Interview with Güney Devrim İldiri, CEO of Nynas Türkiye

In our interview with Güney Devrim İldiri, CEO of Nynas Turkey, we discussed the importance of naphthenic oils for the chemical industry. İldiri also spoke about the company's research and development activities and the importance they place on sustainability. [caption id="attachment_124010" align="aligncenter"] Güney Devrim İldiri[/caption]  

Could you tell us about yourself and your professional background?

I am a senior oil and energy executive with experience in the Eastern Mediterranean, Central Asia, Balkans and Middle East regions. In terms of education, after graduating from Galatasaray High School in 1995, I completed my undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, and my master's degrees in Systems and Control Engineering at Boğaziçi University and Mechanical Engineering at University of Texas at Austin. I began my professional career in 1999. Over the last 22 years, I have worked for multinational companies such as ExxonMobil and SOCAR in the oil, electricity and renewable energy sectors, holding various senior management and consulting positions in different business models and multicultural environments. Currently, I serve as CEO of Nynas, a multinational oil company. In addition to this position, I contribute to academic work at universities by leveraging my experience and knowledge in petroleum products, electricity generation, energy economics, energy outlook, energy trading and energy efficiency. In line with my commitment to meeting energy demand without jeopardizing the future of our planet, I teach Energy Policy and Strategy at Galatasaray University and serve as an Advisory Board Member at Bilgi University's Energy Systems Engineering Department.

Could you tell us about your product range and the sectors you serve?

Nynas researches, produces and supplies specialized naphthenic oils and bitumen for the growing global market. As Nynas Turkey, we currently supply transformer oils, base oils, process oils and specialty oils to our industrial customers operating in the transformer, tire, rubber, metalworking fluids and chemical sectors. Based on the 4 focus sectors in which we operate, we are responsible for electricity supplied to approximately 1.25 billion people worldwide. Nearly half a million square meters of road is resurfaced with Nynas bitumen every year, and our oils are used in the tire production of approximately 300 million drivers using these roads.

Could you provide information about naphthenic oils? What is the particular importance of naphthenic oils for the chemical industry? In this context, what is the global position and importance of Nynas Turkey?

Globally, the combustion of petroleum is declining. However, petroleum continues to be present everywhere in our daily lives. It is an indisputable fact that its use in plastic production and industry will increase. Unlike other oil companies, we prefer to use petroleum rather than burn it. Many of our specialty naphthenic oils have a service life exceeding 40 years. By analyzing market dynamics before demand comes from customers, we maintain market leadership by developing new products. We constantly adapt to new market needs and seek to create innovative solutions and overcome all challenges ahead. The secret to the success of naphthenic oils in chemical applications is their high solvency. Solvent power plays an important role in all production processes in which the oil is used. High solvent power offers formulators flexibility in using different raw materials, the opportunity to add higher amounts of active ingredients or additives, and shorter processing times. The Nynas "alternative" base oils we introduced to the market to replace Group I base oils, which have become difficult to find due to ongoing changes in the refining sector, are rapidly filling Group I's market position. Nynas specialty process oils, adhesives, leather care, mold release agents, antifoaming agents, inks, industrial explosives, silicones and battery separators are being used as replacements for Group 1 oils, and I foresee increased use in the coming period. For example, NYFLEX® naphthenic oils developed for silicones and putty fillers meet basic requirements such as low viscosity, good compatibility, color stability and excellent low-temperature performance. The high solvency of our naphthenic oils allows formulators to optimize plasticizer concentration while maintaining compatibility, providing clear and transparent sealing even at very low temperatures. Additionally, the molecular structure of naphthenic oils has a built-in function that prevents bacterial and fungal growth in sealants used in damp environments. Nynas Turkey was founded in Istanbul 22 years ago. We have an enthusiastic, strong and developing structure. We are taking steps to further improve our work both in terms of product variety and performance and logistics and services. As one of the leading suppliers of specialty oils in Turkey, this is also an element of our long-term growth strategy.

Could you tell us about your domestic and international sales volumes?

Nynas is a global company with a strong position in niche markets. Nynas' expertise in bitumen and naphthenic specialty products sets it apart from other oil companies. Nynas' core competency is refining heavy crude oil into a balanced mix of long-lasting, high-performance specialty products for sustainable use. Nynas is a leading brand and global market leader in specialty naphthenic oil production. Nynas products touch almost everyone's life every day through their presence. Examples include running shoes, adhesives, rubber, paint, magazines and lubricants, which are just a few of thousands of items. Within Nynas, as Nynas Turkey we are assigned to the CEETMEIA (Central Eastern Europe Turkey Middle East India Africa) region. Currently, we rank second in terms of sales volume in this region; our goal is to rank first within 5 years. For this reason, we want to strengthen our distributor network in Turkey even further.

Could you provide information about your research and development activities? What technologies do you use in conducting your R&D work?

We invest heavily in R&D and must do so. It is the only way to meet the needs that emerge both in our customers' production and in product standards. Hydrogenation is one of our specialty applications. Very few oil companies put their distillates through hydrogenation as rigorously as we do. How does this process work? The distillate is mixed with hydrogen gas at high pressure and high temperature over a catalyst bed in the reactor. As a result of this process, sulfur and nitrogen are separated while aromatic content is also reduced. Consequently, you obtain a clean product ideal for many applications. Through intensive hydrogenation, it is possible to remove carcinogenic molecules from the oil. In general, we aim to ensure the high quality required to meet legal standards in consumer products. With our products designed to optimize processes, we know how we can contribute to our customers' low-cost and efficiency efforts.

Could you tell us about a product you have recently introduced to the market? What advantages will this product bring to your brand, your customers and your sector?

As a result of our recent R&D investments, the bio-based oils we have launched give producers the opportunity to achieve their sustainability goals while maintaining performance advantages. We have in our portfolio a series of high-performance transformer oils that meet various international standards and can adapt to different environmental conditions, as technology leaders. In addition, we have launched NYTRO® BIO 300X, a renewable transformer oil with superior performance compared to conventional oils. Furthermore, the tire industry's desire to switch to raw materials produced from renewable sources recently proved the timing correct for NYTEX® BIO 6200, which we developed to support sustainability efforts and launched to the market. The fact that both of our products offer performance and sustainability simultaneously demonstrates that our intensive R&D work in this area has paid off. The development of bio-based solutions ensures that our customers receive the high quality they expect from our products while also signaling our commitment to supporting sustainable trends.

How do you define the importance of sustainability? Could you provide our readers with information about the work you have undertaken in this context?

As a responsible company, Nynas has a set of policies addressing many environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainable development. As Nynas, we continue our efforts to contribute to sustainable development. Our goal is to fulfill the responsibility that falls on us at the maximum level for a sustainable future. Nynas' core competency is refining heavy crude oil into a balanced mix of long-lasting, high-performance specialty products for sustainable use. Nynas is a leading brand and global market leader in the NSP (Naphthenic Specialty Products) field and in bitumen. The petroleum and energy market is an active system that is constantly evolving and growing. Following developing technology and contributing to this development positively impacts our business partners' and customers' sustainability efforts. At Nynas, Sustainable Development particularly means protecting and maintaining human and natural resources for future generations. Nynas is a difference-making oil company; we are focused on producing products that provide lasting value, which we define as "taking petroleum further." Pursuing a progressive approach to sustainable development allows us to take a holistic view of the world in which we operate. Like every individual and institution living in this world, we too are responsible for protecting the environment. For this reason, we are making major investments to make our refineries and operations emit CO2 at minimal levels. Our refinery in Nynashamn processes approximately 1 million tons of crude oil annually. In this region, we have spent 2 billion Swedish kronor over the last 5 years. The first major step was taken when a cogeneration facility running on biofuel was opened in 2004. This facility, which provides steam to the refinery, reduces CO2 emissions by 100,000 tons per year. Another example is the switch to natural gas as a raw material for hydrogen production. This way, 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions were reduced annually. As a result, these investments will create a solid foundation for future work. The year 2020 was a turbulent year for the global energy system. The Covid-19 crisis caused more damage than other recent events and left traces that will last for years. However, whether this turmoil ultimately helped accelerate clean energy transitions and efforts to achieve international energy and climate targets will become clear in the future.

What are your targets for the coming years? Could you provide information about the innovations you will bring to the sector?

Our efforts continue unabated to meet the work and needs of our customers. Accordingly, in the coming period, we want to introduce new products to the Turkish market that will support their competitiveness in the sectors in which they operate and contribute to their sustainability goals. The chemical sector, one of Nynas' 4 focus sectors, is an important pillar of Nynas Turkey's growth strategy. In order to provide easy and fast service to large and medium-sized enterprises in this sector, we aim to increase collaborations with expert companies from within the sector.