C O M P A N Y O V E R V I E W
SKA International Group
Continues to raise the business profile of the toughest environments Written by: Tom Wadlow Produced by: Craig Daniels
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Despite press coverage depicting the likes of Iraq and Somalia as notorious hotbeds of instability, the company is proving that commercial potential in such places can be extracted by offering vital fuel supply and logistics operations where many would turn and run
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KA International Group is an expert in doing big business in difficult places, underlined by its $80-100 million investment in a state-of-the-art fuel storage facility 20km upstream from the Iraqi coast, testament to more than 10 years’ experience of operating in the war-stricken country. Having excelled in supplying and transporting fuel and equipment during the major US occupation years, the Dubai-based company, with more than 700 employees and turnover in excess of $500 million, is increasingly looking to oil and gas opportunities in Iraq and other countries across the Middle East and Africa with challenging circumstances. SKA has significant ongoing investments in Somalia and Uganda, and is raising the profile of the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport in the UAE with a 10 year agreement, where it has built and operates an Aviation Fuel Storage Facility. SKA’s capabilities include a wide range of fuel
S U P P LY C H A I N
SKA Bedford Trucks in Mogadishu
supply chain management services, aviation services, ground logistics, life support, facility construction, and security services. Working as a good corporate citizen, and helping to develop business, people and communities while supporting charitable initiatives, lies at the heart of what CEO and President, and 100 percent owner Mike Douglas is vying to achieve. “Despite the negative coverage of the countries we are in there is huge potential for development,� he said. “We are already changing that negative impression and a big part of what we do is give back to the communities we do business in.
Key Personnel
Mike Douglas CEO and President
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Providing Turn-key Rental Power Providing Turn-key Rental Power SolutionsTurn-key to the OilRental & GasPower Industry Providing Providing to Turn-key Power Solutions the Oil Rental & Gas Industry Solutions to to the the Oil Oil & & Gas Gas Industry Industry Solutions Whether you need temporary power for the operation of oilfields, the construction of platforms, early temporary production,power planned maintenance loadtest of main power Whether you need for or theemergency operation of oilfields, theor construction of systems, Aggreko has the solution. platforms, early production, planned maintenance of main Whether you need temporary power or foremergency the operation of oilfields,or theloadtest construction ofpower systems, Aggreko has the solution. Whether you need temporary power foremergency the operation of oilfields, or theloadtest construction of We offer full project planning, installation and commissioning, and 24/7 service maintenance. platforms, early production, planned or maintenance of main power platforms, early production, planned or emergency maintenance loadtest of main power systems, Aggreko has the solution. We offer full project planning, installation and commissioning, andor24/7 service maintenance. Aggreko, Power Specialists systems, Aggreko has the solution. in Oil & Gas We offer full project planning, installation and commissioning, and 24/7 service maintenance. Aggreko, Power Specialists in Oil & Gas Middle East Ltd. installation WeAggreko offer full project planning, and commissioning, and 24/7 service maintenance. PO Box 16875, Dubai, UAE Aggreko, Power in Oil Aggreko Middle EastSpecialists Ltd. T: +9714 808 6100 F: +9714 883 1825 Aggreko, Power Specialists in Oil PO Box 16875, Dubai, UAE Aggreko Middle East Ltd. T: +9714 808 6100 F: +9714 883 1825 UAE PO Abu BoxDhabi, 16875, UAEDubai, UAE Aggreko MiddleDubai, East Ltd. +971 (0)4 8086100 +971 (0)2 5549494 T: +9714 808 6100 F: +9714 883 1825 PO Box 16875, Dubai, UAEDammam, Dubai, UAE Abu Dhabi, UAE Kuwait City, Kuwait KSA +971 (0)4 +971 (0)2 5549494 T: +9714 808 6100 F: +9714 883 1825 +966 8086100 (0)13 8580301 +965 23983648
& Gas & Gas
Sharjah, UAE +971 (0)6 5345999 Sharjah, UAEKSA Jeddah, +971+966 (0)6 5345999 (0)12 2727640 Dubai, UAEKSA Sharjah, KSA UAE Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Kuwait City,UAE Kuwait Dammam, +971 (0)4 8086100 +971 (0)6 5345999 +971 (0)2 5549494 +966 (0)13 +966 (0)12UAE 2727640 +965 23983648 Dubai, UAE8580301 Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, UAE Aggreko operates from Dammam, over 190 locations throughout the world. Jeddah, Kuwait City, Kuwait KSA +971 (0)4 8086100 +971 (0)6KSA 5345999 +971 (0)2 5549494 For the location nearest you, please go to: www.aggreko.com/contact +966 (0)13 8580301 +966 (0)12 2727640 +965 23983648 Jeddah, KSA Kuwait City, Kuwait KSAthroughout the Aggreko operates from overDammam, 190 locations world. +966 (0)13 8580301 +966 (0)12 2727640 +965 23983648 For the location nearest you, please go to: www.aggreko.com/contact Aggreko operates from over 190 locations throughout the world. For the location nearest you, please go to: www.aggreko.com/contact Aggreko operates from over 190 locations throughout the world. For the location nearest you, please go to: www.aggreko.com/contact 59853 AGG C2C Adipec Downstream ad (210x276)_AW.indd 1
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Muscat, Oman +968 (0)24 501872 Muscat, Oman Riyadh, KSA +968+966 (0)24(0)8 501872 111005060 Muscat,KSA Oman Riyadh, +968 (0)24 501872 +966 (0)8Oman 111005060 Muscat, Riyadh, KSA +968 (0)24 501872 +966 (0)8 111005060 Riyadh, KSA +966 (0)8 111005060
Doha, Qatar +974 44606178 Doha, QatarKSA Yanbu, +974+966 44606178 (0)14 3963993 Doha, Qatar Yanbu, KSA +974 44606178 +966 3963993 Doha,(0)14 Qatar Yanbu, KSA +974 44606178 +966 (0)14 3963993 Yanbu, KSA +966 (0)14 3963993
Manama, Bahrain +973 17723381 Manama, Bahrain Istanbul, Turkey +973+90 17723381 212 4652050 Manama,Turkey Bahrain Istanbul, +973212 17723381 +90 4652050 Manama, Bahrain Istanbul, Turkey +973 17723381 +90 212 4652050 Istanbul, Turkey +90 212 4652050
06/02/2 06/02/2014
S K A I N T E R N AT I O N A L
SUPPLIER PROFILE
AGGREKO
Since its foundation over 50 years ago, Aggreko has grown to become the world’s leading provider of rental power and temperature control solutions. With over 5,700 employees operating from over 194 locations, Aggreko provides 24/7 availability and service support. Aggreko offers the highest levels of performance and customer service and is truly a global force in temporary power generation. Aggreko in the Middle East Since opening its first regional office in Sharjah in 1991, Aggreko today offers round-the-clock service support and equipment availability in the Middle East through a network of twelve locations in eight countries; UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iraq. Practical Solutions More than products, Aggreko has significant experience in providing power generators, electrical testing and temperature control services, offering total power and cooling solutions. Its equipment allows the flexibility of creative and novel solutions to suit customer needs - solutions that work not just on paper, but in practice. This means offering 24-hour back-up 365 days a year and making full use of a global network of depots to ensure that the equipment is on-site in the shortest possible time. The considerable success of Aggreko is due not only to the services provided, but the way in which those services are provided. The accomplishments are a result of the application of vision and creativity to customers and giving them ideas and solutions that improves their performance – every time. By working with Aggreko, our customers can focus on their core activities, secure in the knowledge their power supply is in the hands of an expert organisation. Website: me.aggreko.com
2014 12:55 12:55
S K A I N T E R N AT I O N A L
Off loading cargo
80,000 Planned number of tonnes of fuel storage available at the Port of Khor Al Zubair 8
“The company can continue to grow significantly in the next three to five years.� Khor Al Zubair Iraq represents arguably the greatest challenges but also the greatest amount of activity for SKA, which operates under nine companies across six Middle Eastern and African countries. Its current flagship investment lies at the Port of Khor Al Zubair, the first privately-owned fuel storage facility in Iraq, with a 20,000 tonne capacity, set to rise to 80,000 once phases two and three are completed. The expansion, which will take total spend to upwards of $80 million, will allow SKA to deliver
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The company’s aim is to handle third party imported products
more fuel to power vital industries in the future. “We have encountered some significant challenges but we are very active, supplying fuel and importing refined products, and keeping power stations operational in what is a very difficult time,” Douglas added. “The expansion will give us more capacity and will allow us to bring in bigger vessels which have lower freight premiums. Our plan is not only to handle our own fuel through the terminal but to handle third party imported products also.” SKA also has a testing lab at the site where Intertek conducts international fuel certifications, giving peace of mind to customers in the knowledge that their fuel is of the highest
“The expansion will give us more capacity and will allow us to bring in bigger vessels which have lower freight premiums” – Mike Douglas
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standard, something which has been problematic in Iraq in the past. Investing in Iraq This project is representative of a shift towards focusing on the oil and gas markets in the country following a number of huge and varied projects based around the US military. SKA handled most of the logistics freight for the US government in a six-year contract and carried out an enormous 180,000-hectare crop spraying scheme in 2006; this while being the key fuel supply chain operator. It now has a fleet of 500 trucks in Iraq moving all kinds of fuel and equipment, and is working with global oil and gas companies including BP and Lukoil. The company’s local knowledge and experience is central to its success. “Security is a major issue in a lot of our regions,” Douglas said. “But 11 years in Iraq has given us the experience to manage our way through a lot of the problems. We have a thorough security plan in place and an extensive evacuation procedure should the need ever arise. “Our experience and knowledge of what happens on the ground is our greatest asset – we can foresee issues before they come to us.” The resoluteness of SKA has played an important part in convincing businesses to invest in Iraq, and Douglas, himself having served in the armed forces, is an active figure at the Iraq British Business Council. This body works tirelessly to
500 Number of trucks in Iraq moving all kinds of fuel and equipment “11 years in Iraq has given us the experience to manage our way through a lot of the problems” – Mike Douglas
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bring in investment to the country and SKA is a founding member. Ras Al Khaimah Closer to its Dubai headquarters, the company is working to improve the commercial profile of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. A $10 million aviation fuel storage facility, recently commissioned, is the first step in attracting both cargo and passenger carriers to the airport. Douglas believes the incentive of a competitive fuel and handling package will draw in investment where before it may not have been attractive. “As the UAE rapidly expands there is a lot of congestion at Dubai International, but currently at Ras Al Khaimah there is a very low level of activity,” he said. “We are injecting some fresh ideas and the large amount of hotel developments going on also shows the tourism potential.” Somalia, Uganda and beyond Aviation is also a crucial part of SKA’s work in Africa, not least in Uganda and Somalia, arguably the most unstable nation on the continent. Here SKA has several contracts with the United Nations (UN) mainly based around life support and fuel supply, and continues to provide supply chain services to Mogadishu airport having given it a new lease of life between 2010 and 2013. SKA has operated helicopters as well as its own fixed-wing aircrafts and truck fleet in Somalia,
SKA has operated helicopters as well as its own fixed-wing aircrafts and truck fleet in Somalia
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The company invests significantly in training
“We pride ourselves on having local staff and taking good care of them, giving opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have” – Mike Douglas
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with a significant focus now being turned towards oil and gas operations. Douglas added: “We have been on the ground for coming up four years and have developed a unique capability in terms of being able to do business. “There is a big opportunity here for oil and gas and a lot of mineral resources which are yet to be explored. We are long-term investors, here for the long haul.” In Uganda, the company is set to begin building a 20,000-tonne fuel storage facility just outside Kampala, with operations looking to commence in 2015. The site is strategically placed on the rail and road networks from Mombasa, facilitating increased import of refined goods. SKA is also about to retain its air operating certificate, an important step on continuing work
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here and for other UN projects in the likes of the DRC, South Sudan and Central African Republic. Building up communities An ultimate end for Douglas is to revitalise the societies in which the company works, with a big part of this revolving around employing and developing local people in the business. SKA employs more than 700 people, a mixture of former armed forces personnel, commerciallyfocused personnel, as well as local nationals. “We pride ourselves on having local staff and taking good care of them, giving opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have,” Douglas added. “We invest a lot in training and sending people abroad to become qualified – I want a loyal group to take us forward.” The company also invests heavily in the charitable sector, for example in Iraq where it supports many events run by the Amar International Charitable Foundation. By continuing to improve its own offering, SKA International Group can keep on driving commercial growth in the world’s most challenging environments where help is needed the most, ultimately uplifting the lives of communities that have endured years of hardship. Douglas concluded: “Despite the negative media headlines there is a huge amount of opportunity in African and Middle Eastern countries. The message I want to give is that we are here to stay.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Supply Chain & Energy HEADQUARTERS
Dubai, UAE FOUNDED
2003 EMPLOYEES
700+ REVENUE
Not Disclosed PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Logistics
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SKA INTERNATIONAL 50127, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel. +971 4 8840 800 Fax. +971 4 8840 808 www.ska-arabia.com