46

CHAPTER 3 Where are we heading?

A culture of innovation is one of our de- fining features. We use technology and research to generate value, become more competitive, optimise processes and improve the efficiency and quality of our products. To progress in a sustainable way over time is our priority.

The innovative projects undertaken by our Research Centre in 2019 had di- fferent objectives such as the search for alternatives to valorise currents or mole- cules in our processes, synthesise a new product for the chemical business, seek "bio" alternatives to our oil derivatives, valorise waste or investigate alternatives to current complex production schemes for other more sustainable ones, among others.

The aim of all these projects was to support our production centres and commercial units and provide technical assistance to customers who require it, highlighting the following milestones:

We managed to obtain more sustaina- ble and high quality lubricant bases by taking advantage of the unconverted bottom product of the hydrocracker unit at the La Rábida refinery.

We are studying various ways of taking advantage of the diesel fraction of oil to produce aromatic compounds, gasoline or kerosene, among others, in order to reduce the consumption of raw materials and increase the efficiency of fossil fuel production through the reuse of the diesel fraction as a by-product and raw material.

In our crude oil production fields in Algeria we applied the formulation of surfactants capable of generating foam in the most permeable areas of the fields, which allows us to increase the production of crude oil without having to increase gas injection.

3.4 INNOVATION & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

"The aim of our innovative projects is to support our production centers and business units."

INNOVATION