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Engen Petroleum Limited of South Africa which is the parent company of Engen Ghana Limited has marked its 21st anniversary whiles Engen Ghana turns 16 since the name and brand Engen was unveiled. According to Henry Akwaboah, the Managing Director of Engen Ghana Limited, the company takes particular pride in the growth and strides chalked by Engen Petroleum Limited which was formerly known and called Mobil Oil of South Africa. �We are grateful for the vision of the pioneers and their decision to lay the foundations of Engen Ghana Limited just about 5 years from the birth of the brand and name Engen and its evolution over the years. We are also 16 years in Ghana and are particularly humbled by the support and custom of our patrons over the years. ��As we prepare for greater things in the future, we are glad you have stood with us and kept the faith,� he said. read below the full speech of the Managing Director of Engen Ghana Limited Ladies and gentlemen, our company has a long history and has evolved over the period. When the Vacuum Oil Company backed by J.D. Rockefeller�s Standard Oil Trust opened its head office in Cape Town South Africa in July 1897, it marked the birth of the company that was to be known in later years as Engen. The Vacuum oil company, later on known as the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company under a joint ventureship had an established reputation for purity and efficiency in manufacture, their product ranging from �oils for every purpose� to locust poison, axle grease and candles. In 1910, Vacuum Oil introduced Mobil�s lubricants onto the South African market; the name Mobil would become the famous brand in South Africa. The company established close collaborations with Mobil and continued to market Mobil�s range of products. In 1948, the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company was given permission by the government to build its refinery in Durban; the first in the country. On 12th May 1954, the new 8 million pounds sterling Durban refinery built by over 1,800 people including engineers, artisans, accountants and labourers within 5,000,000 man-hours was officially opened. The initial capacity was 15,000bpd and increased to 42,000bpd by 1962. The new refinery firmly established Standard-Vacuum as the industry leader in South Africa against, Texas Oil Company and British Imperial Oil Company who had entered the market then. Standard-Vacuum Oil Company chalked several successes over the years including: � The contract to supply total lubricating oil requirements of South African Airways on local, regional and inter-continental flights. � The contract to supply South Africa�s air force with jet fuel from the Durban refinery � The contract for the lubrication needs of Safmarine shipping line � And many others. In 1960, the joint ownership of Standard-Vacuum Oil Company was brought to an end with interest transferring to Mobil Petroleum Company Incorporated. Ladies and gentlemen, that marked the birth of Mobil in South Africa. Mobil continued with the high standards set by Standard-Vacuum and won the title of �the safest Industrial plant in South Africa� after a record 964days without a lost-time injury at the Durban refinery. In 1985, Mobil built its new headquarters at Thibault Square, Cape Town (the present head office of Engen Petroleum). Between 1984 and 1989, South Africa reached a turning point when the pressure from world leaders and various sanctions led to some 200 American and 60 British companies withdrawing from South Africa. In 1986, the Comprehensive United States Anti-Apartheid Act banned American investment in South Africa, sales to the police and military. However, Mobil confirmed its intention to stay in South Africa. The company at this time had invested over $ 400 million in the country. In 1989, Mobil US announced its decision to disinvest in South Africa. Mobil sold to Gencor and withdrew from South Africa, with the condition that the Mobil name would be dropped within five years. Gencor listed its company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1990. Ladies and gentlemen, after extensive consultations and rigorous evaluations, on 14th November 1993 Engen was born. The conversion from Mobil to Engen was the most successful branding exercise ever undertaken in South Africa at the time. The branding project included the conversion of over 1000 service stations as well as every other aspect of the brand name. In all, about 2,000 different categories had to be rebranded. The unveiling of the brand was broadcast to an audience in excess of 6,000 people including dealers, suppliers, customers, media, employees, union representatives and many other stakeholders, 21 years ago. Distinguished guest, following the path of excellence and successes of its predecessor, brand Engen has not faltered in its quest for growth and greater achievements. The brand has since increased its footprint in sub Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean islands with a presence in 18 countries including South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho with market leadership in about five of these countries. Some key milestones made over the years include: � ISO14001 certification � Transformation of the on-the-go outlets into Quickshops � Acquisition of Shell�s assets in the DRC, Gabon and Lesotho in line with the Africa expansion project as well as the vision of becoming the number one downstream company in sub-Saharan Africa. � Acquisition of Total�s assets in Rwanda, Burundi and Guinea Bissau � Attained 2,000,000 man-hours without injury � Introduction of 50ppm low sulphur diesel in a number of countries. � Acquisition of Chevron�s assets in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mauritius, Reunion and Mozambique � 7 billion litres of fuel sold in South Africa in 2011 � Voted the coolest petrol station in South Africa by Sunday Times� Generation Next Awards four consecutive times since 2011. � Service Provider of the Year by African Airlines Association (AFRAA) for �it�s extensive service provision of aviation fuel services in Africa, commitment towards support and capacity building to African aviation�. � Ghana market entry in 1998. Ladies and gentlemen, following on from Engen�s Africa growth strategy, Engen Ghana Limited was also born and commenced operations in Ghana in 1998 with two service stations. Our operations have grown substantially over the past 16 years with some notable achievements as follows: � Growth of retail network from 2 to 24 with the addition of the 25th service station only last week. � Adjudged the HSEQ performer of the year 2012 amongst 15 other Engen Petroleum affiliates. � Awarded for exceeding operating profit target by 20% in 2012 � Built our flagship station at Pokuase. � Our McCarthy Service Station and City Centre Dealers being adjudged best dealers from West Africa in 2010 and 2012 respectively. � MD of Engen Ghana being adjudged the leader of the year amongst 16 other Country Managing Directors in 2012. Ladies and gentlemen, we owe these successes to your unflinching support over the years. As a brand that has maintained consistency in all spheres of operations over the years, we are firmly focused on our new vision of becoming the �oil company of choice in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian ocean islands�. Engen Ghana has a role to play in the realisation of this broad vision. In that regard, we shall be venturing into new areas and launch a number of new products including: � The newly formulated differentiated fuels (Engen dynamic diesel and Primax � Our fuel card known as the 1-Card � New range of lubricants including PETRONAS Synthium and Genfreeze � Expand our retail network through acquisitions and Greenfields. � Commence the long awaited aviation business Ladies and gentlemen, I will be counting on you to stand with us and support us as we continue our brand�s journey. I thank you all for making time to be here. I wish you all a Merry Christmas ahead and may God Bless Us all. Engen, with us you are number One!