Page 50 - SAPREF 50 year

“Our environmental performance has exceeded all expectations. With the construction of the SCOT plant, SO2 emissions have been reduced by more than 60% from days gone by. Flare, smoke and noise complaints from surrounding communities are largely a thing of the past. ”
– Desmond Dookhilal
Bonginkosi Zikhali, Operator Trainee, Thobile Sishange, Senior Operator, and Anand Bodhi, Senior Operator, discussing the shift log in the Control Room.
Production
The Operations department is accountable for the process of converting crude oil to finished petroleum products. The department operates on a 24-hour basis, manned by four shifts in five production zones. Its main objective is the safe, reliable, sustainable and effective delivery of the daily production targets.
The main sub-departments are South Production Zone; Central Production Zone; North Production Zone; Oil Movements, Utilities and Despatch Zone; Island View Terminal; Emergency Services; Shift Management; Energy Efficiency and Cross Zonal Management.
The department is led by Moosa Karodia and it has 288 permanent staff. Over the years, the department has experienced a number
of challenges and highlights. We asked three members to share their personal reflections:
Desmond Dookhilal, Shift Manager,
35 years at SAPREF
“I never thought I would see the day when female operators would be running the plant.
That has now become entrenched and they are rapidly rising through the ranks. The male of the species embraces their presence — to the extent that there have been marriages between some of our colleagues!
“Our environmental performance has exceeded all expectations. With the construction of the SCOT plant, SO2 emissions have been reduced dramatically. Flare, smoke and noise complaints from surrounding communities are largely a thing of the past.
“As the world opened up, we lost skilled personnel to the international market. Nevertheless, we survived by, for example, putting training plans in place, careful succession planning and using the latest technology.”
SAPREF: FUELLING SA FOR 50 YEARS
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