OUR SECTORS
INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT
GRC entered oil and gas resource development in early 1960s when its subsidiaries acquired exploration and production concessions in the United Arab of Emirates. In a joint venture with Seibert Engineering of Saarbrucken, Germany, GRC subsidiary, UEC, also helped in the development of the town of Abu Dhabi, building the first police station, the first school and the first hospital.
These projects gave GRC and its subsidiaries a significant presence in the Arabian Gulf that led to its involvement in other major oil and gas producing regions. During this expansion it forged strong links with specialised service companies that acted on the group's behalf, performing such tasks as geological and geophysical surveys and drilling operations. They worked in conjunction with GRC’s in house specialists who carry out data evaluation and decide strategic issues relating to areas such as exploration and production, reservoir management and enhanced recovery techniques.
GRC’s bold approach as an independent has earned it the respect of leading energy companies including Shell USA, Total and Occidental/Unocal. GRC is proud to work with state-owned energy corporations such as La Société Nationale Petroliere Gabonaise (SNPG), La Société Nationale des Petroles du Congo (SNPC) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Equatorial Guinea. In a highly successful partnership with the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), it has developed oil and gas resource is in the Philippines and other countries.
GAS
GRC has undertaken major gas utilization projects in Bangladesh, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman (a 50-50 venture with Fluor Corporation), and Saudi Arabia. These have included power generation, distribution terminals, liquefied petroleum gas recovery, distribution, and pipelines.
In the late 80s GRC went into Bangladesh and secured a major concession. It embarked on a five-year programme of seismic surveys and drilling, which resulted in the discovery of one of the world's largest gas bills with potential reserves exceeding 20 trillion cubic feet. At this point the company needed a major farm-in partner to maximise the fields potential so it formed a 50-50 venture with Occidental. In 1994 Union Oil of California bought Occidental share to join new easy in developing the field.
PETROCHEMICALS
Around 2007, GRC's focus began to shift into petrochemicals and alternative uses for oil and gas as well as getting a better understanding of the environmental movement and “green energy” with it’s associated renewable technologies. Since then, the company has aligned itself with many of the technological leaders in the solar, wind and hydro energy sectors and has a strong understanding of the “green hydrogen” movement and the issues and opportunities surrounding it.
GRC has carried out feasibility studies and created preliminary designs for entire new petrochemical complexes in Iraq, Romania, and the former Yugoslavia. It has been involved in the design, construction and management of oil and gas pipelines, ranging from transnational networks that extended over hundreds of kilometers to short pipelines connecting feedstock to power plants and process facilities.
ALUMINIUM
Through its subsidiary, SETCO (Systems Engineering and Technology Company), GRC has been involved in the aluminium industry in the Arabian Gulf for many years. In a joint venture partnership with Kaiser Aluminium, it brought into being the first successful heavy industry project in the region: the construction of an aluminium smelter in Bahrain, for ALBA (Aluminium Bahrain). This was completed in 1969 and began production in 1971.
Unique at the time, this venture utilised the flag gas associated with crude oil production to smelt aluminium. It proved so successful that Kaiser and SETCO proposed a Grand Smelter Scheme, involving the construction of a network of aluminium smelters in Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Iraq, using cheap electricity generated from flared associated gas from crude oil production. Plants were successfully established in Bahrain (ALBA) and Dubai (DUBAL).
MINING
Concurrent with the OXY alliance, GRC developed another strategic alliance with Horsham Corporation of Canada. Horsham owned Barrick Gold, Trizac Hahn (commercial real estate) and Clarke Oil (refining). GRC arranged a long term supply of oil from the Congo to Clark’s refineries, and worked with Barrick Gold to secure a number of gold mining concessions in Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.
In 1995, GRC and its affiliate SETCO took a more active role in the mining sector and worked extensively with Gabon in manganese mining before acquiring a large share in an Australian Manganese mine near Perth.
OIL REFINING
GRC has carried out comprehensive feasibility studies for oil export refineries in Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria and Syria. Some studies have explored options for developing wholly new facilities. Others have looked into the modernization of existing plants, by such means as enhancing their cracking and desulphurisation capacity or conducting complete overhauls to meet reformulated gasoline requirements.
FINANCE
GRC subsidiary, UEC, has taken a lead in financing or restructuring finance for various oil and gas related projects.
Major loans have been negotiated from oil-producing countries to non-producing countries. The first such loan was from Kuwait to the government of Lebanon. UEC also acted on behalf of Nigeria in securing a loan from an oil producing Arab state, for health and education purposes. UEC also arranged for financial aid from Saudi Arabia to the Emir of Bahrain in the total of $150 million. This funding was intended to jump-start the fledgling Bahrain economy.
UEC played a key role in restructuring the Lebanon based Intra Bank when it encountered several serious difficulties in the mid 1960s. Acting on a mandate from the Lebanese government and working in close collaboration with Kidder Peabody, UEC arranged the government protocols with Kuwait, Qatar and the United states commodity credit Corporation that cleared the way for the bank’s rehabilitation.
Subsequently UEC's close working relationship with the Intra Bank and the National Bank of Kuwait resulted in the establishment and development of investment companies in Kuwait, Lebanon and Nigeria.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
GRC subsidiary, UEC’s first real estate development was the luxurious Doha complex in Lebanon via its affiliate STB; a superb residential project of private houses on Hills overlooking the Mediterranean, just South of Beirut.
Through wholly owned subsidiaries GRC took lead roles in major real estate developments in America. These included the landmark Fidelity and Witherspoon Buildings in Philadelphia and further expertise in Houston.
In the Arabian Gulf the group operated a 51:49 joint venture ITT Sheraton, establishing 17 hotels. The contract ran for 20 years and included management of the hotels. The Bahrain Sheraton hotel, office and retail complex was built and managed exclusively by UEC as a contract variation.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
For many years GRC has provided industrial management services to emerging countries in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula through its subsidiary SETCO; an international consultancy specializing in development and management of engineering projects on behalf of the government agencies and private sector companies. In the 1970s SETCO collaborated on the basic concept and development of the massive Jubeil and Yanbu industrial complexes in Saudi Arabia. This includes Shells USA's ethylene and di-ethylene plants. In Nigeria the company acquired and managed the Nigerian division of the British Ever-Ready Battery Company, which it later sold. It has also completed successful contracts with Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Houston Natural Gas.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
GRC has extensive engineering experience across the metallurgical, gas, oil refining and petrochemical sectors. Its engineering division is built around a core team of specialists, offering expertise in civil, mechanical, chemical and process engineering, as well as electrical, instrument and control engineering.
