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Gulf Petrochem Group, a leading player in the oil industry, has announced the appointment of Captain Paul E.W. Nix [pictured] as the head of the company’s oil terminal in Fujairah.

The appointment comes in line with preparations ahead of the completion and inauguration of the USD 136 million Fujairah Oil Terminal, which is expected to start operations in October 2012 with 1.2 million cubic meters of storage capacity.

Captain Nix has extensive experience managing various storage terminals in Spain, the Netherlands, Bahrain, South Africa and India in a professional career spanning 36 years and will oversee the rest of the construction work and the maintenance of the Fujairah Oil Terminal. Prior to joining Gulf Petrochem, Captain Nix was responsible for the operational design and organization of a storage facility under construction in Algeciras, Spain.

Commenting on the news, Sanjeev Sisaudia, Group CEO, Gulf Petrochem, said: "The appointment of Captain Paul E.W. Nix is in line with our commitment to acquire the most competent, widely experienced industry professionals who can help us realize our strategic objectives. With his extensive international experience in managing high-stakes storage facilities, Captain Nix provides leadership stability and proven management expertise for the new Fujairah Oil Terminal. Gulf Petrochem will continue to focus on strengthening our senior management team, which is an integral component of our regional and global expansion plans."

Captain Paul E.W. Nix said: "The new Fujairah Oil Terminal is a critically important project that will further advance Gulf Petrochem’s growth strategy and reinforce its stronghold in the regional market. I am therefore thankful for the opportunity to lead the Fujairah Oil Terminal and realize its mission of catering to a much wider customer base across the region. The Fujairah Oil Terminal has been eagerly anticipated by various stakeholders in the regional industry and will thus create exciting, long-term growth opportunities for Gulf Petrochem."

Gulf Petrochem has emerged as a fast growing group, expanding globally into various verticals of the oil industry. It currently operates six strategic business units of Oil Trading & Bunkering, Oil Refining, Grease Manufacturing, Oil Storage Terminals, Bitumen Manufacturing, and Shipping & Logistics.

Headquartered in the UAE, the group has offices in Dubai, Singapore, Mumbai and Geneva. It has refining and storage facilities at Hamriyah-Sharjah. Gulf Petrochem’s bulk shipments are serviced by three owned vessels.