Abqaiq: cohabitation of nature, people and industry decades of friendly respect in industrial heartland - Saudi Aramco
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June 10, 2020 Vol. LXXV, No. 23 a weekly Saudi Aramco publication for employees
Abqaiq:
cohabitation of nature,
people and industry
decades of friendly respect
in industrial heartland
see pages 8 and 9
A little grebe paddles on a
charming 3 km2 sanctuary
of wetlands west of
Abqaiq Plants. The
sanctuary also includes
sand dunes and a planted
tree belt that shelters a
variety of species of
microbes, plants, insects,
amphibians, reptiles, birds,
fish, and mammals. Saudi
Aramco’s operational areas
include vast tracts of land
and sea areas with
important habitats and
species. (Photo: Hasan M.
Almubarak/MPD)
Do Your Part by
Wearing a Mask in Public
Controlling COVID- is in our hands, and we should do
whatever it takes to stop its transmission.
maintain physical distancing
of meters at all times
June 10, 2020 the arabian sun
2 company news
Talent Exchange Program increases mobility process
The Staffing Services Department of supporting the development needs
(SSD) recently launched the Talent Ex- of employees or to fulfill the business’
change Program, which is a compli- needs.
mentary addition to existing Job Post- The nomination could either be for a
ing and Job Swapping Internal Mobility permanent or a temporary assignment,
programs. providing an alternative to line organi-
The Talent Exchange Program has zations from raising E8000s outside of
been designed following input from the corporate programs. SSD works in
leaders and HR Staff across the busi- collaboration with line organizations to
ness, providing a corporate platform identify the right opportunity for each
that includes chief position holders in employee that has been nominated.
the mobility process. This is a significant enhancement to
enabling opportunities
the varied Internal Mobility programs
on offer, as it ensures that Aramco is
In comparison to the Job Posting Pro- able to build a corporate talent pool,
gram, which is an employee-driven mo- which is essential to adequately meet
bility program, the Talent Exchange Pro- the needs of the business in a systemat-
gram allows for chief position holders ic and effective manner, providing more
to drive mobility within their teams by transparency and speed to Internal Mo-
fostering career conversations with their bility opportunities being fulfilled.
In efforts to promote Internal Mobility programs and recent changes to the internal staffing policies,
employees and subsequently nominat- the Staffing Services Department hosted a number of awareness booths in Dhahran, Riyadh, Jiddah,
ing them for job opportunities across and Yanbu’ in the first quarter of 2020. Employees who did not have the opportunity to visit a booth
the business. This could be as a result can find more details in the “Opportunities” section of the MyCareer website.
company’s Sea Water
Injection Department earns
international safety award
Aramco and its Sea Water Injection lected Aramco after evaluating many
Department (SWID) have been awarded safety categories such as Risk Manage-
the International Safety Award. ment, Contractor Safety, ERP, Contin-
The award, which is organized by uous Improvement, and other related
the British Safety Council, is one of the areas.
most prestigious International Awards The award is a direct result of SWID’s
in the safety scheme and features an- well-established Safety Management
nual participants from more than 50 System, as well as the department’s
countries. excellent safety performance in 2019,
The awarding committee had se- with no recordable incidents.
moving from physical space to cyberspace
shifting training to the digital, continuity achieved
Never in our history have our training fa- employees who have completed them.
cilities faced this level of disruption. The main benefits of e-Learning is that it
Thousands of employees have had their is cost-effective, self-paced, available 24/7,
training disrupted by the COVID-19 pan- and can be taken anywhere at any time.
demic. Due to physical distancing restric- Also, the progress of participants can be
tions, a number of our training facilities tracked easily, and the learning material is
were required to close. stored online for future reference.
webinars expand knowledge
Regardless, Saudi Aramco remains com-
mitted to delivering critical education to
our employees, and the closure hasn’t Webinars are one of the best ways to ex-
stopped employees from learning. pand knowledge by learning directly from
In Drilling and Workover (D&WO), man- subject matter experts, and they also help
agement has made training a priority, experts connect with participants to estab-
even if it can’t happen in person. This has lish and promote learning connections.
meant the need to develop and deploy a Because webinars are conducted live
variety of distance learning solutions. and in real-time, it makes it easier for par-
The D&WO Training Division (D&WOTD) ticipants to interact with instructors. Addi-
responded by developing a number of we- tionally, they also offer interactive features
binars and e-Learning courses that are ac- that participants can use to ask questions
cessible from the field, office, and home of the instructor.
locations. So far, more than 400 employ- Also, some hosts grant their audiences
ees have attended training webinars, and access to a replay of their webinar if they
6,500 e-Learning sessions have been com- weren’t able to attend the live session.
pleted. For D&WOTD, the hard work and rapid
In this instance, the challenge proved to development of distance learning prod-
be an opportunity to grow in terms of new ucts is invaluable, not only now (as it helps
ways of training and development. maintain operational continuity), but also
e-Learning
in the future as it works to build and sus-
oped a number of courses using the Artic- six e-Learning courses and e-Learning tests tain high quality virtual learning channels
D&WOTD, which has the in-house capa- ulate Storyline rapid authoring tool. Since have been deployed. And they’ve proved in the workplace, helping ensure employ-
bility to produce e-Learning courses, devel- the closeout of D&WO training facilities, to be popular, judging by the number of ees never stop learning.
the arabian sun June 10, 2020
company news 3
we are all in this together
be a strong link in the safety chain
Just as Aramco has
by Nabeel A. Al-Jama’
our personal lives, the new behaviors
Recent government decisions to loosen we have learned must become lifelong
curfew restrictions are a welcome sign
for all of us in the ongoing fight against always been strong in habits.
For instance, as we begin a safe re-
its efforts to ensure
the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. turn to the workplace, we will reunite
While the preceding months have of- with many people whom we have not
safety across the
fered no shortage of uncertainty, one seen for weeks or months. It will be im-
thing that has been clear beyond a doubt portant to adopt new methods to show
organization, we must
is the fact that in these unprecedented our affection. Noncontact greetings
times, we are all in this together. such as a hand to the chest will help
apply that same rigor
Yet our collective well-being requires prevent the spread of the virus.
individual actions and initiative to stop And while it is normal in many cul-
to the fight against COVID-. As
the spread of the disease. There is a say- tures to embrace, staying two meters
ing that a chain is only as strong as its apart and avoiding in-person meetings
many of us begin to return to work,
weakest link. To secure a safe future for show our colleagues that we want to
all of us, it is imperative that we each protect them against the spread of in-
or readjust our personal lives, the
take personal responsibility for our ac- fection as much as our families and
tions. friends outside.
If each of us takes this responsibility se- Never before have we had to adhere
riously, wears a mask, washes our hands,
and avoids large public gatherings, then
new behaviors we have learned must to medical guidance that extends into
every aspect of the lives of ourselves,
there will be no weak link. These behav-
iors help every one of us to protect our become lifelong habits. our family, and our friends. Vigilance
is essential. The safety of our families,
people and our community. This lifestyle friends and colleagues is in our own
allows our hardworking health care per- hands. Each of us must change our be-
sonnel to meet this formidable challenge haviors to protect one another.
with the energy and resources required. strong in our efforts to ensure safety many parts of our “normal” lives that But I take confidence from that. Be-
a return to business across the organization, we must ap- we must leave behind — for our own cause this reliance on one another
and new behaviors
ply that same rigor to the fight against safety and for the health of our friends, shows how we are truly all in this to-
COVID-19. Subsequently, to return to families, and colleagues. As many of gether, and it can build an unbreakable
Just as Aramco has always been “business as usual,” there are, in fact, us begin to return to work, or readjust chain to fight this deadly disease.
Aramco’s Sami Alnuaim emphasizes resilience,
focus during Society of Petroleum Engineers live broadcast
by Susan V. Gonzalez
ceur of Nomadia Energy Consulting. Ma-
More than 1,500 energy professionals ria Angela Capello, chairwoman of the
logged on to a live broadcast “SPE Talks SPE Business, Management and Leader-
Leadership” available via the profession- ship Committee, and also of Kuwait Oil
al social network LinkedIn to learn how Company, served as moderator.
organizations are navigating challenging Panelists took questions from members
times in the face of the COVID-19 pan- with interest in the future of SPE con-
demic and a low oil price environment. ferences. Alnuaim and Blasingame said
Sami Alnuaim, manager of Saudi Aram- there were multiple scenarios being con-
co’s Petroleum Engineering Application sidered on how to best deploy technical
Services Department and the Society of content, working collaboratively with
Petroleum Engineer’s (SPE) outgoing 2019 other societies to determine the future
president, joined three other panelists of SPE conferences that will be conduct-
emphasizing resilience and focus on core ed virtually and be interactive.
business priorities and operational safety. Alnuaim added that SPE will deliv-
“We need to work together balancing er several major conferences virtually
short- and long-term action plans,” said during 2020, starting this month. SPE
Alnuaim. “The strategic nature of the en- will take advantage of its new 2019 re-
ergy industry demands this of us.” leased app to reach more of its global
He recognized the energy industry’s members, tapping into Fourth Industrial
strong community involvement and sup- Revolution tools such as machine learn-
port for social programs during the pan- ing and artificial intelligence to deliver
demic. “This is the spirit of our industry,” specific technical knowledge based on a
Sami Alnuaim listens to SPE members and academic staff from the University of Houston in Texas
he added. during a “We Are Houston’s Energy University” luncheon held in 2019. member’s profile and historical behavior.
setting response, relevant “The right knowledge will reach our
responsibilities
members through the SPE smartphone
ing in digitalization for more online vir- elist Tom Blasingame commented that app 24/7,” he added. Visit spe.org for
Alnuaim agreed with panelists that now tual learning to deploy content; creating the industry’s best innovations come the latest webinars and global events.
is a time for leadership, clear messag- a job portal dedicated to helping those during downturns and that the best
ing, and empathy and flexibility with the in job transition featuring virtual job leaders emerge in crises.
workforce. To viewers, many of them SPE fairs; creating “SPE Connect” for tech- “People are having to adapt and be
members, he outlined priorities by the nical section communities, discussions, progressive,” he said. “In the near time,
society to be responsive and relevant to blogs, and libraries; and developing an we look to prepare people for a different
membership. SPE mobile app. future and transformation of their work
Alnuaim articulated the society’s top
imagining a more lives.”
virtual future
business priorities for its 150,000 strong Joining Alnuaim and Blasingame were
global membership, including: tapping Eve Sprunt, 2006 SPE president, and
into technology to reduce costs; invest- Incoming 2021 SPE president and pan- 2022 SPE president-elect Kamel Ben Na-
June 10, 2020 the arabian sun
4 company news
Aramco student’s rock failure prediction work opens
door to international recognition
by Jim Cook
ing mathematical formulations and auto- provides me with the courage to keep pur-
Hussain Albahrani can see the mirac- mating repetitive tasks into a code means suing new creative ideas no matter how
ulous in the mundane. That talent won that geomechanics modeling is the perfect unconventional they may seem,” he said.
him the Society of Professional Engineers’ area of research for me.” Ashraf M. Al-Tahini, EXPEC ARC man-
(SPE) Gulf Coast North America Regional Albahrani said the model developed for ager, said he looks forward to applying
Award-Ph.D. Division for a project that his project improves the accuracy of rock Albahrani’s work to Saudi Aramco’s oper-
provides a model for predicting rock fail- failure prediction by 95%, and this claim ations.
ure while drilling is ongoing. is backed up by verifiable and reproduc- “His research addresses an important
Albahrani, a graduate student sponsored ible lab and modeling data. He said that challenge for the industry and is very well
The model developed for
by Aramco to attend Texas A&M Univer- providing a faster, more accurate predictor aligned with the drilling automation digital
sity, submitted a project entitled “An Au- of rock failure will help minimize nonpro- transformation concept,” Al-Tahini said.
tomated Drilling Geomechanics Simulator
Using a Machine Learning Assisted Finite
ductive time events and reduce operations
costs.
“We look forward to integrating his valu-
able research as part of DigitalARC platform
the project improves the
Element Model” to the competition. Be- Albahrani spent about two years on the — EXPEC ARC’s digital transformation ini- accuracy of rock failure
prediction by 95%,
cause Albahrani won the Gulf Coast North project, and plans to publish his results. tiative for providing advanced IR 4.0-based
America Regional Award, he gets to com- He is also now hard at work pursing oth- solutions to upstream challenges.”
pete against 13 other regional winners at
SPE’s Annual Technical Conference and Ex-
er avenues within the oil and gas industry
to apply the model he created. Albahraini
Albahrani hopes that his achievement
will inspire other students to challenge
providing a faster, more
hibition (ATCE) 2020. said he wished to dedicate his project to themselves and pursue the ideas they’re accurate predictor of
Improving rock failure rock failure that will
his parents, who taught him the value of passionate about.
prediction by 95%
hard work, and thanked his management “Don’t pay attention to the fear in your-
and his adviser, professor Nobuo Morita. self — the fear of learning new things
help minimize
The mathematics and mechanics Albah-
showing the world what and not being good at them in the begin-
nonproductive time
Aramco can provide the world
rani delved into for his project may seem ning,” he said. “The fear of pursuing out-
events and reduce
dry subjects to some, but for Albahrani of-the-box ideas that may seem strange to
they were an endless source of fascination. Albahrani said he saw the competition others. And definitely the fear of failing.
“While my background is in petroleum
engineering, I always had an interest and
as an opportunity to challenge himself and
show the world the quality research that
“If you try something new and you fail,
that is progress; you now have one less
operations costs.
curiosity about mechanics,” Albahrani Aramco and Saudi Arabia can provide the thing to worry about, and you can move — Hussain Albahrani
said. “This is combined with the fact that I world. on to trying new things until you find your
get an immense amount of joy implement- “I’m very grateful for this win because it next passion,” Albahrani added.
College Preparatory Program makes the grade
Aramco reaches milestone agreement with top U.S. engineering college
The Colorado School of Mines, a leading school graduates. The majority to apply for credit for transferred Technical Programs Department at Aramco
U.S. university for engineering, has signed of CDPNEs attend the CPP, a courses and provide a strong Americas. “We hope that this will be the
an agreement with Aramco accepting 10-month college prep pro- validation as to the quality start of many such agreements with U.S.
coursework credit from College Degree Pro- gram in Dhahran, before and outcomes of the CPP universities.”
gram Non-Employee (CDPNE) students who being placed in highly program.” Aramco Americas provides support for
graduate from the company’s College Prepa- competitive universities The Colorado School students in the CDPNE program with a team
ratory Program (CPP). worldwide. of Mines is the 19 th of advisers assigned to help students achieve
Aramco’s education support teams in the “This agreement is university to recognize their academic goals. Close work with Saudi
U.S. and Saudi Arabia see this as a first in an acknowledgment learning outcomes Aramco’s PLD made this milestone possible
what they hope to be a series of U.S. col- of the quality of the from the CPP, and the with the documentation and support mate-
leges and universities recognizing credit for academic courses taken first in North America. rials needed to pass acceptance criteria for
its coursework. Currently, there are 700 Ar- by our students prior to “We continue to build coursework credit established by the school.
amco-sponsored undergraduate students attending colleges and uni- relationships with top-ti- Saudi Aramco’s CDPNE program has been
enrolled in colleges and universities through- versities abroad,” said Mazin er universities around the in place since 1986, and U.S. higher educa-
out the U.S. M. Horsler, administrator of Sau- world and are excited to tion institutions are among the 30 top-tier
testament to CPP quality
di Aramco’s Professional Learning Division have a top engineering school such as the universities worldwide that company-spon-
(PLD). “Such agreements enhance CPP stu- Colorado School of Mines recognize our sored students apply to. It is one of the pri-
The CDPNE program is a highly selec- dents’ prospects of being placed at highly program in this way,” said Mishari N. Al mary sources for entry-level professionals for
tive scholarship program for Saudi high competitive universities, enable students Utaibi, administrator of the Academic and the company.
robots in the Riyadh — At Saudi Aramco, the future is
now when it comes to automation and the
spect areas considered life threatening to
humans during emergencies, such as gas
refinery:
Fourth Industrial Revolution. leaks. This will allow human operators to
The Riyadh Refinery recently got a first- easily manage and control critical plant pa-
hand look at this as it hosted a workshop rameters.
working
with its partner, Yokogawa, highlighting As part of the demonstration, a gas leak
how technology can address a wide swath was simulated, which triggered an audible
toward
of challenges and applications. Titled “In- alarm by the robot and a danger alarm in
dustrial Automation to Industrial Auton- the remote controlled computer.
omy,” the one-day workshop cast an eye “Our operation, engineering, and main-
industrial
toward technologies enhanced by artificial tenance teams enjoy working with these
intelligence, big data analytics, energy op- systems,” said Riyadh Refinery manager Ab-
timization, etc. dulrahman A. Al-Fadhel, who added he was
autonomy
One of the highlights of the event was glad the refinery was chosen to demon-
a demonstration of an autonomous robot strate the robotic innovation. “It will defi-
platform that is designed for high-level in- nitely serve the safety and efficiency of the
dustrial operations. With multiple cameras industry.”
and a payload configured with a hydrocar-
bon sensor, the robot used 4G technology A robot maneuvers through the Riyadh Refinery
to stream video showing its surrounding as part of a recent demonstration during the
one-day “Industrial Automation to Industrial
environment and share data from its sensor
Autonomy.” The demonstration showed how a
readings. robot can carry out simple routine tasks and
The demonstration showed how a robot inspect areas considered life threatening to
can carry out simple routine tasks and in- humans during emergencies, such as gas leaks.
the arabian sun June 10, 2020
company news 5
Downstream Development Academy
helping our leaders protect our people, our company, and themselves
COVID-19 continues to influence us on a demands COVID-19 has created for lead- interest and energy.
global scale. Each one of us is now chal- ership by providing them with a range of “Employee mental well-being is of-
lenged to meet job and family demands at needed resources to lead their teams ten a forgotten element in a crisis
the same time, remaining composed and at this unique time. YOUR that organizations may ignore
in control. Regardless of our position in “This is the time that our
employees and front-line
TEAM MEETINGS YOU in the business world,” said
Rayyan S. Al-Tayeb of the
make remote team
the company, we all feel the challenge that
your mindset
1
COVID-19 is bringing supervisors need us the DR&NGLF HR Division, who
to our work environ- most,” said DR&NGLF HR meetings and leadership pointed to DDA’s thought
ment and family life. Division head Yahya Q. exceptional provoking series of we-
In these uncertain Daghriri. “Let us put binars, which focus on
5
times, Saudi Aram- our effort into sup- such issues as an im-
co has drawn upon porting them during portant step by the
its long history of this difficult time.” leading 2 company.
remote teams
protecting the safety Through its “Leading Another unique part
of our people, our Remote Team Series” YOUR TEAM of DDA’s efforts is the
communities, and
our operations. Or-
comprising five differ-
ent webinars, DDA is
create
structure to
series YOUR
PEOPLE
confidential one-on-one
coaching to front-line
4
ganizations that have Yahya Q. Daghriri working to equip front- increase their mindset leaders and some em-
connection and
3
encouraged a spirit line supervisors and unit ployees on how to deal
of innovation have found new ways to take heads with tools to lead well-being with the stress and anxiety
on the new challenges that the pandemic worried and anxious em- related to the COVID-19
has presented, from business continuity to ployees during this time, or outbreak. This helps our
adapting our work processes to allow for in a similar crisis. Recognizing YOUR leaders and the employees
remote work and physical distancing and the benefits of good mental ONE-ON-ONEs discuss their specific issues in a
safe workspaces. health for the employee and com- remote connections that friendly and confidential environ-
In Domestic Refining and NGL Fraction- pany, it has also provided tools on makes a difference ment with DDA leadership coach
ation (DR&NGLF), our teams are pioneering how to look after the mental and psy- Ayoub.
new methods to prepare front-line leaders chological well-being of our people. Additionally, in support of business conti-
and employees to cope with uncertain and This is the time when sharing ideas and nuity, the DDA also redesigned some of the
challenging times during the pandemic. challenges, lending expertise, and network- face-to-face courses to be delivered virtual-
“Our priority is to keep our people safe ing with peers in real-time are needed the vided us with the tools needed to manage ly using Skype for Business.
as well as Saudi Aramco business. It’s an most. Accordingly, the series’ resources are these situations. He’s shared with us useful Although virtual training participants can
opportunity now to improve our business interactive, helping lead and engage par- tips on how to protect ourselves and em- be prone to distraction, a three-part “Virtu-
model to be more robust, and to prepare ticipants. ployees from the stress anxiety associated al Accountability Model” created by Korn
our leaders for the future,” said Hamad Qa- Feedback has been strongly positive. with the COVID-19 pandemic.” Ferry focusing on verbal, visual, and kin-
htani, RT Cluster Shared Services manager. “I’ve learned ways to sustain business con-
helping employees cope esthetic accountability has been employed
a new set of skills for leaders with stress and anxiety
tinuity even during disruption,” said Mo- successfully.
hammad F. Toom, a supervisor in the Indus- “We understand that the virtual environ-
To align our efforts with corporate effort trial Training Unit. The DDA also developed the Saudi Aram- ment is not suitable for hands-on training,
of coping with COVID-19 outbreak, the Hassan A. Zemei, a supervisor at the Yan- co Care Series for employees, which fea- and that is why we chose virtual training for
Downstream Development Academy (DDA) bu’ Refinery, said the DDA has provided tures webinars on several topics to provide no hands-on training to maintain business
has developed a new set of skills for front- the right tools to manage unfamiliar situ- employees with skills to cope with worries, continuity,” said Ayoub. “New technologies
line leaders and employees to cope with ations. “All of a sudden, we are experienc- stress, and anxiety, work from home while will emerge in the field of training, and our
the new work environment while building ing things we never have before with a lot remaining connected, motivated, and pro- eyes are wide open to spot training tech-
a more agile business model. Its goal is to of confusion and frustration,” said Zemei. ductive. It also delivers webinars on what nologies that will suit us to make sure we
support front-line leaders in meeting the “The DDA and Abdelbasit Ayoub have pro- they need to do when they feel sad, lack run our business in similar circumstances.”
June 10, 2020 the arabian sun
6 company news
not everything brought to
the dinner was welcome
It was Sarah’s birthday and some family planned a dinner party to celebrate.
It was only a few people and they hadn’t seen each other in a while.
What could be the risk?
But one of the invited guests was already infected. Can you tell who it is?
Neither could anyone else.
Never let your guard down.
Because it’s not only about you. It’s about everyone’s safety.
Unsafe personal behaviors can destroy lives. Do your part to keep us all safe.
Maintain a safe Wash your hands with Don't touch your face.
distance of at soap and water for 40 to 60 Avoid touching your eyes,
least 2 meters seconds. Or use hand sanitizer nose, and mouth.
from others. for 20 seconds.
saudiaramco.com/en/covid Help desk 87-COVID (013-872-6843) JHAH 800-305-4444 (Option 3)
Corporate Communication Department
the arabian sun June 10, 2020
company news 7
World Environment Day
Aramco celebrates the Kingdom’s enigmatic wildlife
by Chris Boland
our desert Kingdom. We must help them by mals are being discovered just outside of the
Friday, June 5, was the United Nation’s giving them safe passage across this wide, capital city, then just imagine what species
46th World Environment Day. This year, the sandy land. We must not shoot these birds are yet to be discovered in the many remote
theme was biodiversity, which provides an with guns, but with our cameras instead. regions of this vast Kingdom.
opportunity to celebrate the plants and ani- Each year, approximately 27 million pairs Some of the animals in Saudi Arabia are
mals that share the land, air, and water with of bird from more than 200 species breed so enigmatic that they have only been seen
us. in the Kingdom. There are surely few places once or twice in history. For example, a spe-
Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity is remarkably on Earth more challenging to nest than this cies of snake called the Sarso Island Racer is
rich. Precisely 500 species of bird occur in hot, dry, windswept ecosystem. Yet, birds known only from a single specimen collect-
the Kingdom, along with 117 mammals, manage to breed throughout, from the for- ed in 1964 on Sarso Island in the Farasan Ar-
The eastern imperial eagle is just one of the
107 reptiles, eight frogs, 148 butterflies, ested peaks of the ‘Asir Mountains to the chipelago off Jazan. It had never been seen
hundreds of birds that can be found in the
266 corals, and 1,230 fish. extraordinarily sparse sand seas of the Rub’ before and has never been seen since. Kingdom. Almost 300 of the 500 bird species are
a remarkable migration
al-Khali. Nowhere is devoid of birds.
a special and vulnerable migratory, flying in from their breeding sites in
biodiversity
Each of these birds is a testament to the Greenland, Europe, Asia, India, or Africa.
Almost 300 of the 500 bird species are capacity of animals to endure extreme hard- (Photo: Jem Babbington/EPD)
migratory, flying in from their breeding ships just to raise their young. Given the Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity is special. Ap-
sites in Greenland, Europe, Asia, India, or great challenges of breeding in Saudi Ara- proximately one in seven plant and animal
Africa. Some nest as far away as Alaska bia, we must help these birds by not dis- species found in the Kingdom occur in the ing biodiversity. Over 2.2 million mangroves
and Canada in the east, then undertake an turbing their nests, by keeping our hungry Arabian Peninsula and nowhere else on have been planted along the coasts, and a
epic 15,000-km journey across all of Asia, cats inside, and by leaving every tree, bush, Earth. further 1 million native desert trees are be-
through Saudi Arabia, and on to southern shrub, and blade of grass intact wherever Indeed, some, such as the ‘Asir magpie, ing planted inland.
Africa where they spend the winter, before possible. occur only in Saudi Arabia — in a few tiny The company has designated 10 biodi-
literally racing back to the north to breed
new species still being patches of juniper forest in the ‘Asir. This is versity protection areas covering 977 km2,
discovered
once again. just one of the animals that help to make which helps to protect over 500 species of
Some of these birds are tiny, such as the Saudi Arabia such a unique place to live. plants and animals, including 55 species or
Willow Warbler, which weighs only 10 Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity is enigmatic. Finally, Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity is vul- subspecies that are unique to Saudi Arabia.
grams — as little as a teaspoon of sug- New species are still being discovered, and nerable. Many of our plant and animal spe- Three endangered species have been re-
ar. Others are some of the largest birds on many more are yet to be found. For exam- cies are listed as threatened with extinction. introduced to our huge wildlife sanctuary at
Earth, with colossal wingspans exceeding ple, a new species of reptile (known only by Several animals, such as the wonderful ‘Asir Shaybah, namely the Arabian oryx, Arabian
3.5 meters in length, such as the formidable its Latin name, Tropiocolotes wolfgangboeh- magpie and Arabian leopard, are perilously sand gazelle, and the common ostrich — all
Great White Pelican. mei) was discovered recently in the Ath-Thu- close to disappearing forever, while species of which once roamed the Kingdom in great
These migratory birds are visiting guests to mamah area just north of Riyadh. If new ani- such as the Saudi gazelle and Arabian os- numbers.
trich have already fallen into the abyss of Each of us can help by not driving over
The Arabian toad- extinction. desert plants, not hunting, not littering,
headed agama basks in Mammal species have fared particularly planting native plants, keeping our cats in-
the sun at the Shaybah poorly in Saudi Arabia, as they have across side, and learning more about the enigmatic
Wildlife Sanctuary. Saudi the planet. The Kingdom’s 12 largest wild biodiversity that lives alongside us in Saudi
Arabia’s biodiversity is
special. Approximately
mammal species are all either endangered Arabia … or else soon it will be too late.
one in seven plant and or extinct.
animal species found in The United Nations has chosen the theme
the Kingdom occur in of biodiversity for this year’s World Environ-
the Arabian Peninsula ment Day because, quite simply, the world’s visit
and nowhere else on
biodiversity is in crisis. promoting
biodiversity
Earth. (Photo: Chris
Boland/EPD) committed to environmental
protection website
Saudi Aramco is committed to protect-
putting people first when it comes to IT interactions
by Abdullah Y. Al-Hassan
“Fostering a culture of proactive demand services, the reports also highlight optimi- continuous improvement, and it augments
Nowadays, as business needs rapidly fulfillment can definitely enable IT to meet zation opportunities that not only increase overall performance efficiency,” says Central
change, so is the Information Technology and exceed the customers’ expectations,” compliance with internal GI requirements, Region IT superintendent Abdulaziz H. Al-
(IT) landscape that supports them. Because said Tanajib IT superintendent Rami A. Al- but also provide maximum business advan- Saiyari.
of this, it is imperative to regularly encour- Ghanim. An example of this was when a tage. Thanks to the IT Customer Engagement
age customer interactions and listen to their meeting with the Safaniyah Onshore Pro- So far, AITD, working in collaboration with Report, department managers now can
experiences. ducing and Khursaniyah Gas Producing the IT Customer Relations Department, has benchmark with other departments in the
Sustaining these collaborations with cus- departments revealed that they needed to released 58 unified reports to plant manag- same admin area in terms of annual cost
tomers is the essence of customer engage- equip critical plant locations with videocon- ers Kingdomwide. The value-driven reports, of IT services. This exercise encourages ef-
ment. ferencing systems. which are shared quarterly, are designed to fective use of resources while promoting a
“Customer engagement remains a cor- In a short time, AITD was able to provide foster strong IT customer engagement. culture of excellence.
nerstone in our day-to-day operations, and an innovative and cost-effective solution. The reports also feature overall customer And, these reports can also be a great
it is a key source of opportunities that can Later, when Upstream needed to conduct experience, which is gathered from the CRM resource to share updates regarding joint
proactively address business needs,” said virtual meetings across 24 locations to more and Remedy systems. This is important as it initiatives and projects, thereby elevating
Adel S. Al Doulab, manager of the Area IT than 200 employees, the new solution was paves the way for discussions and feedback collaboration through increased communi-
Department (AITD), noting that no efforts mimicked to enable the successful comple- from customers on how to potentially im- cation. This helps in tackling obstacles that
are spared in continually creating innovative tion of the project. prove IT provided services. could impede progress on critical initiatives
methods to strengthen this engagement.
keeping effective IT benchmarking, updates, and projects.
fostering a culture of ‘proactive utilization in sight and new services
Another section in the reports details the
demand fulfillment’
latest IT solutions and services, giving man-
Another way that the company IT service One of the most effective ways to pursue agement an opportunity to explore new
AITD regularly reaches out to customers has been improved has been in the automa- excellence and improve service is through tools and provide feedback, which can then
to proactively anticipate business needs and tion and standardization of reports. Detail- benchmarking. be used for proactive improvement and
address them in a timely fashion. ing current use and future demand for IT “Benchmarking enables a mindset of fixes.
COVID-١٩
special edition
getting back - but not quite to normal
June 10, 2020 the arabian sun
Abqaiq: cohabitation of nature,
8 company news
by Janet Pinheiro of the ad-Dahna desert. display of arid vistas lies desert’s natural eastern
(Photos: Hasan M. Almubarak/MPD) Ad-Dahna connects to an extensive network of incline toward the Arabian
the Kingdom’s other grand pipes, and within their Gulf, pulls the Arabian
Curving 1,000 kilometers deserts — an-Nafud in carbon steel confine gently Light and Extra Light
(km) along the East Coast the north and Rub’ al- flows nature’s amazingly crude oils from numerous
of Saudi Arabia is the vast Khali in the south — and agile gift — crude oil. Saudi Aramco plants into
creamy red sandy terrain hidden beneath its sheer Gravity, generated by the an industrial heartland of
Community outreach cohabiting natural habitats On the waterline’s horizon growing with of nature’s protection and restoration re-
Quivering on the near horizon from the green magnificence, a 40-year-old compa- sides two communities — the city of Abqaiq
Southern Area Oil Operations vice processing pulse of Abqaiq’s 14 plants ny planted forest ascends from the desert and the Abqaiq Plants’ residential commu-
president Khaled A. Al Buraik, whose stretches a gorgeous wetland protected by sands, while sheltering immediately under nity.
people of the desert
role includes being the mayor of the Saudi Aramco, whose tranquil watercourses the shimmering engineering prowess of
city of Abqaiq (known as the “Friendly meander across 3 km2, exploring the shad- Abqaiq Plants thrives a recently created na-
City”), says Saudi Aramco plans to ows of ad-Dahna sand dunes and jebels ture park. Responsible for the greenbelt and wet-
share its Abqaiq environmental (hills). Notably, coexisting alongside these areas land since 2016, Southern Area Oil Oper-
newly created
preservation and enhancement work
by creating a community eco-park
nature park
within the wetland area.
“Abqaiq wetland is one of the
Kingdom’s most diverse and irreplace-
able natural wetlands, used by many
birds, mammals, and reptiles for
feeding, breeding, or as a migration
stopover site,” said Al Buraik. “Saudi
Aramco wants to transfer its environ-
mental knowledge and values to the
community by inviting them to visit,
enjoy, and learn about the wetland.”
“Everyone needs to preserve our
natural environment. Without it, there
will be nothing left for the next
generation,” he added.
The eco-park will contain strict
ancient wetland
conservation areas, as well as recre-
ational areas, which will include a
loud with life
walking path, sitting area, outside
gym, and playground.
A little grebe cheerfully explores the sur- many plants, insects, birds, mammals, and
face of an Abqaiq wetland pond in a late water creatures.
spring afternoon, diving below the surface A perimeter protection fence means the
to forage for its plentiful delights of suste- little grebe can forage with carefree aban-
nance. A symphony of nature’s music plays don alongside the more than 200 migrat-
in the background; frogs croak, dragonfly ing and native birds choosing the wetland
wings hum, and birds sing. as a habitat.
Fringed with dense thickets of graceful Al-Jamil explains Saudi Aramco erected
water reeds, the wetland is a naturally ex- the fence in 2016 after the company dis-
posed portion of an ancient aquifer whose covered construction waste was increas-
clear waters sprawl into expanses and ingly being dumped on the wetlands’
corners to generously create habitats for shores.
Community Services Department
environmental coordinator Haithm A.
Alshareef says it is essential to protect
an entire ecosystem.
“Saudi Aramco’s high operational
standards means we carefully manage Native desert resilient fauna and flo-
environmental impacts to protect the ra is being protected and restored at a
surrounding water, air, and land,” said newly fenced area within the Abqaiq
the biology graduate who holds a mas- Plants residential community.
ter’s degree in environmental science Since mid-2019, a well-preserved
from the University of New Haven, in 135,000 square meter desert area has
the U.S. turned into a nature park, which in-
“For many decades, day and night, cludes a visitor center, shaded obser-
Abqaiq Plants has processed a substan- vation walkway, and an artificial water-
tial quantity of crude oil,” said Alsha- hole fed with recycled water.
reef. “The healthy ecosystem existing More than 2,100 Saudi trees have
in Abqaiq is a primary indicator of how been planted, and local fauna intro-
Saudi Aramco cares for human duced includes Arabian sand gazelles,
well-being and the planet.” two local fish species, and one native
turtle species.
the arabian sun June 10, 2020
people and industry
company news 9
Decades of friendly respect
in industrial heartland
global significance; Abqaiq,
the world’s largest crude
oil stabilization facility, Abqaiq
34 4 more than 6 1
plant mammals 49 reptiles fish
situated about 50 km
inland from the Arabian
wetland species birds species
Gulf, and operating for
more than seven decades.
ations (SAOO) maintenance engineering spe- ther and local resident. Communities Services Department, and the
cialist Naser H. Al-Jamil said a 2016 scientific “People visiting the wetland say their spirits Environmental Protection Department are
study found that Abqaiq shelters three habi- are lifted up when they connect with its na- working together to ensure the sustainable
tats — two natural areas of sand dunes, a ture,” he said. management of this unique biodiversity area,”
wetland, and an artificial green belt. “Saudis are people of the desert. By relating Al-Jamil added. “Together, we are supporting
“The Abqaiq wetland is an oasis of special to our surrounding environment, we connect the company’s corporate objective of protect-
habitats that contrasts with the dry surround- with our traditional cultural roots.” ing the environment and underlining Saudi Ar-
ing desert environment,” said Al-Jamil, a fa- “Southern Area Oil Operations, the Abqaiq amco’s core value of citizenship.”
Saudi Aramco’s long-term
business view means it invests
wisely in the design and
operation of its plants.
The company’s 2019
upstream carbon intensity
was 10.1 kg of carbon
dioxide equivalent (CO2e)/
boe, and Abqaiq Plants
environmental coordinator
Abdulla G. Alhamed says
well-maintained facilities and
consistent application of high
operational standards
exceptional Saudi
contributes toward low
carbon intensity.
Aramco forest
“Saudi Aramco’s green-
house gas emissions program
supports reporting require-
Rising on the wetland’s western and 70 wildlife breeding boxes in 2016. ments based on industry
southern sides are many trees, some plant- “I am proud of how Saudi Aramco is guidelines,” said the environ-
ed as far back as 1979 when local Aram- helping the environment through our mental engineering graduate.
cons decided to establish a “greenbelt” of work to look after the forest and plant “Abqaiq Plants commenced
trees. more trees in it,” he added. in 1947, but the latest
Inside this breathtaking emerald haven, As part of the Saudi Aramco and the technology and consistent
Arabian sunrays dreamily filter down to a Kingdom’s tree planting programs, addi- maintenance keeps it new,
forest floor naturally carpeted with fallen tional native trees have been planted in and how it operates keeps
tree leaves, and it is a precious place for the greenbelt and watered with a new the surrounding environment
SAOO supervising operator Sultan Yami. irrigation system fed with recycled water safe.”
“I tell my family, my children, and from a community treatment plant.
friends about how alive the greenbelt is,” Water produced by the Abqaiq Plant is
said Yami. “So many birds live inside the also used as drinking water for plant per-
forest, especially after the Environmental sonnel, and supplied to the neighboring
Protection Department installed more than Abqaiq community.
Abqaiq
Abqaiq is part of more than 1,200 km2 of
tantalizing biodiversity living within Saudi
Aramco’s onshore producing areas.
Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area
Company area of significant biodiversity
June 10, 2020 the arabian sun
10 company news
despite challenges, the show must go on
rehearsal video showcases creativity
by Dalia Darweesh
Though the play “Singin’
Dhahran — Every year, the Dhahran Mid- in the Rain Jr.” was
dle School hosts a musical. This year, how- canceled just one week
before it was to be
ever, the performance was canceled 24
performed, a video
hours before its premiere, with COVID-19 version using edited
to blame. materials from rehearsals
Athough Erik Melver, theater arts produc- and the run-up to the
er at Dhahran Middle School, was undaunt- opening day premiered
on YouTube.
ed. With access to videos taken during
dress rehearsals, in addition to the help of
volunteers who were eager to edit the vid-
eos — the one-hour “Singin’ in the Rain
Jr.” musical premiered on YouTube.
“It is a story of solidarity in isolation and
overcoming the obstacles of life under cur-
fews and quarantine,” said Melver. “The
show must go on.”
Tara Van Heel, director and parent of cast
member Violet, said, “We’ve had to over-
come a lot of challenges, but found a way work that students and volunteers have put virtual band performance
to let students’ energies and talents shine.” in,” said Spurlock.
Violet said that most of the cast sent “‘Singin’ in the Rain’ was such a fun Like the students in the talent show and
messages to congratulate each other and show, and hearing that it would be can- the spring musical, students of Dhahran
shared their love and support after the pre- celed was tragic,” said Carson Bellaire, a School’s band program were also passion-
miere. ninth-grader who played the lead male role ate to share their talents with the commu-
Sarah Spurlock, a painter who is also in in the play. “But thanks to Mr. (Jared) Co- nity. Just as the 24-hour curfew was im-
charge of makeup, said that her son, Hugh, bia and the team of directors, we were able posed, band director Brian White assigned
performed for the first time on stage while to have an amazing online performance. a musical piece called “Medal of Freedom.”
his family in the U.S. watched the perfor- This gifted me with closure and allowed my The theme of freedom seemed to reso-
mance. family to see it.” nate with the students, White said, and
A talent show featuring students from Ras
one district together at home
“It was amazing to see the amount of Tanura, Dhahran, Abqaiq, and ‘Udhailiyah, they stepped up to the challenge by prac-
proved to be a big hit and a great way to wind ticing, and recording themselves on video
This same spirit of resilience motivated down the school year. and audio. The separate performances
the students and teachers in all four school were then edited together.
watch districts — ‘Udhailiyah, Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, don, said that learning and connecting are “The results are spectacular, and I am so
“Singin’ in and Dhahran — to put together a 42 min- the heart of the distance learning program. proud of their efforts. Even apart, our Wild-
the Rain Jr.” ute talent show production on YouTube. “Time was the greatest limiting factor,” cat band students can perform together,
video The show, which included singing, dancing,
piano, and guitar playing, as well as a pup-
Gordon said. “We are so proud of every
single one of our students at the Saudi Ar-
virtually,” said White.
Even though we are going through tough
pet show, received 600 views within the amco Expatriate Schools; we would have times, there are still ways to make shows
first half hour of its posting. loved to feature them all.” happen, to have them appreciated and cel-
Michael Smith, district superintendent, Talent scouts Laxmi Sivakumar and Amy ebrated through technology.
said he was very proud of the team’s efforts Jines from RT shared how distance learning
see talent and the stamina of the students, teachers, with a group of specialists and teachers has
show video and parents since they shifted to distance
learning, enduring both lockdowns and
ignited the students’ various passions, giv-
ing them the motivation to communicate
curfews. their feelings creatively, which included
Principal of Dhahran School, Daniel Gor- music.
your voice
our most valuable assets:
self-determination and motivation
The world is now facing the inevitable of our lives and the choices we make. On the other hand, intrinsic motiva-
proliferation of COVID-19 cases impact- In turn, this has an enormous impact to tion comes from within our soul. Our
ing our livelihood, industries, and lives our own motivations regardless of what core values, personal sense of morality,
as a whole. However, as “front-liners” the given circumstance is. and interests are internal drives that in-
working for a key player in the global oil According to the self-determina- spire us to behave in such ways.
and gas industry, the pandemic does not tion theory, people are motivated and In the tough and challenging times
keep us from coming to work every day self-determined to grow and change we are in now, we need both self-de-
amid the threat of the dreadful virus to when their need for competence, con- termination and motivation to keep our
make sure that we can serve the world nection, and autonomy are satisfied. It toes to the ground and moving forward,
with its needs for energy. also suggests that there are two main knowing that we are in a brinksman-
It is “self-determination” that drives types of motivation — extrinsic and in- ship battle with an enemy that cannot
by Ricardo Baclig us to continue the business and our trinsic — which are both potent forces be seen, and is so powerful that it has
Yanbu’ personal life, adapting the new norms in shaping who we are and how we act distraught the world with a single blow.
Ricardo.Baclig@aramco.com that are innate in each of us. Self-deter- on things. So, if I’m being driven by my moti-
mination refers to each person’s ability Extrinsic motivation is a drive to be- vation and self-determination with my
to make choices and manage their own have in a certain way based on external hopes and dreams in life oblivious of the
life, which plays a vital role in one’s psy- sources, and it results in external re- future that lies ahead of us, what about
Your Voice reflects the thoughts and opinions
of the writer, and not necessarily those of the
chological health and well-being. This wards such as promotions, awards, com- you, what keeps you going in this time
publication. allows us to feel that we are in control pliments, and so on. of uncertainty?the arabian sun June 10, 2020
company news 11
* Some sites are not available via the company network. All well-being information is accessible from your home computer or mobile.June 10, 2020 the arabian sun
12 company news
Ithra looks to inspire through ‘Ithra Talks:
Up Close With’ speaker series
Dhahran — TThe King Abdulaziz Center
for World Culture (Ithra) will launch “Ithra
Talks,” its new digital speaker series featur-
ing live discussions and question-and-answer
sessions with international creators, celebri-
ties, and experts across various fields.
The new digital series will go live on Ithra’s
YouTube channel on Saturday, June 13, at 4
p.m., and will feature award-winning actor
Idris Elba for its inaugural session.
Designed to provoke insightful conversa-
tions and learning opportunities by bridging
audiences with experts, the “Ithra Talks”
series will offer participants the chance to
directly connect with industry experts in a
virtual setting. The series will cover different
topics such as film, science, design, architec-
ture, and fashion. It will allow audiences in
the comfort of their own homes to hear
from, learn from, and interact with a variety
of special guests from around the world.
The first session will feature the acclaimed
Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominat-
ed English actor and entertainer Idris Elba, as
he joins Ithra’s online audiences for a live
question-and-answer session moderated by
Saudi film director Ali Alsumayin.
The second session, on June 20, will
feature renowned American astrophysicist,
author, and world-famous science communi-
cator Neil deGrasse Tyson.
On June 27, leading international architect
and Snøhetta founding partner, Kjetil Trædal
Thorsen — the design firm behind Ithra’s
iconic structure — will be joined by the head
of the Ithra Advisory Group, Fatmah Al-
rashid, for the final session this month.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19
pandemic and preventative public proce-
dures, Ithra has offered a variety of programs
online in both Arabic and English to allow
access to world-class and relevant content.
To access the livestream of the event,
audiences can log into the Ithra channel on
YouTube at 4 p.m. each Saturday in June.
The audience will have an opportunity to ask
questions during the live session or via Ithra’s
social media hashtag, #Ithratalks.
Yanbu’ NGL Fractionation team earns global reliability
award for their maintenance excellence
Knoxville, Tennessee — The Yanbu’ NGL in the Technical Services Department of Ar-
Fractionation Department (YNGLFD) was amco Americas.
recently recognized for its performance
Operational Excellence
efforts pay off This is a testament
against global industry peers in reliability
and maintenance at the 24th Annual Main-
of top performance
tenance and Reliability Conference (MAR- Experts attribute Operational Excellence
CON). (OE) to a combination of assets with a cul-
in asset
The “Sustaining Reliability Culture” award ture of commitment. Saudi Aramco’s OE
for 2019 called out the work of the YNGLFD program underscores this culture of asset
for its leading position in maintenance ex-
cellence determined by benchmarking key
ownership, which has resulted in YNGLFD
achieving groundbreaking levels in efficien- management with
metrics for refineries around the world.
Solomon Associates, a leading perfor-
cy, reliability, and safety in an economical
and sustainable way. optimum cost
mance improvement company for the glob-
al energy industry, noted Yanbu’ as the
Yanbu’ has won multiple awards through-
out Saudi Aramco, across the Kingdom, control for best asset
first quartile performer in its Reliability and
Maintenance Effectiveness Index against
and around the world in the past few years
in the fields of safety, OE, environment,
utilization.
global industry peers.
“This is a testament of top performance
cybersecurity, social responsibility, energy,
and now adding maintenance and reliability — Mohammed S.
in asset management with optimum cost to its list. ity and Maintenance Center. Alghamdi
control for best asset utilization,” said Mo- MARCON is one of the largest confer- Throughout the four-day event, best prac-
hammed S. Alghamdi, Yanbu’ NGL Fraction- ences in the U.S. for maintenance and re- tices, new and emerging technologies, and
ation Plant manager. Accepting the award liability professionals from a wide range of methods and techniques were shared in the
on behalf of the Yanbu’ team was Chris industries, companies and organizations. It areas of reliability and maintenance engi-
Eubanks, supervisor of the Inspection Unit is hosted by the industry supported Reliabil- neering, and management.the arabian sun June 10, 2020
company news 13
well-being
caring for your health and wellness
with strength and courage, resilience
8
The 2-to-1 Breathing Technique
can help you bounce back
This is a self-calming technique you can practice at any time to help you
manage your feelings and promote relaxation.
The 2-to-1 breathing technique activates a relaxation response in your
body’s para-sympathetic nervous system. It is called 2-to-1 because you
exhale twice as long as you inhale.
by Layal AlKhatib
day. Step 1: Find a quiet, comfortable location
With the outbreak of COVID-19, it’s easy It is also critical to care for your mental where you feel safe.
to lose ourselves with all the worry, anxiety, and social well-being. Try the following: Step 2: Settle into a comfortable seated or
reclining position. (You may wish to remove
fear, and a host of other emotions we are • Stay connected: During the pandem- your shoes and loosen tight clothing.)
experiencing during this time. Our lives have ic, it is important to keep your distance but Step 3: Put one hand on your chest and the
other on your stomach.
been altered in many ways, and adjusting to also to stay (virtually) close. Feelings of lone-
Step 4: Close your eyes, and focus on
the new normal while protecting our loved liness and isolation during the pandemic can your breathing.
ones and ourselves can take a toll on our lead to depression. But physical distancing Step 5: To get started, take a deep
overall well-being. doesn’t mean disconnecting from loved breath, inhaling through your nose in a
slow, steady manner with a silent count of four:
Still, we are fortunate there are many ones; stay responsibly connected with your
(1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ...)
ways to deal with these challenges if we family and friends by phone, text, or email, You should feel your chest and stomach
stay resilient. hosting a virtual game night, spending rise as you breathe in.
Resilience is defined as the ability to flex- meaningful technology-free time with the Step 6: Then, exhale slowly and steadily
through your nose with a silent count of
ibly adapt to challenging life events. More- people in your household, connecting with eight:
over, in the face of a pandemic, resilience is yourself by practicing mindfulness, mediat- (1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... 5 ... 6 ... 7 ... 8 ...)
needed now more than ever. ing, or practicing yoga. Step 7: Repeat the deep breathing two more times,
How do I build my resilience?
inhaling slowly through your nose with a silent count of
• Remain mentally active: Learn a new four and exhaling slowly through your nose with a silent
hobby or new language. Take an online count of eight.
Resilience is often thought of as the course. Read books you haven’t had the
strength to be patient and calm while ac- time to. Play games with the people in your changes in their lives, give them time and
cepting the change happening around household, or work on a puzzle together. attention, listen to and comfort them, and
you, but that’s only part of the story. While • Address your emotions: If you are address their concerns. Also, involve them
strengthening your resilience, you must be feeling anxious, talking to someone about in fun activities at home, and set a sched-
mindful of your physical, mental, and social your emotions, or write them in a journal. If ule or routine for a sense of normalcy. Read
top five
health. Here are a few tips on building resil- these feelings persist, seek professional sup- “My Hero is You” to your child. Written for
ience: port via an online video visit appointment kids around the world impacted by the pan-
• Focus on your physical health: Stress
can affect your immune system, but you can
with a JHAH psychiatrist through your My-
Chart app.
demic, it should not be read independently
by the child but by a parent, caregiver, or immune boosting
bolster its strength several ways. Exercise at
least 30 minutes a day, be it through an on-
• Silence the noise: Don’t obsess. Mini-
mize the time you spend watching the news
teacher. “Actions for Heroes,” a supplemen-
tary guide to be published later, will help foods
line class or using exercise equipment. and reading COVID-19 reports online. Also, children manage emotions and provide sup-
• Eat nutritious: Prepare meals with don’t be a victim to rumors; instead, seek plementary activities for children to do. The next time you are preparing a
fruits and vegetables while avoiding sugary trusted sources such as JHAH.com. For a trusted source on COVID-19 in- meal or having a snack, try to incorpo-
and fried foods, and cut back on caffeine. • Take deep breaths: Deep breathing formation and preventive measures, visit rate some of these foods to boost your
• Get enough sleep: It is also important can calm your central nervous system and https://www.JHAH.com/en/new-corona- immunity and stay healthy.
to get seven to nine hours of sleep nightly, decrease general discomfort and panic. Try virus. For more guidelines on how to stay Citrus fruits such as grapefruit,
as it reduces stress. our 2-to-1 breathing technique at least once safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, includ- oranges, lemons, and limes are packed
• Stay hydrated: If you are stressed, you a day to sustain and build your resilience. ing guidelines on hand hygiene, grocery with vitamin C, which can boost your
may forget to drink enough water. Try to • Nurture your child’s resilience: Don’t shopping, safely receiving your groceries at immunity and lower your risk of heart
drink at least eight to 13 cups of water a leave your children in the dark. Explain the home, facemasks, office hygiene, and more. disease and chronic diseases.
Broccoli contains fiber, calcium,
how to cope with isolation and loneliness in quarantine potassium, and magnesium, as well as
vitamins A, E, C, and K. With its
A period of home isolation or quarantine you would like to work on by writing them anti-inflammatory properties, broccoli
may be necessary for infection prevention, down and thinking of several potential is a great food to add raw to salads or
but it may affect mental well-being. If you solutions. to cook with your meal.
are feeling lonely or isolated during this Seek additional help by talking to a Garlic contains vitamins B6 and C,
difficult time, follow these steps to help supportive friend, a trusted family mem- selenium, fiber, and manganese. It is
you cope: ber, your primary care physician, or call the
also rich in antioxidants and has
• Identify feelings of loneliness: JHAH Emotional Help Line, 8 a.m. to 3
inflammatory and immune boosting
Learn to recognize feelings of loneliness, p.m. weekdays at 013-870-1919. For
properties.
and remind yourself about those people more on how to maintain your mental
who can connect with you. well-being, download our online Mental Ginger has immune boosting and
• Alternative activities: Focus on solo Health Tool Kit at https://www.jhah.com/ anti-inflammatory properties, and can
activities such as keeping a journal, en/new-coronavirus/mental-health-tool-kit. help with digestion.
reading a book, watching television, or Spinach has high levels of vitamins
physical and mental exercises. see A and C, iron, magnesium, fiber, and
• Hope: Establish a sense of hope Mental Health my hero folate. Eating spinach can help reduce
through inspirational stories.
Tool Kit is you the oxidative stress in your body.
• Problem solving: Identify problems
healthy recipe
mango and ginger smoothie
Boost your immunity with an easy to • 1 cup of water
prepare and healthy smoothie packed • Half of a peeled and seeded lemon
with vitamins and nutrients. Instructions:
Ingredients: • Using a blender, blend parsley, celery,
• ¾ inch peeled fresh ginger and water until smooth Become a patient at Johns
• 2 tablespoons of celery • Add the remaining ingredients, and Hopkins Aramco
• ¾ cups of spinach blend again Healthcare (JHAH)
• ½ peeled cucumber • Once fully blended, pour the smoothie Eligible Saudi Aramco employees and their dependents are
invited to register for health care at JHAH.
• 1 ½ cups of mango into a glass, and enjoy your refreshing For more information on how to change your registration,
• 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley drink. contact your local HR Service Center or visit HR Online, or
scan the QR code below for detailed instructions.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: All health and health-related information contained in this Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare company material is intended to be general
in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a health care professional. The advice is intended to offer only a general basis for individuals
to discuss their health and medical conditions with their health care provider. Your health care provider should be consulted regarding matters concerning the
medical condition, treatment, and needs of you and your family.You can also read
