Jorge Lanza

Exolum was founded in 1927 under the name of Campsa. How has the company evolved since then, and what are its mission and values?

After almost 100 years, our company has evolved in much the same way as society. When Campsa was founded, the company’s main objective was to manage the oil monopoly, namely the entire value chain including refineries, distribution, and gas stations. The first change came about in 1986, when Spain entered the European Common Market. Then, the market was liberalized. Campsa changed its name to CLH in 1993 and focused exclusively on the management of facilities, transportation, and storage of hydrocarbons in Spain. The main aim was to invest in technology and focus on a specialized sector. The next change came about in 2015, when the company decided to break into other markets and, a little later, widen its range of services.

In March 2021, CLH changed its name to Exolum. What was the rationale behind this change?

We wanted to demonstrate our current ambitions and what we want to be. CLH stands for Hydrocarbons Logistics Company in Spanish, and the name was no longer faithful to what we are now, because we have widened our range of services. In addition, demand for hydrocarbons will fall due to the energy transition, and we therefore wanted to project a more modern image and more committed to innovation and the great challenges ahead, such as sustainability and climate change.

Avikor is a platform created by Exolum that aims to reduce aviation CO2 emissions by using sustainable fuels. How is this initiative being developed?

Aircraft currently use paraffin and may use hydrogen in the future. We are committed to using green, carbon-free fuels whose production process is more environmentally responsible. We are now working on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). These fuels have not changed chemically, but their production processes include recycled oils instead of petroleum. Avikor allows passengers or companies, regardless of the airline, to choose a sustainable aviation fuel for their flight when purchasing their tickets. Exolum offers this service at the Spanish airports of Madrid and Barcelona, which account for 75% of the country’s aviation fuel consumption. We also manage the infrastructures of these two airports, which allows us to ensure that sustainable fuel is used for refueling.

The sector is also evolving in terms of digitalization processes. How is Exolum carrying out these processes, and do you have any specific projects?

In the past, CLH focused on automating and implementing the newest technology processes. For example, it was the first company to introduce satellite technology in Spain decades ago. This enabled our pipeline and storage terminal control network to be managed from Madrid. At the moment, we have many new projects that are part of our digital agenda. For example, for the past five years, we have had a project in equipment sensorization and data analysis in order to make the maintenance of our facilities more intelligent and efficient. Other initiatives include satellite image processing system to facilitate the control of oil pipelines, and intrusion in our facilities. Finally, we have other projects related to tax regulation, transaction management, and electronic delivery notes that will help with simplifying customer documentation and minimizing errors.

What are your objectives for 2021?

In 2020, we acquired a northern European chemicals company with several terminals on the continent. Therefore, one of our main objectives is to fully integrate this company. In our everyday work, and even more so during the pandemic, our goal is to ensure we provide an adequate service, especially in the aviation sector. We want to be ready for when this sector is operational again. Another forward-looking objective is the energy transition. Currently, we are looking for business lines diversification where we currently work at, in areas such as hydrogen, chemicals, and circular economy. For example, in Spain, we have a project on waste treatment to transform it into fuel.