Charting a course to a greener future, Essar Oil UK aims to become the world's first net-zero refinery. This ambitious goal reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and a willingness to push boundaries.

However, the journey extends beyond technology and cleaner fuels – it's about fostering a company culture and leadership principles that drive progress.

Essar Oil UK recently participated in the Oil & Gas Automation and Digitalisation Congress (AUTOMA) 2023. At the Opening Panel, the company shared insights into their digital transformation journey at the refinery.

Its approach and vision for a sustainable future were further explored in an episode of BGS Talks featuring Vineet Jaiswal, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Essar Oil UK. This interview shed light on the company's vision and the core values that fuel their drive towards decarbonisation.

Vineet emphasised the company's dedication to building a cleaner future. He said: "Essar Oil has embarked on a journey where we will be the first decarbonised plant... We've set up a business known as EET. This business is doing a couple of things. One is setting up a hydrogen plant, and the second is carbon capture. Now, the hydrogen which will be produced out of this EET business will be used... And the interesting part of the EET business is when we're generating this hydrogen, we'll use the off-gas of the refinery to produce it. So we're repurposing that."

Essar Oil UK's goals are underpinned by a clear strategy focused on three key pillars: decentralisation, decarbonisation and digitalisation. Vineet Jaiswal highlighted the crucial role digital transformation plays in achieving their decarbonisation goals.

As Jaiswal stated: "Decarbonisation is making sure that carbon footprint goes down, decentralisation is helping in that entire process, and digitalisation is the enabler for that."

Jaiswal also shared valuable insights on leadership principles that guide the company's approach to innovation and change management. He highlighted the power of teamwork: "I believe when I work with people I learn a lot. So it's not about the size of the team, it's all about the impact the team brings."

Essar Oil UK's commitment to decarbonisation, exemplified by Jaiswal's leadership style, creates a powerful force for positive change in the energy sector by prioritising collaboration, long-term thinking and continuous learning. Their journey towards becoming the world's first decarbonised refinery is not just about technology, it's about a vision for a sustainable future, built on a foundation of strong leadership and empowered people.

Watch the full interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5i0IU6lk_w