By Violet Chen
For refineries to stay competitive, they must be reliable, have skilled workers and emphasise energy efficiency, panellists said on Wednesday at Singapore International Energy Week 2014.
“The single largest issue in reinforcing competitiveness is reliability,” said Martin Hawkins, chief operating officer of HPCL-Mittal Energy.
Abdul Malik Tahir, former chief executive officer of Kemaman Bitumen, and Rudy Radjab, president director of PT Kreasindo Resources Indonesia, said the biggest challenge to improving reliability is how to predict risk events with early warning systems.
It is critical to have robust maintenance and improvement programmes to ensure reliable operations, Radjab added.
A skilled workforce was also seen as essential. Companies should have rigorous training programmes and conduct benchmarking to ensure they stay ahead of the game, the panellists said. When outsourcing operations, make sure the skills on offer are top-notch, they added.
Being energy efficient can increase competitiveness as fuel costs are a big component for a refinery, an issue that is especially true in the context of volatile crude oil prices, the panellists said.
Tahir said delivering projects ahead of schedule and at lower costs will also enhance competitiveness, with Hawkins adding that quality should never be compromised.
Good marketing and branding, the panellists said, also plays a big role in increasing competitiveness.
About Singapore International Energy Week (www.siew.gov.sg)
The 7th annual SIEW 2014 is the foremost platform for top policymakers, energy practitioners and commentators to discuss energy issues, strategies and solutions. SIEW brings together a robust line-up of world's leading conferences, exhibitions, roundtables and networking events to provide insights and perspectives on the emerging trends and innovations across the energy spectrum of oil & gas, clean and renewable energy, and energy infrastructure financing – in one week, one location. Please visit www.siew.gov.sg for further information.