating with this goal by fostering the growth of students on a personal and professional level through their insertion in the job market.

Cristina Jaraba, Global People Lead, highlighted our satisfaction with helping train the professionals of the future: “We have agreements with vocational training institution in different areas of the country where we are present so young professionals can do their internships with us and even join our company to begin developing a career at Exolum.”

“We have agreements so young professionals can do their internships with us and even join the company”

Cristina Jaraba

Global People Lead

We’ve adapted our website for the disabled

We’d like to share a milestone we’ve reached in diversity. Our website design has been enhanced to adapt it to meet the needs of people with visual or hearing disabilities as well as a diverse range of user profiles, such as those with epilepsy, a cognitive disability or ADHD. The website includes audio subtitles and descriptions, allows users to change the size and contrast of all text and features guides to guarantee the information is understood. Each person can browse as they need and prefer, and enjoy all the next-generation improvements in usability and web accessibility. It’s a whole new step towards becoming more inclusive!

49% of all new hires in technical positions in Spain were women

We’ve grown in equality. In 2022, nearly half of all vacancies in Spain for technical jobs were occupied by women. We’ve thus strengthened the presence of women in STEM professionals, one of our strategic pillars.

We’re committed to equal opportunities for everyone at Exolum. STEM fields, which refer to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, have been traditionally male-dominated and even more so in sectors such as energy. The ‘La Caixa’ Social Observatory indicates that in Spain only 16% of all professionals in these areas are women. However, at Exolum, 49% of all vacancies for technical positions were occupied by female talent in 2022. This is a positive figure that encourages us to continue promoting equality and diversity.

In line with this commitment to equal opportunities, we’re members of the Spanish Women in Energy Association (AEMENER) and the ‘STEAM Alliance for Female Talent. Girls in Science´, an initiative developed by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. We also participate in female talent development programmes in collaboration with business schools and associations.

Moreover, in an effort to guarantee plurality, our interviewing teams in the final phases of all job interviews are diverse and multidisciplinary. And, as a requirement, all shortlists aimed at covering the most relevant positions must include at least one person of the least represented gender in the team to be covered. Moreover, our Diversity Committee establishes monitoring indicators and supervises our performance in this area.

We believe diversity and equality are strategic pillars that contribute value and help us capture and retain talent. Diversity, as concerns STEAM or any other issue, is essential to enriching ourselves and making progress.

Diversity and equality are strategic pillars that contribute value and help us capture and retain talent

FEEL GREEN

Our climate neutrality goal has been moved up to 2040

One of our strategic objectives is to promote a sustainable energy transition and, to make progress toward this aim, we’ve got an ESG Framework Plan that will allow us to become a ‘Net Zero’ company by 2040, ten years before we originally thought would be possible.

The Exolum ESG Framework Plan is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of the Global Compact of which we are signatories. The main goal is to reduce our CO₂ emissions progressively: the

mid-term objective for 2030 is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 53% in comparison to the base year of 2018. We hope to be a ‘Net Zero’ company by 2040.

5 lines of action

The ESG Framework Plan demonstrates our commitment to driving the energy transition all while strengthening our values. It’s sustained on five cornerstones, the result of commitments to our stakeholders.

The diversification of our business
We foster new business in line with the energy transition. We seek new opportunities in industries and sectors linked to decarbonization and the circular economy, such as green hydrogen and advanced biofuel projects.
The transformation of our teams and corporate culture
We promote a leaner and more global model that encourages a sense of belonging. The Diversity Committee aims to guarantee diversity, equality and inclusion through annual plans. In 2027, we want 27% of all women to be holding management positions.
The search for excellence and zero damage to the environment
We seek operational excellence, progress towards a safe energy transition and the reduction of our carbon footprint to zero damage to the environment all while guaranteeing the security of our facilities, people and everything around us.
The creation of value for our stakeholders
We cooperate with our stakeholders to make a positive impact on the communities where we’re present. To do so, we’ve developed a broad Social Action Plan.
Governance and compliance
This fifth cornerstone is transversal. Our corporate governance is aligned with the company’s purpose, mission, vision and values, as well as best corporate practices. We promote a culture of transparency along with the strictest of ethical principles.

We invest in developing hydrogen logistics

Exolum and Vopak Ventures, the leader in tank storage, have entered the shareholding structure of HSL Technologies, a start-up that applies innovative and simple methods to transport and store hydrogen safely and efficiently on a large scale.

We remain committed to developing new energy vectors such as hydrogen with our entry, along with Vopak Ventures, in the shareholder structure of HSL Technologies. This French start-up has patented a technology to insert hydrogen molecules into a silica-based liquid support medium , which can release hydrogen on demand.

This carrier, known as HydroSil, is stable, non-toxic and non-hazardous, and can be safely transported and stored in infrastructures that already exist which are under pressure and at ambient temperature. This technology needs energy to keep the hydrogen in the carrier, but not to release it, which leads to energy savings.

Andrés Suárez, Global Strategy & Growth Lead, explains that this investment “is part of our strategy of business diversification and our decisive commitment to support entrepreneurs”.

On the other hand, Martijn Schouten, from Vopak Ventures, says this investment “fits very well into the company’s New Energies, Raw Materials and Sustainability fund”. Corine Dubruek, President and CEO of HSL Technologies, also mentioned her satisfaction by saying, “The investment by two important European leaders in logistics and storage will offer solid industrial and market experience.”

How HydroSil technology works

We’ve joined the Spanish Renewable Ammonia Association

As part of our commitment to the production of emissions-free ammonia as an alternative energy vector, we’ve joined the Spanish Renewable Ammonia Association (AEAR). The aim of AEAR is to contribute to the energy transition and promote actions that boost the entire renewable ammonia value chain. Renewable ammonia is a hydrogen derivative that is generated from the production of hydrogen with zero emissions. Renewable ammonia helps increase agricultural production (it’s the raw material used in fertilizers) and is an energy vector for transporting clean energy long distances and easily storing energy.

The Dublin refuelling station will replace diesel oil with HVO

Our Dublin airport facilities will be greener. In collaboration with the airport operator DAA, we’ve transformed the Dublin airport storage facility service station so all vehicles supplying aircraft with fuel use HVO (hydrogen-treated vegetable oil) to get around. This change will save 300,000 litres of diesel oil.

HVO is a low-carbon biofuel produced from plant-based waste, oils and grease. It’s another sustainable option with up to 90% less emissions that diesel oil.

Diego Abajo, the airport Terminal Manager explained, “This project was an incredible example of cooperation that not only benefitted Exolum and DAA, but also the airlines and other companies that refuel aircrafts operating at the Dublin airport, which will also benefit from this positive change.”

A healthy vegetable patch in Ecuador

As part of our commitment to minimizing our environmental impact, the Ecuador team sowed medicinal plants and palm trees at the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport fuel storage facility in Guayaquil. With this reforestation action, we’re helping absorb CO₂ and generate oxygen in order to win the fight against climate change and reduce air pollution.
Thanks to everyone who participated!

FEEL Better

We participated in a 5K Charity Run in Ecuador

Several colleagues in Ecuador recently participated in a 5K charity run organized by the Ser Feliz foundation, which has been promoting the integrated human development of children with cancer since the year 2012. Our colleagues ran each kilometre with lots of love and enthusiasm, proud to have done their own little part for this noble cause. Congratulations to all of you!

Collaborating with the RAF youth support programme

As members of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) Benefit Fund, we contributed to its youth support programme with a donation which allowed 78 children and young people, all children of active RAF personnel, enjoy a full programme of activities for five nights at Manor Adventure in the Shropshire County in Western England.

Nacho Casajús, NWE Lead, said, “We admire the Armed Forces and the service provided by RAF personnel and their families every single day. For this reason, it’s an honour for us to show our support and appreciation for their selfless work through these sponsorship activities.”

On bike through the United Kingdom for two good causes

Jez Blackburn, the husband of Laura Blackburn, Maintenance Specialist at Exolum, biked part of the United Kingdom to raise funds for Friends of Barnham School. With Laura and their three children as his support team, Jez completed the 952 miles (1,532 kilometres) from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a little more than 10 days and, thus raised more than 2,000 pounds (2,335 euros) for charity causes. Mark Staples also did 14 hours on bike to raise funds for The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust. Mark pedalled 200 miles (322 km) to raise 1,000 pounds (1,167 euros). Congrats to the two!

Charity litter pick-up

Jacob Liddell, the son of Scott Liddell, Terminal Controller at the Grangemouth plant, collected rubbish as a symbolic gesture encouraging others to keep the planet clean. With this action, Jacob raised funds for his Scout group, no. 115 from Fife (Scotland), thus promoting the education and life skills this group offers local children. Good job Jacob!

Sponsoring the Laceby under-9 football team

We’re pleased to have sponsored the under-9 football team in Laceby, near our Immingham facilities, in the United Kingdom, in which the son of Terminal Superintendent, Daniel Peck, plays. The under-9 team is new this season and now they’ve got new t-shirts and kits. Good luck to all of them!

A film to spread awareness for mental health

Douglas Byrne, Stock Controller at our Eastham terminal (United Kingdom), has filmed a movie called My Broken Sky on women’s mental health. Douglas is showing it for free at several venues to educate people on issues such as anxiety, depression, stress and agoraphobia, and spread awareness for the fact that support is available to overcome such situations.

You can see the film here

Celebrating Children’s Day in Ecuador

Our colleagues in Ecuador celebrated Children’s Day aimed at continuing to eliminate physical and social barriers, and encouraging diversity and the inclusion of children with special needs. The activities were carried out at the UEFE María Manuela Dominga de Espejo y Aldaz Public School, in the Samborondón district of Guayaquil (Ecuador). Children, teachers, families and Exolum representatives had lunch and participated in a festive day during which the little ones received gifts and enjoyed a fun-filled programme.

Exolum, the champion of the corporate softball league in Panama

The DHL Panama and Exolum Panama teams fought for the H.R. Sucre Cup Softball League title at the Los Almendros Sports Complex. The Exolum team won the league 15-6. Congratulations to all of you!

Discover

Is there only one moon?

Blue moons, wolf moons, harvest moons… Have you noticed how our satellite gets more and more nicknames all the time? One of the nicknames that gets the most attention is “super moon”, which is when a full moon is closest to our planet. Other phenomena are known as blue moons, which refers to two full moons occurring in the same month (something that happens every two years); a wolf moon is the first full moon of the year; and then there’s the harvest moon which is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. And there are many others, such as a flower moon, hunter’s moon, rose moon, strawberry moon, deer moon, sturgeon moon… So, who was it that said there’s only one moon?

The ART of CURATIVE WORDS: learning from Japanese culture

Although people say a picture is worth a thousand words, those of us who write Connexion know some terms are worth more than a thousand photographs or videos. One clear example can be found in Japanese philosophy, which has got words that are full of meaning and wisdom and boost serenity and personal growth. Which inspires you the most?

Shinrinyoku:

Literally ‘forest bath’. It’s the practice of immersing yourself in nature to calm and clear the mind and regain vital energy.

Yūgen:

Understanding that which is mysterious, sublime and unfathomable. It invites you to perceive beauty in all things subtle and reflect upon your own existence and the purpose of life.

Kaizen:

The philosophy of continuous improvement in all areas of life. It’s based on little changes and constant adjustments to achieve great improvements in the long-term.

Wabi-sabi:

The beauty of what’s imperfect, ephemeral and transitory. It teaches you to appreciate perfection in things that are incomplete and find peace through acceptance.

Kokoro:

The heart, spirit and very essence of a person. It represents the connection between the body, mind and emotions, and encourages us to live in accordance with our deepest values.

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