Well, there is a saying that says " life is a roller coaster so just take a ride" . When I heard the official news today, I was not entralled nor surprised, since this kind of rumors had been going on since 1998 . There it is, after 43 years of operation, Esso Port Dickson Refinery, has been sold off by ExxonMobil to San Miguel Corporation from the Philippines today. The refinery has been operating with ups and downs since 1963.
http://www.sanmiguel.com.ph/2011/08/smc-buys-exxon-mobil%E2%80%99s-downstream-oil-business-in-malaysia/
I simply have to write something to pay a tribute to Esso Port Dickson Refinery since I have had a lot of sentimental values with it.
It all started in 2005, when I changed my career path from a mundane electronics manufacturing and RND industries to oil n gas stuff. I had never thought that I would ended up in a quiet Port Dickson town, where one can tour the town in 2 minutes and be done.
I must say that working with Exxon was really a great pleasure during my recent 5 years stay there. That was the place that were full of opportunities and hands-on knowldege , whereby one had to do every single thing from scratch. One has to be the planner, the presenter , the executor and the manager to get any job done. This has provided huge benefits and hands on experience to me, coupled with a few great ExxonMobil EMRE Materials Corrosion and Inspection specialists that served me as my great mentor. Till now, I am keeping in touch with all my EMRE gurus for all their previous advise and guidance
Being just a small refinery, compared to all other rivals in Malaysia, I realized that one can be very close with all the staff around as you will see familiar and similar faces all around you. Small refinery has huge advantages since you can cut out all the crooked-head bureaucracy stuffs and get straight to the issue/person in no time. I remembered those times when I just walked into the Refinery Manager's office to have discussion with him like nobody's business. Cut the crap, straight to the point stuff.
And this was also the place where my wife works, in the same Reliability Engineering Department, reporting to the same boss with our office separated by solely 10ft. A lot of people out there think that having your spouse working together in the same company is really a bad idea. However, I found it the otherwise. I was really grateful to Allah for this blessings since there were so much pros over the cons. All the sentimental memories are still remained intact in my head. Too bad it was just for 5 years there for us. I wish it could have been much longer.
This was the place where I had my first five digit salary, this was the place where I had my sky-rocketed salary increment and this was the place where I had so much fun with friends and colleagues. Of course, sometimes shit really happens with all new initiatives and fire fighting issues that never ends there.
What I really like about this company? Well... It was about its solid business systems and principles (until you just don't know how the heck to implement it sometimes while scratching your head).... its strong controls until you are rest assured that you are doing the right thing , the right time..... its great networking with other affiliates where you exchange knowledge......its nice business trips and travels/training where I can eat what I want in expensive manner.....its 5 star hotels stays during business trip........its people.....and of course, its never ending initiatives that make you grow !
Well, like I said in the beginning, life goes on and I had decided to move on abroad in Saudi Arabia as expats in June 2010. Once all my goals are achieved here , we will definitely move on to another place InsyaAllah. Life is too short for us so maximize and balance it.
Hope that this new management will offer huge opportunities to all my colleagues and friends that are still working there.
All the best from the Ex-Chief Inspector :)
No comments:
Post a Comment