NERVE CENTRE: Halul Island is the nerve centre for Qatar’s offshore oil operations. Right, AT THE HELM: Mohammed Yaqout al-Abdullah, Manager, Halul Terminal and Export with Qatar Petroleum. Photos by the author and QP
By Aney Mathew
When I was first offered a trip to the Halul terminal, I wasn’t sure what to expect. An invitation to the strategic island about 90km northeast of Doha, which serves as Qatar Petroleum’s storage and export terminal, is certainly a privilege.
The low-flying helicopter offers a picturesque view of the little pear-shaped land mass below. The inhabited, meticulously landscaped section of Halul Island that we hover over is so stunning, you’d easily be fooled into thinking you were on a weekend getaway. Fastidious planning for successful crude oil blending and export, coupled with sensitivity to the environment, has underpinned the development of this island.
Truth be told, not every section of the island is this welcoming — the undeveloped areas quickly remind you what a barren piece of land it really is. The good news, however, is that the ongoing construction and development are quickly turning the remaining parts of the island into an equally scenic area.
Halul Island lies in the centre of the Arabian Gulf and has both hills and valleys within its tiny area of 1.5sq km. With about 2,700 men living and working on the island, Halul is a beehive of activity.
Beyond work and employment, how does it feel to be on the isle? Is it an isolated island or a seaside getaway of sorts?
Although far removed from the mainland, life on Halul is by no means akin to being a castaway. Unlike the offshore platforms where space is severely restricted, Halul is blessed with enough area for multifaceted amenities. The accommodation facilities are spacious and very comfortable. The Al Maha Club offers posh, impressive facilities for various indoor activities, including a covered swimming pool and a fully-fledged gym.
The basketball, volleyball and tennis courts are hugely popular during the cooler months, while the huge open air theatre keeps people connected to the outside world on weekends. What’s more, there’s a safe area cordoned off as a beach for swimming, but if you’d rather go fishing, you could do that too — within the set boundaries!
Commenting on the lifestyle of employees on Halul, Mohammed Yaqout al-Abdullah, Manager of Halul Terminal and Export, says, “QP has always provided quality accommodation and recreational facilities for its employees. When I worked on the island in the early 90s, there were only about 700 staff; the recreational facilities were equivalent to 4-stars for that period. Staff was accommodated in temporary structures, but they were more like little cottages. As numbers grew, there was a natural demand for new and improved amenities and services. The new structures are all permanent, complete with modern facilities that are above 5-star. The management places high value on the effort put in by our employees and hence believes in offering them the conveniences they deserve.”
“Despite the facilities and the additional offshore allowance, employing people for jobs here is becoming increasingly difficult. The older generation has settled down to the 7/7 rotation (working 7 days on the island and then having 7 days off with their families in Doha) or the 29/27 rotation to your native country. Some even find this relaxing, as it takes them away from the humdrum of city life. However, it’s becoming a challenge to recruit the younger generation — both local and expatriate. Youngsters do not seem to want to leave their family, friends or the conveniences of life on the mainland. Deliberations are on to offer higher incentives to attract local talent, while wages have to be very competitive to make them appealing to the expatriate population,” he points out.
The growth and development of the island continue its upward trajectory at such a robust pace that even employees who worked here just a few years ago are surprised by the rapid progress. The new services and amenities have raised the bar in facilities.
The landscaping that spans the working area and living quarters is almost exotic. The purpose-built buildings have all the modern facilities we normally take for granted on the mainland. It’s quite mind boggling to think of the effort that has gone behind such a huge project on a relatively small island; all the powerful, heavy equipment used for all the construction and the huge trucks had to be shipped in, not to mention the materials involved.
“The company makes every effort to ensure the life of employees here is as good as possible. People work 12 hours a day and sometimes even longer. There are social difficulties certainly, but the long working hours in a way ensure that time passes by quickly. The nature of work here gives you a much deeper job-experience than you would get on the mainland. People perceive offshore jobs as risky, but (then) risk is everywhere. Offshore life is peaceful; personally, I prefer this over working in the city; we have no issues like traffic jams to deal with. Once people get used to life here they will not want to leave,” points out Salem Obaid al-Marri, the Halul Terminal Superintendent.
A chat with the employees confirms this fact. “Our working environment is very good. We are away only for seven days from our family, so we are able to manage it,” say Rajeev and Sashikumar, who work in the control room.
Khalifa Sulaiti, a local, believes working offshore has helped him grow in his career at a faster pace compared to his counterparts in Doha. “There are advantages and disadvantages, but the benefits are more,” he says.
“There are 59 nationalities on the island and it’s very important to keep them happy. As we know any business can stop for two or three days, but we cannot put a halt on human needs. So a lot of care is taken to ensure the best possible services are provided; we keep in mind the human side of every project carried out. We conduct regular recreation and sporting activities, especially during Ramadan and special holidays. When the weather is conducive, we have barbecues twice a month; during less favourable weather we arrange themed buffets indoors,” explains Budi Darmawan, the Services Supervisor.
Ahmed Awadalla, the Chief Cook, says: “We serve very elaborate buffets for every meal; in addition, we now have show cooking every day. Besides, a separate buffet meets the needs of those requiring a special diet for health reasons. Even in the contractors’ dining halls, we have specialised meals catering to the meal of different nationalities,” he says.
What does all this boil down to, with respect to the security of the people and assets on the island? Rashid al Dosari, the first member of the Security Force deputed to Halul, responds confidently, “We haven’t faced any serious security issues since I began working here. All the needs of people are taken care of and life here is good; moreover, we are all close to each other. Personally, I enjoy working here and the added allowance goes a long way in keeping up with the increasing cost of living in Doha.”
John, a contractor’s staff, seems to sum it up rather succinctly: “I enjoy working and living here in Halul; I have no expenses and life is good. I spend all my free time on the basketball court. I’ve been working here for nine months and have never left the island, not even during the mandatory field break. The only reason I’m flying out now is to buy myself a new pair of basketball shoes to get ready for the upcoming Ramadan competition.”
Halul has a rich wildlife on the island. Lying in the flight path of migratory birds, it attracts numerous feathered international visitors that stop over for a break, before continuing their journey. QP has also sponsored several environmental projects that protect and support several species of flora and fauna. But that would be another story for another day.
As I fly back to Doha, I realise how privileged I am to have had this exclusive opportunity to visit a place out of bounds to most. Like a migrant bird passing through, I’ve had the rare opportunity to get a glimpse into the lives of the people who form the soul of the island.