Studying ITIL v3 EX0-101 - Quint Group
I’m gonna sit for ITIL v3 (Code: EX0–101) exam on late evening today. Hope that I will pass with flying colors. The questions set directly come from Quint Group, UK.
Even 3 days training is barely insufficient, I will try to make use of it.
PETRONAS Crude Oil, Fuel Prices Issues
Gotten this from email and would like to share with all of you.
Dear all,
After reading all the chain mails and blogs, I feel called to reply, because of the relentless attacks and allegations — most of which are inaccurate or baseless — against PETRONAS.
PETRONAS’ STAFF SALARY & BONUS
1) The salaries paid to PETRONAS’ employees are not as high as people think. At best, they are just industry average. And these are not attractive enough for some who left PETRONAS to find work at other companies (mainly from the Middle East) which are willing to pay more. Why do they pay more? The oil and gas industry worldwide has been facing acute shortage of qualified or experienced personnel, so most companies are willing to pay lots of money to entice and pinch staff from their competitors.
Bonus? There has NEVER been a bonus amounting to 6 months or 12 months throughout the 33 years. On average, it is 2 months. But don’t ever think we don’t deserve it. We more than deserve it. A lot of us work really hard, some in the most extreme of conditions. Those who have been to and worked in northern Sudan, for example, would testify that it’s like working in a huge blower oven. Southern Sudan, on the other hand, is almost all swamps and mud. Imagine having to go through that kind of heat, or waddling in muddy swamps, day in and day out.
QUALITY OF CRUDE & REFINED PRODUCTS
2) Malaysia produces about 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day (and about 100,000 barrels condensate). Of this crude volume, 339,000 barrels are refined locally for local consumption. The rest is exported (and yes, because it has lower sulphur content it fetches higher prices).
Malaysia also imports about 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day, mainly from the Middle East, to be refined here. This crude oil contains higher sulphur and is less expensive (so the country gains more by exporting our crudes). In Malaysia, this crude is processed by PETRONAS at its second refinery in Melaka, and also by Shell at its Port Dickson refinery.
Different refineries are built and configurated to refine different types of crude. And each crude type yields different percentage of products (diesel, gasoline, kerosene, cooking gas etc) per barrel.
But most importantly, products that come out at the end of the refining process have the same good quality regardless of the crude types. That’s why PETRONAS, Shell and Exxon Mobil share the same pipeline to transport the finished products from their refineries to a distribution centre in the Klang Valley. The three companies collect the products at this centre accordingly to be distributed to their respective distribution networks. What makes PETRONAS’ petrol different from Shell’s, for example, is the additive that each company adds.
PETRONAS’ ROLE, FUNCTION & CONTRIBUTION
3) A lot of people also do not understand the role and function of PETRONAS, which is essentially a company, a business entity, which operates on a commercial manner, to mainly generate income and value for its shareholder. In this case, PETRONAS’ shareholder is the Government.
In 1974, when PETRONAS was set up, the Government gave PETRONAS RM10 million (peanuts, right?) as seed capital. From 1974 to 2007, PETRONAS made RM570 billion in accumulated profits, and returned to the Government a total of RM335.7 billion. That is about 65% of the profits. That means for every RM1 that PETRONAS makes, 65 sen goes back to the Government.
Last year, PETRONAS made a pre-tax profit of RM86.8 billion. The amount given back to the Government (in royalty, dividends, corporate income tax, petroleum products income tax and export duty) was RM52.3 billion. The rest of the profit was used to pay off minority interests and taxes in foreign countries (about RM7.8 billion - PETRONAS now operates in more than 30 countries), and the remaining RM26.7 billion was reinvested. The amount reinvested seems a lot, but the oil and gas industry is technology- and capital-intensive. Costs have gone up exponentially in the last couple of years. Previously, to drill a well, it cost about US$3 million; now it costs US$7 million. The use of rigs was US$200,000 a day a couple of years ago; now it costs US$600,000 a day.
A lot of people also do not realise that the amount returned by PETRONAS to the Government makes up 35% of the Government’s total annual income, to be used by the Government for expenditures, development, operations, and yes, for the various subsidies. That means for every RM1 the Government makes, 35 sen is contributed by PETRONAS.
So, instead of asking what happens to PETRIONAS’ money or profits, people should be questioning how the money paid by PETRONAS to the Government is allocated.
CRUDE EXPORTS & FUEL PRICES
4) A lot of people also ask, why Malaysia exports its crude oil. Shouldn’t we just stop exporting and sell at cheaper prices to local refiners? If Malaysia is an oil exporting country, why can’t we sell petrol or diesel at cheaper prices like other oil producing countries in the Middle East?
I guess I don’t have to answer the first couple of questions. It’s simple economics, and crude oil is a global commodity.
Why can’t we sell petrol and diesel at lower prices like in the Middle East? Well, comparing Saudi Arabia and other big producers to Malaysia is like comparing kurma to durian, because these Middle Eastern countries have much, much, much bigger oil and gas reserves.
Malaysia has only 5.4 billion barrels of oil reserves, and about 89 trillion cubic feet of gas. Compare that to Saudi Arabia’s 260 billion barrels of oil and 240 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Malaysia only produces 600,000 barrels per day of oil. Saudi Arabia produces 9 million barrels per day. At this rate, Saudi Arabia’s crude oil sales revenue could amount to US$1.2 billion per day! At this rate, it can practically afford almost everything — free education, healthcare, etc, and subsidies — for its people.
But if we look at these countries closely, they have in the past few years started to come up with policies and strategies designed to prolong their reserves and diversify their income bases. In this sense, Malaysia (and PETRONAS) has had a good head start, as we have been doing this a long time.
Fuel prices in Malaysia is controlled by the Government based on a formula under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism introduced more than a couple of decades ago. It is under this mechanism that the complex calculation of prices is made, based on the actual cost of petrol or diesel, the operating costs, margin for dealers, margin for retail oil companies (including PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd) and the balancing number of duty or subsidy. No retail oil companies or dealers actually make money from the hike of the fuel prices. Oil companies pay for the products at market prices, but have to sell low, so the Government reimburses the difference — thus subsidy.
Subsidy as a concept is OK as long as it benefits the really deserving segment of the population. But there has to be a limit to how much and how long the Government should bear and sustain subsidy. An environment where prices are kept artificially low indefinitely will not do anyone any good. That’s why countries like Indonesia are more pro-active in removing subsidies. Even Vietnam (which is a socialist country, by the way) is selling fuel at market prices.
PETRONAS & TRANSPARENCY
5) I feel I also need to say something on the allegation that PETRONAS is not transparent in terms of its accounts, business transactions etc.
PETRONAS is first and foremost a company, operating under the rules and regulations of the authorities including the Registrar of Companies, and the Securities Commission and Bursa Malaysia for its listed four subsidiaries (PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd, PETRONAS Gas Bhd, MISC Bhd and KLCC Property Holdings Bhd.
PETRONAS the holding company produces annual reports which are made to whomever wants them, and are distributed to many parties and places; including to the library at the Parliament House for perusal and reading pleasure of all Yang Berhormat MPs (if they care to read). PETRONAS also makes the annual report available on its website, for those who bother to look. The accounts are duly audited.
The website also contains a lot of useful information, if people really care to find out. Although PETRONAS is not listed on Bursa Malaysia, for all intents and purposes, it could be considered a listed entity as its bonds and financial papers are traded overseas. This requires scrutiny from investors, and from rating agencies such as Standard & Poor and Moody’s.
BOYCOTT PETRONAS?
6) The last time I checked, this is still a democratic country, where people are free to spend their money wherever they like.
For those who like to see more of the money that they spend go back to the local economy and benefiting their fellow Malaysians, perhaps they should consider sticking to local products or companies.
For those who like to see that the money they spend go back to foreign shareholders of the foreign companies overseas, they should continue buying foreign products.
FINAL WORD (FOR TODAY)
I’m sorry this is rather long, but I just have to convey it. I hope this would help some of you out there understand something. The oil and gas industry, apart from being very capital intensive, is also very complex and volatile. I’m learning new things almost every single day.
Appreciate if you could help to forward this response to as many contacts as possible to counter the subversive proposal out there.
Thank you.
CompanionLink Professional v3.0.3014 Multilingual
I’ve been using a Lotus Notes 8.0, Microsoft Outlook 2003 and Gmail with Google Calendar all this while.
Most of the times, it’s not synchronized with each other and certainly give me a headache.
CompanionLink did help me on this issue.
CompanionLink is a two-way synchronization solution for busy professionals that need mobile access to contacts, appointments, to-do lists, and notes. Synchronize your ACT!, GoldMine, Outlook, and Lotus Notes information with all the latest Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and Palm mobile devices.
Sync your CRM data with your phone or PDA!CompanionLink offers two ways to sync:
1. USB sync (available in both the Express and Professional version) what’s the difference?
2. Wireless sync ($9.95 monthly serivce available in Professional version only)Sync with BlackBerry,
Windows Mobile, Palm OS,
and Apple iPhone
Jack of all trades, master of none
Which one is better?
1. Being a Jack that knows everything, but with a very limited knowledge?
2. Or being another Jack that knows his things in deep knowledge, in expert mode?
People tends to agree whichever situation that they’re in that bandwagon.
I was in the number 1. Yesterday, I have a nice intellectual conversation with people who were in the situation 2. He said that that’s good to know a lot of things. We may need it in future, which reflects all action that’s unpredictable, thus requires you to know in every aspect.
In my opinion, it’s good to be number 1, if you’ve achieved the number 2.
Ubuntu 7.10 on VMWare 6.00 - Loading Linux Kernel at 45%
Gaaa.. stuck for 1 hour now. Can’t make it run. Ubuntu Forums doesn’t help much.
Windows Server 2008 (Longhorn) First Look Series (Preview) at Amcorp Mall
I’m going for the Windows Server 2008 preview today at Info Trek, Amcorp Mall. Some said that it’s going to be more Command Line Interface (CLI) line Linux.
Let me see it first.
Hi Hisamudin =)
This is to acknowledge receipt of your email registration for Microsoft First Look Series. XXX from Info Trek will be following-up on your registration shortly.
Thanks for your interest in the up-coming Windows Server 2008 launch!
I’m glad that Microsoft confirms my registration for the early bird entries.
DELL-EMC Training, Penang
EMC is one of the storage company. I must say it’s one of the biggest among IBM and Hitachi.
I’m attending this storage in Penang (again) for the whole 2 weeks. Full swing! Throughout 22/10/07 - 2/11/07.
Kinda tired, though! Have to go through all the slides, practical and examination.
Why talented employee resign?
Received this inspiring articles through email. Indeed, it’s very true.
WHY EMPLOYEES LEAVE ORGANISATIONS ? - Azim Premji, CEO- Wipro
Every company faces the problem of people leaving the company for better pay or profile.
Early this year, Mark, a senior software designer, got an offer from a prestigious international firm to work in its China operations developing specialized software. He was thrilled by the offer.
He had heard a lot about the CEO. The salary was great. The company had all the right systems in place employee-friendly human resources (HR) policies, a spanking new office, and the very best technology, even a canteen that served superb food.
Twice Mark was sent abroad for training. “My learning curve is the sharpest it’s ever been,” he said soon after he joined.
Last week, less than eight months after he joined, Mark walked out of the job.
Why did this talented employee leave ?
Arun quit for the same reason that drives many good people away.
The answer lies in one of the largest studies undertaken by the Gallup Organization. The study surveyed over a million employees and 80,000 managers and was published in a book called “First Break All The Rules”. It came up with this surprising finding:
If you’re losing good people, look to their immediate boss . Immediate boss is the reason people stay and thrive in an organization. And he’s the reason why people leave. When people leave they take knowledge, experience and contacts with them, straight to the competition.
“People leave managers not companies,” write the authors Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.
Mostly manager drives people away?
HR experts say that of all the abuses, employees find humiliation the most intolerable. The first time, an employee may not leave, but a thought has been planted. The second time, that thought gets strengthened. The third time, he looks for another job.
When people cannot retort openly in anger, they do so by passive aggression. By digging their heels in and slowing down. By doing only what they are told to do and no more. By omitting to give the boss crucial information. Dev says: “If you work for a jerk, you basically want to get him into trouble. You don’t have your heart and soul in the job.”
Different managers can stress out employees in different ways - by being too controlling, too suspicious, too pushy, too critical, but they forget that workers are not fixed assets, they are free agents. When this goes on too long, an employee will quit - often over a trivial issue.
Talented men leave. Dead wood doesn’t.
Preventive Maintenance for Sun Microsystems Server
It’s not that hard. With the pre-made script, just run the command at the root level and it’s done.
Goodbye IPv4, Welcome IPv6.
For the past several years, there’s been a lot of hype — and mixed messages — surrounding IPv6. One day it’s “migrate away from IPv4 or be left in the dust;” the next day, it’s “well, you have some time.”But as the federal government’s self-imposed deadline to have IPv6 in place by 2008 fast approaches and experts warn of a more rapid depletion of IPv4 address — some suggesting they could be gone in fewer than five years — it appears there isn’t much time left to wait.The same experts ringing the doomsday bell for IPv4, however, also understand that migrating over to the new Internet isn’t as easy as the flick of a switch. It takes time, money and a heck of a lot of trial and error to ensure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible.There are currently three ways to go about adding IPv6 to your network: Dual-stack, tunneling and translation. Dual-stack runs both v4 and v6 on two separate networks; tunneling jumps traffic over the nodes that haven’t been converted; and translation uses a product on the edge or a device to make v4 and v6 compatible. Whichever method you choose to start your adventure in v6 doesn’t matter. But one message experts continue to hammer home is that you should be preparing now, working with v6 tools in a lab environment, and ensuring you have a grasp of v6 before v4 breathes its final breath and everyone starts that mad scramble. That will give you time to work out the kinks and quirks inherent with a new technology and better determine which v6 path best fits in your strategy.
Here’s the source.
Do you think we’re ready for IPv6?