Dhahran, Saudi Arabia — Aramco’s North Ghawar Oil Producing Complex has become the company’s fifth facility to be added to the World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse Network, having been recognized for its comprehensive adoption of advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies that support its operational and environmental performance.
Aramco said in a statement that only industrial sites that successfully deploy 4IR technologies at scale are admitted to the prestigious network. This recognition of the North Ghawar Oil Producing Complex follows four other Aramco facilities being included in the Global Lighthouse Network. They are Uthmaniyah Gas Plant, Khurais oil complex, Abqaiq Plants, and Yanbu Refinery.
The Global Lighthouse Network now includes 189 facilities worldwide. “Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, is currently the only global energy company to be represented by more than three facilities,” said the release.
Aramco Upstream President Nasir K. Al-Naimi said: “This Global Lighthouse Network recognition by the World Economic Forum demonstrates our dedication to innovation and operational excellence. It validates our journey towards a truly digital and lower carbon emissions future, where technology empowers us to optimize our processes, reduce our environmental impact, and deliver exceptional value to our customers and shareholders.”
UAE’s EGA named End-to-End Value Chain Lighthouse
Operating one of the world’s largest aluminum smelters in an industry marked by raw material and freight cost volatility, EGA undertook a 4IR transformation to further increase its cost-competitiveness, agility and flexibility, as well as enhance safety and sustainability, WEF said in a statement.
In three years, the site implemented over 80 use cases and upskilled over 20 percent of its workforce, injecting advanced AI into a traditional and labor-intensive industry. The site used deep learning computer vision and LLM to optimize frontline operations, reducing operational downtimes by 50 percent and non-productive time by 18 percent – raising overall equipment effectiveness by 12 percent.
The statement said that the latest cohort of E2E Lighthouses has responded to surging demand with advanced technologies that not only provide enhanced visibility but also streamline complex processes and improve design and planning efficiency.