logo

Share this issue of conneXion and promote the pleasure of reading

We want to hear you

comunicacion.interna@exolum.com

Welcome Rosa García, our new Chair #exolumEnRed

All content copyright © 2021 Exolum. All content is credited to their respective contributors. You may not use the material for commercial purposes or reuse the content in any form without permission.

In this issue

PUBLISHED BY

Exolum

Management and coordination:

Mavi de Lamor
Carmen Arroyo

Consultancy, editing and design:

ATREVIA Publicaciones

In this issue we hear from:

Alan Edwards
Alejandro Buendía
Andrés Suárez
Carlos Acosta
Charlene Samshuijzen
Daniel Casas
David Muñoz
Federico Merizalde
Felipe Rayo
Fernando García
Gorka Penalva
José Luis Conde
Marta Casamayor
Mikel García Gasteminza
Pablo Pérez
Sam Milward
Víctor Montaño

Editorial

A Pleasure and an Honour

“My most sincere thanks to all the people who have walked alongside me throughout all this time”

Someone once said, ‘if you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together‘. And, after all these years of life and in this noble profession, I believe it’s true.

I began my career in the 1970s, first at CAMPSA, then at Repsol and, later, at Gas Natural, now known as Naturgy, to finally come back as Chairman in 2005 to my former home, CAMPSA, which first became CLH and is now Exolum, a leading sector company which is already present in eight countries. 

My career has always been linked to energy and, especially, the development of infrastructures that guarantee the supply and distribution of fuels which are essential to the economic development of Spain and any other country in the world. Having contributed to all that makes me tremendously proud.

 

Over these more than 50 years, I have always done what I believed I should do in each period of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed each of them. The values of hard work, effort and merit have helped me get to where I am today. But, as I mentioned before, it would not have been at all the same without the people who have accompanied me at every step, without the power of a team. Now, when I look back, it is so very satisfying to see everything we have achieved together, and that’s why I wish to give my most sincere thanks to all the people who have walked alongside me throughout all this time.

I firmly believe that there’s a time for everything in life. Mine as Chairman of Exolum has come to an end and I’m passing the baton on to Rosa García with the satisfaction of having fulfilled

my obligations and I trust that she is the right person to keep the company going. As the honorary chairman, I’ll have the privilege of staying by your side, offering everything I can to make this shared project even bigger.

Thank you to everyone for all these wonderful years. Thank you Exolum. Best wishes always. 

About us

We move on

Thanks for everything, José Luis

After 16 years as Chairman, José Luis López de Silanes is handing the baton over to Rosa García and leaving behind a brilliant era of success and transformation even though he will continue to be connected to Exolum as the Honorary Chairman.

The year 2021 will be memorable in the history of our company due to our achievements. First came the brand change which started the Exolum era with the aim of integrating all of our companies into a single global organization. Now, it’s time to say goodbye to José Luis López de Silanes, who is leaving his office after 16 years as Chairman. Having recently turned 75 years old, and after an extensive career of more than 50 years, with more than 40 connected to the company, José Luis will now become the honorary Chairman of Exolum.

His leadership, experience and knowledge have allowed the company to become the sector leader it is today

A Born Leader

Ever since his term began in 2005, he has always demonstrated great professionalism and a vision for the future. He drove the change and transformation of CLH to turn it into a modern, international company with immense financial support so that it could embark upon ambitious projects. Automation, business diversification and the development of the first projects outside Spain are just a few examples of his many achievements.

 

The transition to Exolum is the culmination of an impeccable period full of successes as well as great challenges throughout which his leadership, experience and knowledge have allowed the company to become the sector leader it is today.

Dear Honorary Chairman, it has been a source of real pride to rely on you over all this time.  We wish you the best.
You deserve it.

A Great Professional and the Best Riojan

José Luis López de Silanes is a brilliant person, as he already proved as the top student of his Industrial Engineering graduating class. In 1970, he was a professor at the Higher School of Industrial Engineering in Madrid and, one year later, he joined CAMPSA where he held various positions reflecting the talent of a leader capable of achieving great things. In 1993, he went to Repsol where he integrated the technical areas of the Group’s companies. In 1996, he was named Managing Director of Natural Gas Supply and Transport and Managing Director of Enagás, becoming the CEO of both three years later. In 2005, he became the Chairman of CLH and the rest is history. But what he feels most proud of is his birth in Haro and his status as a Distinguished Riojan, always willing to collaborate with his homeland and promote its many virtues.

Welcome to Exolum, Rosa

We’re well aware at Exolum that times are changing. For the first time in our almost 100 years of history, a woman is going to be the Chair of the company. Her name is Rosa García and she’s taking on the challenge with vigour and excitement.

The world never stops and we don’t either at Exolum. As we say goodbye to José Luis López de Silanes as Chairman, we’re warmly and affectionately welcoming Rosa García, who takes over this office, who we hope has great success in this new professional period and we trust will lead us towards an even more prosperous future.

During the appointment ceremony, the new Chairwoman thanked López de Silanes for “his dedication and commitment to the company” and said she felt deep “pride at taking the baton from the hands of a person who has dedicated his entire career to building the company which is now called Exolum”.

Rosa is the epitome of this new era at the company. She’s an amazing woman who has earned an incredible reputation in the business world for her dedication and courage. Now, she will use all of her experience to help the organization with the aim of reinforcing its governance and institutional presence. Reviewing at her professional history, it is clear to us that she’s going to be very successful.

All of this experience will be crucial to successfully facing future challenges

International Experience

With a degree in Maths from the Autonomous University of Madrid, she has more than 30 years of experience in multinational environments in different sectors such as energy, infrastructures and information technologies. Standing out in her long career is a period at Microsoft’s central headquarters in the United States where she was Director of Corporate Strategic Projects alongside CEO and Chairman Steve Ballmer.  Later on, she was Chairwoman of Microsoft Iberia for eight years. Afterwards, between 2011 and 2018, she was Chairwoman and CEO of Siemens in Spain. Rosa also has more than ten years of experience in non-executive management positions at IBEX companies like Banesto, Acerinox and Bankinter, and is currently a member of the Mapfre, EDPR and Sener boards of directors. 

All of this experience will be crucial to successfully facing future challenges and being able to continue guiding Exolum towards sector leadership. We’re rooting for you, Rosa.

Would you like to know a little more about our new Chairwoman? There’s an interview with her on the Exolum Channel on the Contigo Portal

 

We move on

Hello Future - Welcome!

Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” And that is the key to everything in each one of us. At Exolum, we want to improve the world through innovative solutions.  To get there, we must use our five senses and offer our very best. Only then will we be able to make progress, grow and guarantee a sustainable future for the company and the planet.

This simple yet ambitious and challenging idea is the foundation for our future. We want to continue to be leaders and relevant, strengthen our business and develop new areas of activity. In short, we want to be the best. And that’s why we say: “Hello Future – Welcome!”

The Path to Follow

We’ve set out certain growth goals that will guide our steps over the coming years. The first one is to keep on enhancing our efficiency to optimize all of our activities. At the same time, we seek to expand our business by diversifying our traditional activities, providing new services and increasing our presence

in the markets where we’re already operating as well as in new areas.

Yes, we want to grow; however, we want to do so responsibly. In our business, responsibility means being as safe as possible and leaving the smallest footprint possible on the environment. It also means being an example of management, ethics and good governance. And, of course, responsibility for our people to whom we offer an equal-opportunity, diverse and integrative work environment in which to grow alongside the company.

Finally, we need financial muscle to carry out our plans. The objective is to double our investment efforts of recent years in order to take on our future challenges with assurance.

What are we going to do?

IMPROVE WHAT WE HAVE

More efficiency

We must continue applying the latest technologies in order to streamline our operations and maintain our leadership position in the sector of efficiency. The next step is to scale digitalization to the entire workforce. Likewise, we must finish integrating our new subsidiaries by unifying the way in which we work.

More business around our existing assets

We want to expand our product and service portfolio at our facilities through biofuels, new chemical products or , for example, by converting our refineries into new infrastructures and other adjacent industries.

GROW

Opportunities outside our current arena

We are going to study the possibility of purchasing or developing assets in new markets, both in the field of chemicals logistics as well as in aviation.

Diversification

We’re already developing specific projects to boost the decarbonization of transport (hydrogen, SAF etc.) and support a circular economy. In addition, we’ll continue exploring new areas of business.

How are we going to do it?

RESPONSIBLY

Excellence in safety and environmental protection

We’ve set demanding goals like reducing our carbon footprint quickly and significantly (50% less by 2025 in comparison to 2018) and continuing to strengthen our commitment to people and asset safety.

Excellence and risk management

We’ll focus on ESG criteria to make the best decisions on environmental, social and corporate governance issues, thereby strengthening our positioning and minimizing the risks associated with our activities.

WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MOTIVATED

A cultural transformation

We’ll continue working so that Exolum can become a truly unique company with a global vision, a shared work method and a lean, diverse and inclusive culture.

Ready for challenges

We want to boost people’s skills and abilities so that we can overcome the challenges on the way.

People are key to Exolum success

In order to fulfil our aims, we at Exolum must put forward our best selves, both personally and professionally. It’s important in this new era to be as flexible as possible, look at things from a different point of view, think out of the box and always be results-oriented.

up to date

Alliance with CEPSA to Build a Logistics Hub in Huelva

We’ve signed a joint venture with Cepsa in which we’ll be jointly investing 52 million euros to build a new mooring facility to store and distribute bulk liquid energy and other compatible resources at the Huelva Foreign Trade Port. This project will allow us to increase our logistics service offer as well as enhance the provision of sustainable services for Spanish refinery exporting and international trading. Likewise, the new mooring facility will prevent ships from having to be anchored while waiting for others to be released.

The British Embassy in Spain Awards Our Growth in the United Kingdom

The British Embassy in Spain acknowledged our growth in the United Kingdom at the 2nd UK-Spain Business Awards event. Jorge Lanza, CEO of Exolum, and Nacho Casajús, NWE Region Lead, underlined that this award means we continue to move forward towards innovation, growth and the company’s internationalization.  It is no doubt an incentive to keep on working with enthusiasm and dedication.  Thank you to all our colleagues in the United Kingdom!

WIN4H2, Our Bet for Green Hydrogen

We continue reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and the new energy vectors. Along with Naturgy and Enagás, we’ve created the WIN4H2 project aimed at developing green hydrogen production, distribution and supply infrastructures in the mobility sector in Spain. It’s the first major hydrogen alliance for mobility corridors which will promote a network of 50 hydrogen stations to offer homogeneous penetration in the country and enable the establishment of national routes of guaranteed supply.

We’ve Joined the Platform to Promote Biofuels

At Exolum, we encourage the use of renewable and sustainable liquid fuels as a complementary means of decarbonization and, therefore, ATliq (the new name for Asterquigás which represents the company) has joined the Platform to Promote Biofuels comprised of 16 associations and more than 319,000 companies. Besides promoting this type of energy, the Platform aims to have it fully included in plans, regulatory frameworks and fiscal policies for the energy transition by establishing dialogue with governments, disseminating the benefits and encouraging sector competitiveness.

who we are

Operations Have Started at the WFS Station at the Guayaquil Airport in Ecuador

We began operations, maintenance and into-plane fuelling at the Guayaquil airport in 2019. Since that time, we’ve added new supply vehicles and made improvements to both the facility as well as in operations.

We just can’t stop! In Ecuador, we’ve begun operating at the service station owned by WFS (World Fuel Service) which is located inside the José Joaquín de Olmedo Guayaquil-Ecuador International Airport where we provide fuel supply services to various handling agents who assist the airlines operating at the airport on the ground.

Following the contract signed with WFS and the technical report previously completed, major progress has been made in infrastructures, procedures, personnel training and customer service. Thus, we’re able to provide more complete and comprehensive services.

New Large-Capacity Vehicles

RF703. Although it may sound very ‘Star Wars’, in all reality, it’s a new supply vehicle we recently began using at Exolum Ecuador with the capacity for no less than 26,500 litres (7,000 gallons) of JET A-1!

This vehicle has arrived to reinforce both commercial and general aviation fuel supply operations at the José Joaquín de Olmedo Guayaquil-Ecuador International Airport.

we’re able to provide more complete and comprehensive services

Using the Most Modern Hydrant in Latin America

Exolum has again proven we’re a benchmark company. After several long months of hard work, the new fuel supply system at the Tocumen airport in Panama is now up and running. Considering its features, technical advances and safety systems, it’s undoubtedly the most modern hydrant in Latin America.

A Boeing 737 Max-9 flying the Panama-Sao Paulo route was the first aircraft to be supplied by the new system which obviously provides a significant improvement in into-plane fuelling efficiency and safety. The experience and knowledge of our entire team involved with the project was key to its success. Congratulations!

The new system provides a significant improvement in into-plane fuelling efficiency and safety

We’ve Built a Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant for Energy Self-Consumption in Mora (Toledo)

This project is included in the Exolum Energy Efficiency Plan and will allow the company to decrease its CO2 emissions by 854 tonnes.

The primary objective of our sustainability strategy is to reduce our CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025 and become a ‘zero emissions’ company by 2050, in line with the December 2015 Paris Agreement (COP 21) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

That’s why we’ve decided to invest 2.5 million euros to build a photovoltaic self-consumption energy system on the grounds next to our Mora facility (Toledo). In all, 50,000 m2 of land and expected installed power of 4,213.44 kW, which will operate under a non-surplus self-consumption supply model.

This plant, which is expected to be operating next year, will allow us to have a 100% renewable energy supply, which is equivalent to 27% of the total electricity consumption of a pumping system, and will prevent the emission of some 854 tonnes of CO2 a year. So, what do you think of all this?  It’s obvious! Good ideas just keep coming at Exolum.

Collaborative Efforts

In order to build it, we will be collaborating with ISE (Ingenia Solar Energy), a Gransolar Group company which is responsible for the design, execution, operation and maintenance of the plant. BBVA will be financing the project through green credits. Environmental protection continues to be an essential part of our corporate strategy.

Environmental protection continues to be an essential part of our corporate strategy

An All-New FCC

After all, we have a new brand, a new magazine… and now, the Facility Control Centre team has an all-new location as it’s moved to the Pipeline Monitoring Centre (CCO) building. Both of them will be working together to operate the pipeline network and storage facilities. This new monitoring centre has been renovated by the Peripheral Maintenance Centre (PMC) and Automation. It now has height adjustable tables, adjustable lighting, zone-based climate control, new communication systems, computing equipment redundancy, videowall systems as well as common areas and break rooms.  According to David Muñoz, Head of the FCC, “90% of Exolum’s facilities in Spain are operated remotely and improving the FCC location really tops off this project we’ve been working on over the last six years.”

OK, let’s admit it, we love new things!

Our expert

Towards Sustainability in Aviation

Technology, optimized operations and eco-fuels are the three golden rules for reaching our net zero CO2 emissions goal by 2050.  Let’s go for it!

A major challenge lies ahead for the aviation industry: becoming more sustainable. Despite the fact that air transport only accounts for 2-3% of all CO2 emissions on the planet, the truth is that everything adds up and, technologically-speaking, we do not have any feasible short-term

solution for ending the use of kerosene in planes.

The aviation industry has made great progress in recent years as far as enhancing aircraft efficiency. However, we must keep in mind that it’s not enough to be able to meet the European Commission goal of reducing CO2 emissions from the air sector by 50%.

The use of sustainable aviation fuel is currently the only alternative for reducing these emissions and making a real qualitative leap towards sustainability in this industry. Thanks to Avikor, we can offer society a solution that makes flying sustainable if we want it to be.

People must be aware that global warming is no longer just a concern; it’s a priority, especially for new generations.  And this is being reflected in their consumption habits. In fact, some groups are demanding the sector be taxed for kerosene use (which is currently exempt), the imposition of a passenger duty (as is done in Sweden) payable based on travel frequency and even a restriction on short-haul flights (a measure implemented in Holland). There really isn’t just one single solution.  Hence, the importance of establishing a common strategy focusing on using technological progress and alternative energy sources and even fostering changes in consumer behaviour.

Planes that use biofuels in their engines are already being flown in Spain for short-haul and long-haul trans-Atlantic routes

Avikor, A Sustainable Solution

Among the measures just mentioned, Exolum is committed to biofuels for aviation, also known as SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), which is made from waste and sustainable organic matter. Thus, the production of SAF and subsequent use in aviation is an outstanding example of a circular economy. Sustainable biofuels are the best way to reduce CO2 emissions in the aviation sector, as the complete lifecycle thereof prevents of up 80% of these emissions. Biofuels will, therefore, be a fundamental part of decarbonizing air transport since the chemical composition is identical to conventional kerosene and poses no problem for aircraft engines. Planes that use biofuels in their engines are already being flown in Spain for short-haul and long-haul trans-Atlantic routes.

Empowering consumers is another major commitment. And this is where we came up with Avikor, a platform that offers the possibility of flying with any airline all while reducing or eliminating the emissions generated during commercial flights by buying ‘green fuel’. Avikor calculates the litres of SAF needed to reduce emissions from the flights requested by a customer and adds that fuel to the airport refuelling system to replace the traditional kerosene used with the customer paying for the difference in price. The more passengers who contribute in this way, the more we’ll be able to reduce CO2 emissions.

Avikor is available for any passenger travelling from the Barcelona-El Prat and Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas airports.  Whether private individuals or companies, travel agencies or airlines, they can fly and reduce CO2 emissions simply by entering their flight code at the website www.avikor.com.

up to date

A Sector-Supported Initiative

Our CEO, Jorge Lanza, led the Avikor presentation in Barcelona, alongside the Director of Innovation, Sustainability and Customer Experience and CGO of Aena, Amparo Brea, and the President of ALA (Airlines Association), Javier Gándara. Both supported the platform as a means for progressing towards more sustainable aviation.

Avikor at a Decarbonization Conference

Thanks to Javier Bonet, Operations Lead at Exolum Ventures, Avikor and its commitment to sustainability in the aviation sector was one of the main themes at the digital conference ‘Decarbonizing Port Activities at the Port of Barcelona’, organized by the Barcelona Port Authority.

Valencia CF Flies with SAF Supplied by Avikor

The Valencia Football Club and Air Nostrum also wanted to fly sustainably using SAF supplied by Avikor on its Seville-Valencia flight for a league match. It was one of the first flights operated in Spain using this type of fuel and a commitment by all those involved to do their own part to protect the environment.

SAF Is Now Available at the Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom

At Exolum, we continue working to improve the world and are now offering our customers at the Heathrow airport in the United Kingdom sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Moreover, we’re supplying it through a pipeline to avoid road or rail transport which reduces carbon emissions even more.

What excites us

EXOLUM-LIVE

Running a highly utilised terminal

Multi-product, high demand and located in a residential area. That’s Bramhall Terminal, a  ground fuels, road loading facility run by Sam Milward. Let’s find out a little more about about his work.

“I solve problems and find ways to increase commercial return”

How do you describe your job?

I run a high hazard and highly regulated petroleum storage and distribution facility.

Bramhall is a multi-product terminal, what does it mean? What are the differences with other terminals?

Multi-product means we handle more than one product. The main products we deliver are: petrol, diesel and kerosene. Ethanol, additives and marker dyes are also present.

We are a small, but highly utilised site. The transfer of multiple products via pipeline creates slops. This is returned by tanker for re-refining. Petrol is present, which increases our risk profile and requires vapour recovery. Unusually we are also nestled within a highly populated residential area.

What are your main responsibilities?

Leadership of the Site team. This includes – but is not limited to – the management of: risks, competence, budget expenditure, stakeholders and reporting. I solve problems and find ways to increase commercial return.

Career en Exolum:
“I started at Bramhall in 2013, then moved to CLH-PS in 2018 and to Exolum this year”.

How is a normal workday?

It’s quite hard to say, though there will be: problems to solve, projects and initiatives to support, and risks to identify and control. Prioritisation will be necessary to utilise resources effectively.

What are the most important requirements of your job?

Integrity, commitment and the ability to communicate clearly.

When you finish your shift, you’re happy if…

It’s been a boring day with no surprises.

How has the integration into Exolum been?

The vision is exciting, as is the significance of this move for our company.

What do you expect for the future?

Positive change.

The vision is exciting, as is the significance of this move for our company

Meeting...

Charlene Samshuijzen

Who is Charlene Samshuijzen?

She is a simple dutch woman who is trying to live her life at the fullest, and is trying to be the best version of herself while experience all kind of new things in her life.

How long have you been working for Exolum?

I have started December 2005.

What are your main responsibilities?

I’m responsible for all kind of operational activities at the terminal.

What do you like most about your job?

Every day is different, no shift is the same.

What are your hobbies?

I love photography, fashion and shopping.

You have recognised your transsexuality, what is your life experience now?

Right now i live my life the way it meant to be with all new experience.

When did you realize that you were different?

I have always known that I was different than other.

And how are you living this personal ‘transition’?

So far so good i’m still waiting for my final surgery and hoping it will be very soon.

What was your happiest moment ever?

To free myself from the biggest secret of my life.

Do you think Exolum is a diverse and integrative company?

Yes I sure do think Exolum is a diverse and integrative company.

An Example of diversity

At Exolum we are very proud of our people, especially those who value our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Like Charlene, who shared her story in a very personal interview. If you haven’t seen it yet, go to the Exolum Channel on the Contigo Portal. Don’t miss it!

passion for photography

Charlene enjoys capturing moments with her camera, capturing her particular vision of life in images full of feeling. A hobby that has been with her for years and that deeply enriches her.

“I have always known that I was different than other”

TransformACTION

XPIRIT

A new project developed using the SCRUM methodology!

Our innovative ‘Xpirit’ never stops. To prove this we keep on developing exciting projects featuring great collaboration among different teams. Today, we’d like to present one of them: the design of an oil and organic food plant in Zierbena (Biscay).  Let’s go!

Step by step. Steadily and without any diversions. This is what the road is like for us.  It’s a route accompanied by Xpirit to become a leaner, more flexible company that can adapt to the challenges of the future. We ended the first quarter of 2021 successfully and the second QBR (Quarterly Business Review) full of projects as well.

It’s time to get to work. The project we’re presenting here is the design of a storage lot for organic products and oils in Zierbena (Biscay).

This project was accomplished thanks to the incredible coordination, collaboration and spirit in the Sales, Operations and Engineering SQUAD team

This design had to be as operationally flexible as possible in view of the potential customers to handle ship loading and unloading, road tanker loading, blending in fuel lines or on tanks using agitation resources, sudden product changes and high tank rotation, for example. What better way to approach is than as a team, specifically through a SQUAD? “We set the goal of having a first plant design that would allow for commercialization. The Sales-Operations-Engineering SQUAD worked together with excellent coordination in order to develop it,” explains Mikel García Gastaminza, the project manager.

We began by doing market research, consulting with potential customers and sector agents to help us understand the demands in relation to oil and biofuel logistics services. “This market benchmarking helped us design a plant that is in line with what the rest of Europe is doing,” says Alejandro Buendía, a member of the Aviation & Network Operations Flexible Pool. After understanding the needs , Operations and Engineering began designing the plant with particular consideration for the limitations on space that exist. It all resulted in no less than… four different designs! Of these four, we decided upon two – one more for biofuels and another for a flexible plant that could house both products. These preliminary designs, along with a few 3D mock-ups, are highly useful to the Sales area as they can use them to explain the various services we can offer at Exolum to customers in greater visual detail and even the possibility of modifying these designs to customize them for other activities and services they may need.

This project was accomplished thanks to the incredible coordination, collaboration and spirit in the Sales, Operations and Engineering SQUAD team. And even though the goal was by no means easy, we did it and we did it very well and before the deadline! Congratulations and keep it up!

What is a SQUAD?

It’s a small team of six to eight people with multidisciplinary backgrounds who work together using the SCRUM methodology

Mikel García Gastaminza

BP Commercial Services – Commercial Network

“The goal of this SQUAD was to find a couple of ‘top-level’ options that were realistic and could help us begin conversations with customers and attract their interest by demonstrating the potential of the land.”

Gorka Penalva

BP/Operations Lead – Commercial Network

“This way of working brings continuity to all of our sales opportunities. All of the members participate in the life of the project and come to understand the commercial, technical and operational characteristics of each project better.”

Carlos Acosta

Project Developer
Flexible Pool – Engineering

“I’d like to highlight the great teamwork, fluid communications and ability to listen to what internal customers need. This also happened because of the agility involved with teleworking and the digital resources used as we were able to hold productive meetings remotely and complete the task very quickly. Teleworking and the digital transformation has helped us with this new approach to our work (Xpirit) as we can be more flexible.”

Alejandro Buendía

Flexible Pool – Operations Aviation&Network

“The paradigm has changed from customers telling us  what they want in services/choices/infrastructures to taking the first step ourselves and innovating with market research.”

Would you like to know what the results of the first few months of XPIRIT have been?

Daniel Casas, PMO Operations Lead de Exolum, tells us all about it.

TRENDS

Accuracy and Precision

By using technology and working as a team, we’ve improved the internal additive stock management process and, with that, the corresponding information we can offer our customers.

Differentiated additivation is a high-tech service where precision is of fundamental importance in achieving high levels of service quality. More than 1,500 lorries are loaded at our facilities each and every day with different additives for our customers. Without demanding control, quality and safety standards, we wouldn’t be able to provide services under optimal conditions for our customers.

Our ongoing improvement policy includes a successful initiative that

saw the participation of the Sales, Operations, Information Systems and Digital Task Force areas. One of the objectives was to enhance the quality of the additive stock information published for customers through digital tools made available to them. This information is essential to managing their own inventories and scheduling replenishment.

Víctor Montaño, the Project Product Owner, says that before, “we were periodically measuring the additive tanks manually to identify whether there were any incidents with the automatic measurements and this information was then passed on to the systems”. Now, the internal management of automatic

measurements of our equipment has improved with digitalization tools as we’ve established a proactive control system to compare stock variations with additive deliveries. When there are discrepancies, the source is assessed and they’re resolved, “all while reducing the time spent on this by the facility teams and improving the quality of our customer service”.

Due to the collaboration shown by the different teams involved, it only took us a quarter to develop this new system (using the Scrum methodology). It’s an exciting challenge that really reflects our innovation value.

JOSÉ LUIS CONDE

Project Sponsor

“I’d no doubt highlight the immense teamwork: all areas involved in the development of the project worked together to achieve the goal on time.”

VÍCTOR MONTAÑO

Product owner

“It only took us a quarter to develop this new system (using the Scrum methodology).” 

PABLO PÉREZ

Project Development Team

“The project was a major challenge from the very beginning since it was the first to be developed by the new members of the Digital Task Force. And we were still able to deliver value on time.”

The Smart Technology Revolution

Artificial Intelligence.  How is it going to help us over the next few years? Enrique Serrano, an expert on smart data, told us all about it in an interactive talk that was really enjoyable! The gamified format allowed those in attendance to interact via their mobile phones. There were even prizes for the best!

Exolum Joins the Ace Digital Transformation Group

Given its experience using digital documentation for transport, the Spanish Loaders Association (ACE) wanted Exolum in its Digital Transformation Group which also includes other loaders, technology service providers and ports. The purpose of this group is to meet the need for digitalization in the logistics sector as a tool that enhances companies’ competitiveness.

GROW

Virtual and augmented reality for emergency actions

Our Exolum colleagues in the United Kingdom have been trained on risk situations in a realistic environment that simulates our own terminals with different scenarios.

At Exolum, we’re prepared for any situation. After all, we mustn’t forget we operate with high-risk fuels and chemicals which means knowing how to respond to an emergency is essential. And, therefore, specific training in this area is key. As an example, our United Kingdom colleagues are workimg with Evolution Risk, a training company that uses a flexible and innovative methodology which includes assistance developing, planning and executing emergency drills using virtual and augmented reality.

“Augmented reality allows us to demonstrate a realistic view of a built-up environment based on our own terminals and move through the different emergency scenarios to see what the operator would do in each situation,”  explains Alan Edwards, NWE HSSE Lead. The ability to test simulated scenarios including fires, explosions, contention loss events, accidents and flooding guarantees our team members will be prepared for anything that could happen.

The ability to test simulated scenarios guarantees our team members will be prepared for anything that could happen

The next step is...

…Developing a specific Exolum application to manage emergencies in real time with the right people and our own integrated procedures. Each action will be recorded on a timeline and there will be photos of incidents in real time to then add all the information to our reports so we understand the legal requirements to make the right decisions and take the proper action. 

“The application is going to provide a Virtual Emergency Control Centre which key agents may join to get information and ask questions from anywhere on the planet,” says Alan.

We’re developing a specific Exolum application to manage emergencies in real time

Safety and Health

Safety

For enhanced safety, trust in 5.5

This number is a winning combination. There are no secrets, just a few minutes on one day a month. We’re talking about our ‘5.5 talks’, which is one of the many initiatives carried out at Exolum to keep on improving in the area of safety.

Five minutes may not be very much time, but they can be really useful if utilized well. And even more so when they’re dedicated to safety, one of our biggest obsessions at Exolum.

In fact, our company has been working for many years to become safer and safer all the time in our facilities as well as our interactions with our surrounding environments, but especially with people. Thus, we start up new initiatives each year essentially aimed at spreading awareness of the importance of this issue on the job.

Our company has been working for many years to become safer and safer all the time

 

One of them takes place every 5th of the month. All activity stops for five minutes at all worksites to dedicate this time to risk prevention. They’re monthly corporate talks on safety and health, better known as ‘5.5 Talks’.  It’s turned out to be the perfect time to discuss any aspect that helps us continue to make progress in this area.

A much appreciated format

They’re friendly, relaxed meetings to talk about whatever the leader has prepared. In recent months, they have focused on reviewing lessons learnt, reinforcing self-protection concepts and recalling our Safety Foundations.

Other matters may also be discussed, of course, such as how to do something safer or going over incidents that have occurred. They’re useful because topics are raised which are not always directly related to the job yet are of interest to the team.

This initiative, which arose as a way to get everyone involved and participating in improving our safety, has become an activity that is very much appreciated due to the format and, above all, the usefulness. Five minutes can really make a difference when it comes to preventing problems. So there you go, when it comes to safety, bet on 5.5.

This initiative has become an activity that is very much appreciated due to the format and, above all, the usefulness

Federico Merizalde

Quality Control, Safety and Environmental Specialist (Ecuador)

“The ‘5.5 Talks’ give us relevant and highly useful information for protecting our human resources as specialists in addition to the environment.”

Marta Casamayor

Head of the Loeches Facility (Spain)

“Everyone always looks forward to ‘5.5 Talk’ time. Besides discussing a specific topic on which each of us contributes our opinions, suggestions and experiences, debates begin on other internal issues that are quite enriching.”

Celebrating World Day for Safety and Health

At Exolum, we celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work every year which is an initiative that came about to remind us of the need to prevent workplace risks and occupational diseases.

In order to commemorate the day and given that safety is one of our primary values, we organized an agenda full of events to reinforce the message that there’s nothing better than going back home in the same condition as when we left home and being able to enjoy what we love.

And, to do so, we must all realize that safety begins with each one of us. Prevention and anticipation are two behaviours that must accompany us every day in everything we do.

Right there on this path alongside us are our Safety Foundations, the fundamental cornerstones for a safe day.  Here’s a reminder of them!

WEllness

Slow living: stop and enjoy

Our lives often seem to be on the fast track, with no break and at a dizzying speed. Putting a brake on this is the idea behind slow living, a movement that encourages people to enjoy every little moment, paying attention to the present and all the little details. We’re going to tell you all about it.

What if life had a “pause” button like music players? It would be great, wouldn’t it? Well… sorry, that doesn’t exist yet. Many of us live at a pace that makes it seem we’re trapped by a hurricane… and the worst thing is we don’t even realize it! And, because of this, we often miss out on little moments and details that can often make the difference in our lives.

Slow living is a philosophy that covers nearly all areas of life from nutrition to education as well as relationships, entertainment, work and travel. This movement reconnects with our cognitive skills, our sensitivity and even our traditions as we constantly pay attention to the now and enjoy the present.

Where did slow living come from?

This movement began in 1986 in Italy on the initiative of Carlo Petrini when he came across a McDonald’s in the Plaza de España square in Rome. He started leading a movement against fast food under the slow food philosophy and in favour of protecting culinary traditions. All the rest developed through this movement to point of becoming a life philosophy followed by millions of people around the world.

This movement reconnects with our cognitive skills, our sensitivity and even our traditions

At Exolum, we dedicated fifteen days to caring for our body and minds

Emotional Wellness Week

During the first week, we talked about something as vital as emotional wellness, especially in modern times. Dr Iñaki Ferrando, Medical Director of Sanitas Insurance, who participated in our ‘Te interesa’ talk, has given us several interesting tools for mental health care.

  • Do exercise
  • Disconnect and spend time on your family and hobbies
  • Stay mentally strong

Did you miss these talks? You can see them on the Exolum Channel on the Contigo Portal

Nutrition and Physical Exercise Week

The second week was dedicated to nutrition and physical exercise with another ‘Te interesa’ talk with Alejandro Bellido, a nutritionist and cross fit trainer, during which he highlighted the importance of a good combination of nutrition and physical exercise. Plus, he reminded us of the important benefits of doing sport regularly:

  • It reduces stress and prevents anxiety
  • It increases self-esteem
  • It improves your sleep

Involved

de&i

Diverse and extraordinary!

In May, we took part in celebrating European Diversity Month. And how better to do so than a communication campaign with pills to help us share with our people what diversity, equity and inclusion are all about? That was the first thing. And the second was a challenge: our ‘Diverxity’ challenge where we reflected our company’s diversity through a video with photos of our colleagues.  Would you like to see the video again?

Just go to the Exolum Channel on the Contigo Portal and enjoy it!

Diversity Statement

We’re a company that works each and every day to be even more diverse. Such is the case that one of the behaviours under our ‘Trust’ value is as follows: “I behave honestly and with integrity, welcoming diversity and creating a collaborative and inclusive work atmosphere”. With this idea always present, we developed what we call the “Exolum Diversity Statement”.

At Exolum, there’s room for everyone.

We want you to be yourself and that’s why we want to create an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected and valued. Our essence, our culture and environment, our experience… help us become more creative and innovative so we can have a positive impact on the world.

We celebrate diversity because interacting with different people who have different perspectives makes Exolum a better company and each one of us better people. Our customers are incredibly diverse so we should be too. At Exolum, there’s room for everyone.

What’s more, our recruiting processes encourage diversity in candidates and interviewers in order to get different points of view. And we’ve participated in sessions and events related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Committed leadership

At Exolum, we’re part of the ‘CEO for Diversity’ alliance, an initiative that was begun by the Adecco Foundation and the CEOE Foundation to foster innovation in diversity, equity and inclusion strategies within Spanish companies.

One of its most recent actions was the #CEOPorLaDiversidad (#CEOforDiversity) meeting, which was a lunch attended by 75 CEOs including Jorge Lanza. All of them underlined how the figure of the CEO is essential in ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion policies have a real impact within organizations as the foundation for a more inclusive business landscape and a more equalitarian society.

As Jorge Lanza said, “At Exolum, we know diversity has a positive impact on our results and the value the company can offer its stakeholders. We have a commitment at our company to diversity and inclusion as it not only helps retain talent, but also creates pride in belonging”.

We’re also participating in the ‘Target Gender Equality’ programme, launched by the United Nations Global Compact, the aim of which is to foster a commitment among companies and institutions to establishing and complying with goals that help increase female leadership within companies, in line with the Agenda 2030 Goal Indicator 5.5, and we’ve signed the Women’s Empowerment Principles, promoted by the Compact and UN Women.

We developed what we call the “Exolum Diversity Statement”

We have a commitment at our company to diversity and inclusion as it not only helps retain talent, but also creates pride in belonging

Supporting the PRODIS Foundation

As part of our social action plan and our commitment to diversity, we organized an online sponge puppet workshop along with the PRODIS Foundation.  Some of our colleagues’ children participated.

During the workshop, several members of the Foundation –an organization that aims to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities– talked about their concerns, studies, hobbies and the help they get from PRODIS to feel like they’re an active part of society.

We invite you to watch the workshop video on the Exolum Channel on the Contigo portal.  Sit down with the materials and make the puppet with your kids. You’ll have a wonderful time.

FEEL GREEN

Was there really a facility there?

Our Barajas storage facility halted all operations several years ago now. The direct connection between Madrid’s airport and the Torrejón terminal meant the plant was no longer necessary. And that’s when the long road began to return the land to its owner, Aena, in the same conditions under which they assigned it to us. Because at Exolum, we want to leave a mark on society but not on the environment. When we finish the remediation work we’re doing, only the photos and the veterans among us will be able to recall being there for more than half a century.

Four Phases to Get the Land Back to its Original Conditions

Fernando García, the person responsible for the project, tells us about the different phases in the Barajas land recovery process.

  1. Dismantling
    In 2017, we removed all the equipment, pipes, tanks and buildings comprising the plant.
  2. Environmental classification
    In order to determine the conditions of the land, we collected 933 soil samples and 31 groundwater samples, we conducted a study and started the environmental recovery project. This plan was approved by the Region of Madrid Ministry of the Environment and the Aena Environmental Affairs Department.
  3. Soil recovery
    We began in November 2020. First, we did selective excavation work to remove the soil affected and move it to a treatment area. There, we used the ‘landfarming’ technique which is one of the greenest when it comes to these types of actions since the very bacteria from the soil is used to clean it. After verifying that the soil was clean, we took it back to the original site.
  4. Groundwater treatment
    This includes setting up 14 piezometers to extract the dissolved hydrocarbons in the groundwater using high suction equipment and underwater pumps. The pumped water and hydrocarbons are taken to a treatment plant on site for cleaning and the subsequent return of the water into the sewage system in compliance with the regulations.

We want to leave a mark on society but not on the environment

Did you know...

  • The project will be finished in July 2022.
  • The excavation of some 30,000 m3 of soil is planned, which would fill ten Olympic-size pools.
  • The ‘landfarming’ technique prevents the emission of pollutants into the air as well as spills, thereby minimizing energy consumption and the use of materials.

Very Special Flora at our Cordoba Facility

We’re so unique at Exolum that we’ve discovered we have endangered plants growing at our facility in Cordoba. Specifically, they’re two threatened species: the grey-leaved euryops and Ipomoea. After this finding was made, Cantueso Natural Seeds, a pioneering company in the national landscape restoration and revegetation sector, manually collected the seeds from both to guarantee their continuity and prevent their extinction.

We’re very thankful to Cantueso for informing us of the treasure we had on our land and for helping us save these species in a natural way without harming the environment, confirming our commitment to the environment.

More Life for the Panama Facility

With excitement and teamwork, our Exolum Panama colleagues have transformed a part of the area near their offices no longer being used into a beautiful green area using recycled material. It took the team four months to bring the project to life, but now it’s a “contagious place that transmits joy”.  Good job on this initiative!

FEEL BETTER

A Breath of Air for Cystic Fibrosis

The collaboration given by Felipe Rayo, from the Barcelona airport, to the Catalan Cystic Fibrosis Association, was one of those inheritances you just can’t reject. When his predecessor retired, he took over a great legacy: helping others; in this case, young people with this chronic disease whose main concern is simply breathing normally.

“Until you experience something like this, you just can’t get a real understanding for how important the work these organizations do”

What is the Cystic Fibrosis Association and what are its goals?

The association was created in 1988, when a group of parents of kids and young people affected by this disease realized the benefits of working together to benefit of patients and their families. Its goals are to improve the daily lives of these people and their families with support, guidance and advice as well as enhancing diagnostics, treatment and research.

What do you do within the association?

Ever since I started collaborating, I’ve been involved with searching for funds to help these patients who are mostly young people. We need research to make progress and eradicate this disease as well as medications to make it easier to live with. I’ve got a lot of potential ideas; we just need things to go back to normal now after the pandemic.

Has your sensitivity changed as you’ve worked with them?

When I began, I saw how parents would come in and how they were treated with such kindness and really realized what great work they were doing. I haven’t had anyone close to me with cystic fibrosis, but I do know someone with a rare disease and, until you experience something like this, you just can’t get a real understanding for how important the work these organizations do is as they work for nothing in return.

What are your hopes for these patients?

I’d like to see the disease eradicated or some studies being done to support drug development so they can have a normal life as they have to live in bubbles and even more so during this pandemic we’re going through.

“We need research to make progress and eradicate this disease”

We Helped Purchase Nine Spirometers

As part of our commitment to contributing to the wellbeing of the communities where we’re present, Exolum collaborated with the Catalan Cystic Fibrosis Association by making it possible for them to purchase nine spirometers to help people with this disease. These devices, which are used to determine lung volume and capacity, were purchased for patients at the El Tauli hospital in Sabadell.  “This collaboration helps us improve our care of people who have to live with this disease as a breath of hope for improving their quality of life,” said Celestino Raya, President of the Association.

discover

Shall we cross?

Get ready because it’s no less than… 516 metres long! In fact, the Arouca 516 is the longest pedestrian hanging bridge in the world. It’s located in Arouca, about 30 kilometres from Oporto (Portugal) and crosses the River Paiva Gorge Valley at 175 metres in altitude.  The river can be seen through the metal grid floor.

LET'S PLAY

Download the solutions

Did you know...

…the moon is 384,000 kilometres from Earth?

It’s a lot, isn’t it? Companies offering commercial flights to outer space only take people up 100 kilometres.

How do you say PIPELINE in...

• Spanish? Tubería

• Dutch? Pijpleiding

• German? Rohrleitung

A Tasty Recipe... and Award-Winning!

We have a draw winner for our recipe contest! The award goes to Marcos Tur Rodríguez, from the Ibiza airport. Congratulations on the award and that awesome dish!

Everyone will have to try it…

“It’s a recipe from my father, Chef Pep Tur, head chef at the Es Torrent restaurant on Ibiza”

Spiny Lobster with Fried Eggs

Ingredients:

  • Spiny lobster
  • Eggs, farm-fresh if possible
  • Potatoes
  • Garlic
  • Green pepper
  • Olive oil
  • A bit of cognac and some type of whisky to flambee
  • Salt
  • Pepper

 

Instructions:

Cut two 600-700 g spiny lobsters into medallions.  Salt and pepper to taste. Fry them in hot olive oil for about two minutes. Then, flambee with a bit of whisky and cognac. Put it in the oven for just a bit.  In the meantime, fry some eggs, but not too much (so the yolks stay runny) as well as some potatoes with strips of green pepper.

IF YOU NEED MORE CONNEXION…

Access to all isssues

Editorial

About us

What excite us

TransformACTION

Safety and health

Involved