Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery Co (SASREF) was recently ranked first in sludge minimisation out of 30 world-class companies. Over the past five years, the sludge generation from SASREF's crude processing has been less than 0.01 Kg of sludge per tonne of crude processed.

SASREF has adopted a more efficient and less costly technology process known as Thermal Desorption to treat hazardous petroleum waste. This technology works in two steps: heating the waste to convert its hydrocarbons into vapour, then recovering the vapour by converting it into a liquid and separating the water from hydrocarbons to process them again.

A LiveWIRE regional workshop, led by London-based Karen Bellis from Shell LiveWIRE International, was held in Dubai in December to enable LiveWIRE Programme Directors and Shell External Affairs staff from various regional countries to come together and share their experiences.

"LiveWIRE, known in the Middle East as Intilaaqah, is a programme designed to encourage young people to explore the options available to them when it comes to setting up their own businesses," said Karen. "The programme also provides an introductory level of training into good basic business practices to give LiveWIRE participants a head start and set them on the right road."

LiveWIRE was started by Shell in 1982 in the UK and has since spread to 24 countries all over the world. There were 12 countries represented at the Dubai workshop and these included the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, South Africa, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Nigeria.

"There have been some radical changes in the aspirations of young people wishing to start up their own businesses so the workshop focused on some of the global trends in play around the world today," said Karen.

"Another important factor in the LiveWIRE programme is the need to focus on cooperation with local small business support organisations. During the workshop we also introduced various web-based IT support tools which are available to LiveWIRE Directors around the world."

Shell Aviation recently signed an agreement with Emarat and British Petroleum to store jet fuel at the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai.

The agreement was part of Shell's strategy of investing in order to keep up with the expanding capacity of Dubai International Airport and the growth of the Gulf region. The new airport to be built at Jebel Ali is expected to receive its first passengers in 2007 and have six runways operating by 2020 to handle the increase in air traffic both regionally and globally.

By 2007 the number of passengers in and out of Dubai is expected to almost double, from 21 to 40 million, and by 2020 these figures will more than triple, to 130 million. By having a fuel storage depot at Jebel Ali, Shell will be conveniently placed to serve the airlines which will be using the airport.

In the meantime, the increasing number of flights in and out of Dubai will require that greater quantities of fuel are on hand, so a pipeline will connect the storage depot to the airport. By partnering with other fuel suppliers Shell is able to share the cost and effort to accommodate the increase in air travel.

Shell's signing of the agreement was also an expression of its long-term commitment to help the Government of Dubai fulfil its aspirations for the region, and Shell will work with other business interests to achieve this.

The Ministry of Oil in Iraq recently awarded a contract for an integrated reservoir study of the Kirkuk field to Exploration Consultants Limited (ECL), and Shell Exploration Company BV has offered its support to the Ministry of Oil during the study.

Shell's technical assistance will bring its extensive experience with production from mature fields, field developments and operations in the Middle East to the study.

Gavin Graham, Director New Business Development, Shell E&P in the Middle East, says, "Shell's participation in the Kirkuk study is part of a broad programme of assistance to the Iraqi energy industry in areas in which its leaders have identified the industry's greatest needs. Shell's contribution to the study is in line with our continued commitment to support the Iraqi oil industry and establish a material and enduring presence in the country."

Shell is also providing training and development opportunities for Iraqi energy industry professionals to enhance competencies and to increase exposure to modern practices and technology applications. Shell supports a joint training effort between the Ministry of Oil of Iraq, UK government agencies, companies and academia, and provides international scholarships at post-graduate level, so Iraqi professionals can gain international experience.

After the devastating earthquake in Bam in southeastern Iran in December 2003, Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies joined many other organisations helping the victims. Staff of Shell Development Iran joined other volunteers helping the victims in the immediate aftermath, both in kind and by donating part of their salaries, which was matched by the company. In addition Shell allocated US $150,000 for the city's reconstruction.

From the many different needs for reconstruction, Shell chose to rebuild a school. All 131 schools in Bam and many more in the surrounding areas were either destroyed or heavily damaged by the earthquake.

In February, 2005, Shell Development Iran concluded an agreement with the Iranian Society of Consulting Engineers (ISCE) to use the funds to build a dormitory and a dining-hall as part of a Technical and Vocational Training Centre in Bam. The Centre's reconstruction is one of ISCE's activities in Bam.

The agreement was signed by Robert Weener, Chief Executive of Shell Development Iran, and ISCE Chairman, Ata-ollah Ayat-ollahi, in Tehran. The Centre will be able to host more than 200 local students. Most of the students lost their parents while many also lost all of their relatives in the earthquake. The Centre will provide students with a place to live during their study, and will also pave the way to secure jobs that will enable them to contribute to the reconstruction of Bam after graduation.