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Aris Karousos, General Manager of EKO Serbia - A cleaner and safer energy future is our priority
Saturday, 14.12.2024.
17:07
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- Going back in time, I would not, possibly, imagine finding myself far away from Greece neither in personal or professional way.
And, indeed, the fact that after, almost, 20 years in Telecommunications I am back in the industry where I have started my professional career, leading an important Energy company, proves how unpredictable and exciting can be a career journey throughout time.
During this long journey, it is difficult to compare the two periods, simply because the world itself is different.
Two or three decades ago, a petrol station was a place that someone visits to, simply, fill in the tank of his car. Nowadays, it is the place that offers a lot more than that - not only related to broader portfolios of products and services but a whole different customer experience.
As an example, currently we are carrying out a serious investment in re-innovating our petrol stations internally, including our Kalypso café. This effort, apart from the fact that will upgrade our ‘’look & feel’’, will provide a lot of opportunities in expanding & upgrading our product and services proposition, making the petrol station a destination point for transactions that nobody could imagine, some years ago.
- The truth is that leaving a country in which I have lived for 15 years, and at the same time changing the industry and the company, is not something that we hear very often. Obviously, the decision is not a simple one, especially when such a decision includes the relocation of a family. The concerns that I had were the typical concerns that a father and a husband has: how the family will accommodate, how the kids will accommodate in a new environment etc.
At a personal & professional level the decision was easier, considering that I have lived in different countries already, the HELLENIQ ENERGY is large, solid and healthy organization and that Serbia, for Greeks, is a destination that we always feel close and welcomed.
Overall, every new start is difficult, but I have to say that I do not have regrets in making this step. The country itself helps a lot in the sense that we have similar mentalities and lifestyles, and we share the same values. Serbia is a country that we feel very welcomed, and the market develops in a very interesting way, as well.
- The global transition to cleaner energy forms is a significant challenge for the energy sector, requiring a long-term commitment, a realistic and holistic approach, and a deep understanding of strategic priorities. At our company, we believe that achieving a balance between profitability and environmental stewardship is not only possible but essential for a sustainable future.
To support these goals, our company has invested in modernizing our core operations to reduce emissions and improve efficiency. We seek the strategic transformation of HELLENiQ ENERGY into an integrated Group for the production and marketing of all modern forms of energy and the development of new business activities, with a primary emphasis on renewable energy sources.
A central priority is reducing our environmental footprint. We aim to decrease both direct and indirect carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, while actively exploring innovative solutions to address additional indirect emissions.
By integrating sustainability into our business strategy, we are striving to meet the needs of today while building a cleaner, more secure energy future for generations to come.
- Two years into the implementation of our “Vision 2025” strategic plan, we have made significant progress in reducing our environmental footprint and enhancing operational efficiency. This balanced transition to renewable energy sources (RES), coupled with modernization initiatives, has strengthened our position in the energy market and improved corporate performance across all core businesses.
Key achievements include advancing energy autonomy and efficiency projects, and implementing decarbonization initiatives. Simultaneously, we are focused on modernizing our industrial facilities to create the “refinery of the future,” producing low-carbon energy products and enhancing safety, risk management, and sustainability practices. We also continue to invest in innovative technologies, such as next-generation biofuels and low-carbon materials.
Our digital transformation program is progressing across all activities, with projected annual benefits of approximately €40 million by 2024, additional 100 million are projected for the next 2 years. These efforts reflect our commitment to operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and positioning our Group as a leader in the evolving energy landscape.
- The installation of solar panels in the rooftops of our petrol stations, is one of our initiatives in reducing our environmental footprint and at the same time have an economic benefit. In 2024 we have progressed in setting up the bases of the implementation and hopefully, in 2025 we will be ready to start the installation, starting with our Head Office and in those petrol stations that require high consumption of electricity. Further developments in this matter will be assessed in the course of time and after we have the first conclusions in operating the solar panels installed in our first Petrol stations.
eKapija: Although Serbia is at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to the number of users of electric cars, this is certainly a trend that our country is also striving to follow. Where is EKO Serbia currently when it comes to electric car chargers? Is that number to increase, especially on important roads and highways?
Indeed, we see a trend in Serbia, which we monitor quite close. Currently, consumers can recharge their electric cars at 5 EKO highway petrol stations in Sopot, Ćuprija 1 & 2 and in Žednik 1 & 2. In the next year we are planning to expand this service at additional 2 highway petrol stations.
Having as a priority to meet consumers’ needs & expectations, our plan is to enlarge our EV chargers’ network as the number of users of electric cars is growing, covering highways and important transit and city roads.
eKapija: Two years ago, when marking the first two decades of operations in our country, you presented the data that over EUR 100 million had been invested in Serbia. What are the next investment plans?
- As a company, we are focused on long-term growth through strategic investments, creating job opportunities, and expanding our presence in the market. Our goal is to continue providing excellent products and services to our customers while supporting the broader economic development of Serbia.
We are committed to keep growing and investing in Serbia. By doing so, we aim to contribute positively to society and build a sustainable future for all stakeholders.
Offer at petrol stations expanded in past years and today customers can have a cup of top-quality coffee, point to rest and enjoy tasty bites, parcel delivery service, wash their car, redeem their collected points from loyalty card for a variety of gifts for themselves or as a nice present for their families and friends.
At our petrol station customers can find new, just launched products from the FMCG industry, especially novelties that are viral in digital community, like confectionary or drinks under the famous influencers brands.
Electric vehicles chargers on HW stations are also one of the new services introduced on EKO network.
eKapija: Where is EKO Serbia compared to the competition in the market of Serbia and what is it that sets your company apart from the competition?
- EKO Serbia network covers all major cities and transit roads. Serbian retail market is very competitive and EKO is focused on customer service with all petrol stations working 24 h, well known Smile loyalty program with unique offerings in the catalogue as awards for the loyal customers. EKO is known for the quality of fuels, both Ekonomy unleaded and diesel and EKO racing unleaded 100 and Diesel double filtered, are fuels with additives for better performance of customers car.
Digital transformation is changing the loyalty landscape. Looking ahead, we have exciting plans to introduce new features that will make the EKO Smile program even more valuable. These include personalization as the key approach, based on individual customer habits and preferences and exclusive promotions for EKO Smile members.
eKapija: Through this business and this field, what have you learned about Serbia and our citizens? How different is the mentality of our people from the environment that you worked in, and how different is it from the Greek one? And how inspirational can those differences be for some locally-conditioned business initiatives?
This interaction between local and international professionals embeds a unique opportunity for both groups – an opportunity that should not be missed. In a business environment, international professionals can bring know-how, tools and ways of working that can progress the local market itself and open up the mind of the local professionals, further. At the same time the international professionals need to understand that ‘’think globally BUT act locally’’ is the single direction in order to move things forward. This is a clear ‘’win-win’’ relationship.
Personally, I feel very lucky because I have the privilege to lead a Serbian team of high caliber professionals that they are open to new things and at the same time, very willing and patient in explaining me how things are working in the local market. This helped me a lot in acquiring knowledge faster and easier. Of course, there is still a long way to go but the basic establishment is, already, there.
eKapija: How would you describe your life in Serbia? It is often said that Serbs and Greeks are brotherly nations. Is that your impression too after these many years of living and working in Serbia? What are the useful things that you have been able to learn in all this time from people in Serbia, whether in business or in the private life? And what is it that you would most gladly change in them if you could?
We, Serbs and Greeks, have a similar culture: we are warm, passionate, out-going, we are becoming happy or sad for similar reasons. We are more emotional than rational, we can be very stubborn (sometimes without a real reason), we are very proud (sometimes too proud), we can be very easy-going and very difficult at the same time. We share same values related to family and friends and we have emotional bonding that goes back in time and cannot be found very easily.
Having mentioned all the above, I can say that living in Serbia it is easier and more pleasant than in some other places that I have lived in the past. One of the things that I have learnt is that a foreigner needs to show the proper respect to the local traditions and in the very developed sense of pride that this Nation owns. On the other hand, when it comes to business I would say that improving the speed and the efficiency of how things are made, certainly would help in the further development and progress in any business that takes place in the country
eKapija: How would you describe Serbia to your business partners, friends from abroad? Is it a country in which, despite all the crises that affect the rest of Europe and the whole world as well, a success diary can be written after all?
- The chapter Serbia in my diary, is still in the status ‘’work in progress’’. As you have mentioned very correctly, we are facing, over the last years several challenges, triggered by geopolitical factors and a volatile international environment that does not help stability and balance. Still, we are here for the difficult things and not for the easy ones. There are, plenty of things to be learnt, and even more to be experienced and lived, but as a first experience I have to mention that I am among the ones that I advertise Serbia, abroad. The human capital of Serbia is very valuable and the country can have great opportunities of further development and growth. Closing I would like to thank you for hosting me and give me the opportunity to share my thoughts I hope to see you all in one of our petrol stations. I am sure that you will enjoy very high level of customer experience and our products.
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