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  5. A DAY IN MY LIFE BY KAR CHAI TAN, CASTROL ACCOUNT MANAGER FOR ENERGY

A day in my life by Kar Chai Tan, Castrol Account Manager for energy

1. What specifically drew you to join Castrol? 


Throughout my career, I've enjoyed providing solutions to challenges in complex areas. In my previous role as a project manager at a shipyard, I was at the forefront of providing practical solutions in a dynamic and time-sensitive operating environment, dealing with multiple stakeholders and ensuring quality solutions were delivered on time.  


It was during my time at the shipyard that I began working with bp Group, including the Castrol team. I was always impressed with the working culture and, in particular, its approach to safety and performance. When the opportunity arose to work with Castrol, I jumped at the opportunity and was excited to bring my skills and experience to Castrol and to deliver for Castrol's customers.


2. What have been your personal highlights in your career at Castrol? 

 

I'm indebted to the customers who have shared positive feedback regarding the solutions that we offer at Castrol. It is a testament to the collaborative approach that Castrol takes with its customers. We see the best feedback from customers who see Castrol as an end-to-end solutions provider and those who see Castrol as a collaborative as opposed to just a provider. 

 

Going further and forward for our customers is something that Castrol does well. We build our customer relationships not on how much we can sell them but on which one of their problems we can address so that we can deliver operational efficiency and reliable operations.


3. How does your role support Castrol in tackling key challenges for the oil & gas sector in China? 


There's no doubt that China is a powerhouse in the oil & gas industry. It has emerged as one of the largest FPSO construction countries in the world, with the number and gross tonnage of FPSOs constructed in the region growing rapidly. And with this comes the mission and responsibility to create a new generation of FPSOs that will be well equipped to run reliable and efficient operations. 


It's critical, therefore, that the right lubricant solutions, based on the end goal of the FPSO, is adopted from the first fill and beyond. This includes having the correct local supply chain to meet the demands of the FPSO. Operators need to consider their lubricants requirements and the application within the systems prior to installation and commissioning, especially since many FPSOs travel from China upon the completion of construction works to distant locations, such as Brazil and Africa.


4. What can we expect to see from Castrol in China moving forward? 


In addition to its thriving FPSO business, there is considerable activity with offshore oil exploration and production as part of providing energy that is secure and affordable today. 


As always, Castrol’s role will shift to meet the demands of new FPSOs on the water today. We will provide thorough lubrication solutions for current or newly built assets to help reduce risk and increase operational reliability throughout a project’s lifetime. As always, our priority is to ensure operational efficiency and comply with the latest environmental legislation. Working with our customer’s teams, we provide continuous technical support throughout the project’s life, from new asset design to the operational stage and beyond. This close collaborative approach and ability to adapt is what drew me to Castrol in the first place and will keep me here for years to come!