Shell Leaders in Singapore series

Title: Ernest Lee, Vice President HR Global Lubricants and North-east, SEA | Shell leaders in Singapore

Duration: 8:28 minutes

Description:

In this Shell Leaders in SG episode, Joshua Lim, Global Head of LNG Trading, speaks with Tom Summers, Senior Vice President, Shell LNG Marketing and Trading on the roles of Shell, Singapore and Asia in the LNG market and the energy transition

{insert title of video} Transcript

0:09

Hey, Ernest, great to have this chance to have a chat

0:12

outside of our regular work setting.

0:14

I think the one thing I wanted to really ask

0:16

is you have just come into a role as

0:18

Vice President, Human Resources

0:19

for Global Lubricants

0:20

and also taking care of parts of Asia,

0:23

that is quite a big change and massive as well.

0:26

How has it been?

0:27

It's an interesting journey really,

0:28

because you learn new things along the way

0:32

as you change roles.

0:33

So for my previous role, which was HR in Shell Energy,

0:37

I learned about the renewables business.

0:39

And then this new role, it's about the lubricants business,

0:42

a very mature business,

0:44

but it's also then taking care of the countries

0:47

in Northeast and Southeast Asia

0:50

which is a bit of a mix of a business

0:52

as well as geographic coverage.

0:54

Yeah, amazing.

0:55

I can so resonate with that.

0:57

The learning as well as excitement

0:59

that goes in a new role having come from

1:01

quite a different space in Leadership and Learning

1:04

in a global career, globally for Shell.

1:07

And then now looking at the country focus

1:09

for Singapore and Indonesia as HR Manager.

1:12

For me that stretch has been quite different as well.

1:15

I think you're just going in depth into a very different place.

1:18

But what I'm most actually,

1:19

you know, take a step back and reflect.

1:21

It's how that gives me the variety and the diversity

1:24

of opportunities that we get to have.

1:26

Fully agree to that.

1:27

I've been here a while

1:28

and I think the differentiator for me in terms of,

1:31

you know, the career that Shell offers,

1:34

it's really about the optionality that it gives.

1:37

And optionality here really is around scope of work.

1:41

It's around what you learn in a job,

1:44

but also around personal ownership

1:46

of what you want to grow in, where you want to grow in,

1:49

how you want to grow in.

1:50

It's also about the diversity,

1:52

the equity and the inclusiveness, right?

1:55

Of how we treat and we work with our people.

1:59

40% of our senior leaders are women.

2:02

I think on the Singapore front,

2:04

we were as well, one of the first companies

2:08

to actually proactively launch,

2:11

an extended parental leave scheme.

2:15

So that's another example, right,

2:16

of how we bring diversity, equity and inclusion

2:21

to life every day.

2:23

Yeah, so Ernest, I think it's when you speak,

2:26

it really gets me to think about,

2:28

you know, the overall organisational culture

2:30

that we're building as a result of that as well.

2:32

And that's really not something to be taken for granted.

2:34

It just doesn't happen like that.

2:36

And there has been,

2:37

quite a lot of considered effort

2:39

to actually build that learner mindset, right?

2:41

The sense of, you know, also the safe space for people

2:44

to speak up as well,

2:46

because what's the use of having diversity really

2:48

when people don't really have the space to,

2:50

or to find that they can share their views?

2:52

For me, I think what I've experienced so far in my time,

2:56

it's not only that we talk about our core values,

2:59

we truly believe and live the core values

3:02

and that's honesty, integrity, and respect.

3:05

Yeah, indeed.

3:06

I think, you know, just the values

3:09

is really one of the things that makes people

3:11

want to stay or come back.

3:13

And I think in the phase of the change

3:16

that we are going through with the new age of technology

3:19

and the new era of the geopolitical,

3:21

you know, uncertainties that's out there.

3:23

But I think the real litmus test,

3:25

of our core values and our culture

3:28

is not just what happens when times are good,

3:31

but actually when we're in a crisis.

3:34

I think back about the times through the pandemic

3:36

and one thing that really stood out for me

3:38

going through the time

3:39

was when I heard a strong clear message

3:42

from right at the top, leaders from the top, down

3:45

through the line

3:46

on the importance of prioritisation

3:49

and giving people that licence, I will say

3:51

to really focus on day-to-day delivery.

3:54

And I think it's really that,

3:55

you know, giving the empowerment,

3:57

the flexibility to people

3:59

to manage their time and energy

4:00

so that it can really optimally focus on

4:03

true delivery, right,

4:04

of outcomes that is really important

4:07

and that is the balance that I think

4:09

we are always striking to give both that sense of care

4:12

and also that focus on delivery, which we want.

4:15

You know, this recognition of us as a company.

4:20

It's not only I think what we do inside of Shell,

4:24

but it's also very much recognised outside of Shell,

4:26

at work with individuals,

4:28

but also with the environment and society around us,

4:31

which makes, you know, Shell

4:32

and the work at Shell really special.

4:34

One final question for you.

4:35

It's really, you know, what would be your words for people

4:39

who are considering to join Shell?

4:41

I would put in a few words

4:42

is the energy transition.

4:44

And I think the balance of energy availability,

4:48

energy security and energy sustainability

4:51

are the three parts right to energy transition

4:55

that any individual who chooses to join Shell

4:58

gets to play a part in.

5:00

We are in the space of working

5:04

how we actually deliver in these three areas

5:07

to the community, to society as Shell,

5:11

and find different pathways

5:12

where we can make all those three come together

5:16

for every country, every community,

5:22

and every individual that we work with and are a part of.

5:25

And that I think is huge.

5:28

I would say sometimes it can be challenging,

5:32

but if you think about it,

5:34

it's a huge opportunity to make a real difference

5:37

in this energy transition journey of the world.

5:41

What about you, Jane, what do you think?

5:43

I think really being part of a larger course, right?

5:47

With a wider, wide-ranging impact

5:50

to provide energy sustainably to the world,

5:53

that for me gives me meaning and purpose, right?

5:56

And then it's really the environment

5:59

that actually allows you

6:00

and actually almost pushes you to be a better self.

6:03

And the third piece is probably most important,

6:06

that's really the values, right?

6:08

I think being amongst people that really allows you

6:11

to live out the values that you hold dear to yourself.

6:14

Indeed, so thank you so much for the time, Ernest,

6:15

it's been great to have this chat.

6:17

Really was.

Title: Tom Summers, SVP LNG Marketing and Trading | Shell leaders in Singapore

Duration: 8:28 minutes

Description:

In this Shell Leaders in SG episode, Joshua Lim, Global Head of LNG Trading, speaks with Tom Summers, Senior Vice President, Shell LNG Marketing and Trading on the roles of Shell, Singapore and Asia in the LNG market and the energy transition.

{insert title of video} Transcript

0:12

Hi Tom, welcome to Singapore.

0:14

Let's talk about liquefied natural gas.

0:16

Can you elaborate on the role of LNG

0:18

in the energy transition?

0:19

Thanks, and it's great to be here, Josh.

0:22

Yeah, LNG plays a critical role in the energy transition.

0:25

We're seeing a growth in population,

0:27

we're seeing an increase in prosperity,

0:30

and with that, energy demand is growing,

0:32

and so we need to find ways to bring lower carbon fuels

0:35

to the energy markets.

0:37

And we need to also be able to have a balanced transition

0:41

through to net zero emissions.

0:43

So LNG does a great job in many places.

0:45

Firstly, displacing coal in industry

0:50

where it can really make a difference

0:51

in terms of efficiency and emissions.

0:54

Secondly, LNG and gas can displace coal

0:59

for power generation.

1:00

And so when used for power generation,

1:02

it's around 50% of the emissions of coal.

1:05

But it doesn't just stop there.

1:07

What we're seeing with our business,

1:09

particularly here in Singapore,

1:11

is LNG being used in other industry sectors as well.

1:14

And shipping is a great example.

1:16

We've been using LNG as a bunkering fuel now

1:19

for several years, and that's really taking off.

1:22

It delivers 23% less emissions

1:25

than very low sulphur fuel oil, for example.

1:27

And we're the number one LNG bunker supplier here in Singapore.

1:30

We recently completed our 200th bunkering activity,

1:34

and that's on the back of our 100th

1:36

only in October of last year, so really rapid growth.

1:40

So LNG for the energy transition

1:43

is an enabler in the very near term,

1:46

helps support reduction and reliance on coal,

1:49

help industries transition as well as power generation.

1:52

But it's also there to support the build out

1:55

and growth of renewables, which is critical

1:57

because gas provides great intermittency support

2:01

for power generation when renewables may not be running.

2:05

I've been in LNG for more than 10 years.

2:07

I think this is the most exciting,

2:09

but yet most competitive time in our industry.

2:12

However, I'm still optimistic about our product.

2:16

Do you share the same optimism?

2:18

I absolutely do,

2:19

and I've been in the industry for at least that time too,

2:24

and it has changed significantly.

2:26

And if I think back to when I first started in LNG

2:29

in the 2000s, I remember being in Qatar

2:33

where we were building the first mega trains for LNG

2:37

and that was the first real wave of supply

2:40

coming to the market in the modern era.

2:43

And we reached about 200 million tonnes in 2010.

2:47

And if you think of where the LNG industry came from,

2:49

today we're celebrating our 65th year in the industry

2:54

and that has come from, you know,

2:57

the first delivery into Canvey Island in the UK,

3:00

so over that time period to get to today.

3:03

And then from here in 2024,

3:07

we're now at 400 million tonnes.

3:09

So it's doubled again in a much shorter period of time.

3:12

And then the same volume coming online

3:14

that's under construction,

3:15

we should reach 600 million tonnes in and around 2030.

3:19

So that's a very significant growth for this industry

3:22

and that's what makes this exciting.

3:25

And for Shell, as our part in this industry,

3:28

we're seeking to grow.

3:29

We're growing by 20 to 30% from our 2022 levels

3:33

through to 2030.

3:35

And that includes somewhere between 15 to 25% in the LNG

3:40

that we purchase as well.

3:41

And so this year, we've had a few good examples

3:44

of our trajectory towards that target.

3:46

We've been working a lot on the acquisition

3:48

of Pavilion Energy within our team,

3:51

and that's adding around 6.5 million tonnes to the business

3:55

once it's been through its regulatory completion.

3:58

It's really complementary to our portfolio

4:01

and particular focus here in Asia with a business

4:04

that's been built over the last 10 years.

4:06

Elsewhere, Shell's joined the Ruwais Project in Abu Dhabi

4:11

and we've taken FID (Final Investment Decision) on the Manatee field

4:13

in Trinidad and Tobago.

4:15

And so those are two really great examples

4:17

from the other part of our integrated gas business

4:20

where we can see our pathway towards that growth.

4:23

You mentioned Pavilion Energy.

4:25

Let's talk about Singapore.

4:27

Natural gas remain the dominant fuel choice for Singapore

4:30

for the foreseeable future.

4:32

LNG is reliable, dependable,

4:35

and lower in emissions to help our energy transition.

4:38

Can you elaborate on the role of Singapore

4:40

as an LNG marketing and trading hub?

4:43

Yes, Singapore's been a really important part

4:46

of our business and for the broader trading

4:48

and supply organisation.

4:49

We have many teams here

4:51

who are helping to manage supply across the region.

4:55

For Singapore itself,

4:57

the LNG business has been now over 10 years in existence

5:02

and I can remember our first cargo delivery back in 2013.

5:07

Since then, we've been delivering reliably

5:09

through what's been, in many cases, a tumultuous time.

5:13

We've seen many market volatilities,

5:16

such things as the COVID-19 pandemic,

5:19

and more recently,

5:20

disruption caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

5:24

But all through this time,

5:26

we've continued to deliver LNG reliably

5:29

so that energy security for Singapore

5:32

is front of mind for us and for all.

5:35

Singapore is in Southeast Asia,

5:37

a key market of growth for LNG for decades to come.

5:40

What greater role can we play?

5:42

Yeah, so the demand growth that we talked about earlier,

5:45

going from the 400 million tonnes today

5:47

to around 650 million tonnes by 2040,

5:51

a very significant part of that comes from Asia.

5:55

And in particular, if we look across India, China,

5:58

and Southeast Asia,

6:00

it accounts for around 78% of that growth.

6:03

So for us here in Singapore,

6:05

the role of LNG in enabling those economies

6:07

and those communities to increase,

6:11

but also to reduce their reliance

6:13

on higher emitting hydrocarbons such as coal,

6:18

is a really important role that we can contribute to.

6:21

Last year, you and the team delivered three firsts,

6:24

which were first cargoes to Philippines,

6:28

where we sold to one of our counterparties

6:31

into a terminal there,

6:33

working together with our Shell Energy team on the ground.

6:36

We also delivered our first cargo

6:38

to Hong Kong back in July last year,

6:40

which is a fantastic achievement and marks the start

6:43

of a long-term relationship for us there.

6:45

And then finally, we delivered the first cargo into Vietnam

6:50

for the commissioning of the terminal there.

6:52

So these seem very simple first steps,

6:55

but there's a lot of work

6:56

that goes into getting to that point

6:58

both, of course, with the counterparty and the terminal,

7:01

but within our team getting ready

7:03

to deliver safely and on time.

7:05

Yes.

7:06

More broadly than that then within Asia,

7:09

we're continuing to focus our efforts on growth

7:12

and capturing that customer demand that we see

7:15

working with counterparties here and also with our suppliers

7:18

and to deliver reliably and affordably to enable that growth

7:22

and that reduction in reliance on coal

7:24

for power and for industry.

7:26

Okay Tom, to inject a bit of fun

7:29

in this serious topic of LNG,

7:31

the team has asked me to pose

7:32

a few rapid fire questions for you.

7:35

Okay.

7:35

Are you ready for the challenge?

7:36

Yeah, let's go.

7:38

Do you like your drink hot or cold?

7:40

It's gotta be hot cup of tea

7:42

first thing in the morning to get me going.

7:44

What's your favourite work destination?

7:46

Well, I love Singapore,

7:48

but beyond that, I'd probably say Santiago in Chile,

7:51

somewhere where we've been delivering LNG

7:53

since the late 2000s,

7:55

and I've had the privilege to visit several times.

7:57

Describe LNG in three words.

7:59

Enabling,

8:00

reliable,

8:02

and affordable.

8:03

If LNG is a superhero, which character would that be?

8:07

I’d go for Jack Frost.

8:09

A super cool

8:10

superhero,

8:11

and

8:11

he had a habit of turning up

8:13

where he was needed, when he was needed

8:15

the most, just like our LNG business,

8:17

that’s what we try to do.

8:19

Thank you very much for speaking to us.

8:20

Thanks so much for having me here.

8:21

It’s been great to be here.