Saudi oil giant Aramco launches first gas station in Philippines
MANILA: Saudi oil giant Aramco has opened its first branded gas station in the Philippines, less than a year after acquiring a 25-percent equity stake in Unioil, one of the country’s largest fuel retailers.
The station, on Sucat Road, Paranaque City in the Manila capital region, was inaugurated on Thursday, marking the first of several Aramco-branded stations planned in the Philippines, some of which are already in development.
The opening marks “an important milestone for Aramco” in the Southeast Asian country, according to Ziyad Juraifani, Aramco’s vice president of retail.
“We are proud to introduce Aramco’s own retail experience. This is only the beginning of our journey in the Philippines,” he said during the launch ceremony. “Together with our partners, our dedicated teams and the communities we serve, we look forward to building a lasting relationship.”
The new station features lubricants and car-care services, as well as Aramco’s “global premium fuel technology,” Al-Juraifani added.
The Sucat station marks Aramco’s return to the Philippine market, following its 2008 exit after divesting its 40-percent stake in Petron, the Philippines’ largest oil refiner.
Unioil Petroleum Philippines, which operates a nationwide retail network and storage facilities, entered into a strategic partnership with Aramco in November, as it seeks to access a reliable source of fuel to meet the Philippines’ growing demand.
The move aligned with Aramco’s interest to expand its global retail network, the Saudi company has said.
The Aramco-Unioil partnership “brings one of the world’s most respected brands together with a proudly Filipino company that has always believed consumers deserve better,” Unioil president Kenneth Pundanera said.
“And that is why this milestone matters. Filipinos deserve world-class products, better service and more meaningful choices. Together with Unioil, Aramco hopes to create an experience that is both world-class and warmly Filipino.”
