Proud to Be Part of China's Success
Release date:
06 January 2009
On December 20, Dr. Gary Dirks was chosen as one of the Top 10 Multinational-Company (MNC) Leaders in a high-profile ceremony which recognized key individuals contributing to China's economic development.
"I am surprised and very pleased to have been chosen. The award represents the work of many people in BP of whom I am just one," said Dr. Dirks, BP Group Vice President. On December 20, 2008, he was chosen as one of the Top 10 Multinational-Company (MNC) Leaders at the Great Hall of People in Beijing. The awards are designed to recognize key individuals contributing to China's economic development to coincide the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's reform and opening-up. BP is the only oil company on the list of the Top 10 MNC Leaders.
Dr. Dirks who became President of BP China in 1995 has witnessed the expansion and growth of BP's activities in China first-hand over the past 14 years. In 1995, BP and Sinopec jointly founded the Yangtze River Acetyls Company (YARACO) in Chongqing which marked the largest foreign investment in western China. Over the next few years, BP and its Chinese partners established a number of key petrochemical joint ventures. These include Shanghai SECCO --- its 900 ktpa ethylene plant is by far one of the largest one-piece ethylene facilities in the world in terms of capacity; and BP Zhuhai, a world-class Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) plant.
Having worked and lived in China since 1995, Dr. Dirks has witnessed the tremendous growth and changes around him. Looking beyond what has been achieved so far, he is ready to lead the BP team in assisting China to address new challenges the country faces in regards to the environment, climate and energy security, and continue to be part of the Chinese economy.
The partnership between BP and China was brought to a new level in 2005 when China's oil product retail market began to open to foreign investment. BP-Sinopec and BP-PetroChina dual-brand gas stations were launched in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, providing quality products and services to the Chinese consumers.
Among the many awards Dr. Dirks has received during his years in China was the Chinese government's Friendship Award in 2003. This is China's highest award for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's economic and social progress. Upon receiving this prestigious award, Dr. Dirks said that clean energy would be top of the Chinese government's agenda and BP could provide strategic assistance to help China achieve higher energy efficiency and promote the development of renewable energy. His words were soon put into actions. In December 2005, BP announced the establishment of its Alternative Energy business unit. At the same time, BP's solar PV joint venture in China was established in the northwestern city of Xi'an. In addition, BP is also the sole foreign participant in China's first ever LNG terminal & trunkline project in Guangdong which successfully commissioned in 2006.
Today, with US$4.6 billion of commercial investment, BP has a wide range of business activities in China that include the production and importation of natural gas, the supply of aviation fuel, import and marketing of LPG, fuels retailing, lubricants blending and sales, petrochemical manufacturing and solar electric facilities. The company has also made substantial social investment.
BP is making a long-term commitment to China through its investments in new technology which will benefit both parties, said Dr. Dirks, adding that BP is willing to share world class technology and expertise with its Chinese partners to together develop sustainable energy solutions. The most recent example is the agreement between BP and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to establish the Clean Energy Commercialization Centre (CECC) joint venture in Shanghai. The Centre aims to bring emerging clean energy technologies to commercial reality, leveraging both sides' expertise and resources.
The year of 2008 marks the 30th year of China's reform and opening up, and it is also the 100th anniversary of the founding of BP Group and the 35th year after BP entered China. Today, China is faced with new challenges from the environment and energy security. In the light of this, BP is ready to continue its role as a responsible investor. Having served at BP China for the past 14 years, Dr. Dirks is determined to lead his team forward and further BP's commitment to China --- be part of Chinese economy and be part of China's energy solutions.
