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SINOPEC Releases Sustainability Report in Saudi Arabia
--Document is first sustainability report issued by a Chinese company in Saudi Arabia

Updated: 2019-08-16

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC) officially released its SINOPEC in Saudi Arabia: Sustainability Report on Serving the Construction of the Belt and Road (the "Report") in Daman, Saudi Arabia on Aug 15. The Report showcases how SINOPEC is fulfilling its economical, safety, environmental and social responsibilities in Saudi Arabia. It is the first sustainability report issued by a Chinese company in Saudi Arabia.

Having operated in Saudi Arabia for 19 years, Sinopec has from the beginning adhered to local laws and regulations and been dedicated to fulfilling its social responsibilities. Abiding by the principle of "mutual benefits and win-win cooperation", the company has strengthened its operations and management to meet the highest global standards on safety, health, environmental protection, and advancement of employee interests.

Collaborating for Mutually Beneficial Industry Development

With its world-class refining and chemical technologies, equipment and engineering capacity, SINOPEC has carried out extensive and in-depth collaboration with local enterprises in Saudi Arabia, supporting the social and economic development of both China and Saudi Arabia. The joint venture of SINOPEC and Saudi Aramco, Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company ("YASREF"), is one of the largest refineries in the world and one of the largest investments by China in the gulf area. It has a total investment of $8.6 billion and an annual processing capacity of 20 million tons of crude oil. In January 2016, the President of China, Xi Jinping, and the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, witnessed its inauguration. The successful operation of YASREF supports the transformation and upgrading of Saudi Arabia's economy, and has become a flagship example of Sino-Saudi collaboration in the energy sector.

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Safety and Compliance

SINOPEC is committed to ensuring the highest standard of production safety and operational management. Through implementing systematic safety management practices the company is able to continue to provide quality services and deliver high-standard projects to clients. The drilling teams of Sinopec Oilfield Service Corporation ("SSC") have operated safely for Saudi Aramco for over 12 years while the Saudi Arabia branch of SINOPEC Engineering Co. Ltd has operated safely for SABIC for more than 20 million hours.

Impact Minimization and Environmental Protection

With a strict environmental management system in place, SINOPEC strives to achieve green, circular and low-carbon development in Saudi Arabia and minimize the environmental impact of its project operations. To reduce that impact SINOPEC conducts regular assessments of any effects of its major projects' on biodiversity to proactively mitigate or eliminate potential harm.

SSC attaches great importance to the classification of industrial and household wastes, investing over RMB 3 million on waste management on average every year. All wastewater emitted from the company and its project sites is processed collectively. The processed water meets discharging standards that allow it to be used for plant watering and drinking by birds in the desert.

Employee Development and Respect for Diversity

SINOPEC strongly values its employees. Abiding by the principle of "humanism, responsibility and win-win cooperation", the company always seeks to provide more job opportunities for local communities.

SINOPEC established the Sinopec Saudi Arabia Training Center in 2008, and as of the end of 2018, had provided over 1,000 rounds of training that garnered more than 37,000 attendances by its Saudi Arabian employees. It also held nine rounds of training for more than 170 staff in key posts to help them gain and develop a global perspective. In 2018, SSC invested over RMB 20 million to provide training to approximately 20,000 employees. 

Community and Local Engagement

SINOPEC is committed to the development of local communities and the upgrading of local industries. The company undertook two water conservancy projects in Saudi Arabia, one of which is the water purification and transmission project of the country's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture ("MEWA"). The project, completed by SINOPEC in 2018, is the largest water recycling and reuse project of MEWA to date and has played a crucial role in supporting the development of the Al-Ahsa Oasis region. The project supplies purified irrigation water to this region, benefiting 1 million residents. SINOPEC was also contracted by Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corp (SWCC) to support the construction of the Yanbu-Madina Phase-3 Water Transmission System Project, which has the capacity to provide 550,000 cubic meters of water every day.

"Going forward, following the ten principles outlined by the United Nations Global Compact, Sinopec will continue to support sustainable development," said Dai Houliang, President of Sinopec. "We strive to provide more employment opportunities and continue local procurements to support the development of local communities and businesses. We value the culture, traditions and legacies here, and will continuously encourage our employees to give back to the society."

Xia Qingfeng, Director General of the Communications Division of the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration (SASAC) said, "Saudi Arabia is an important partner to China in the Belt and Road Initiative. The country has been China's largest trading partner in West Asia and Africa for 13 years, and China has been its largest trading partner in the world for six years. The sustainability report launched by SINOPEC sheds light on how Chinese companies in Saudi Arabia can communicate transparently and serves as a good example for other companies."

"The Sino-Saudi strategic partnership is at its best and the two countries have become important cooperative partners to each other from a global perspective," said Yin Lijun, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia. "SINOPEC actively contributes to the development of Saudi Arabia's local industrial production as well as the diversification of its local economy, providing meaningful support for the realization of Saudi Vision 2030. The efforts of SINOPEC have been widely recognized by both governments and other partners of Saudi Arabia."

"As the first sustainability report issued by a Chinese company in Saudi Arabia, the Report not only introduces what we've done in the past, but also promises what we are going to deliver in the future," said Lv Dapeng, SINOPEC' spokesperson at the release event. "In a bid to support realization of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030, Sinopec will continue to contribute to the social and economic development of Saudi Arabia and the happiness of its people."

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The Full text of the Sustainability Report on Serving the Construction of the Belt and Road—SINOPEC in Saudi Arabia can be found on the official website of Sinopec. It can also be downloaded through scanning the QR codes below:

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(Executive editor: Hao Wen)

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