S-Oil CEO Anwar A. Al-Hejazi wins prestigious industrial honor

S-OIL CEO Anwar A. Al-Hejazi has received South Korea’s most prestigious industrial medal thanks to the oil refiner’s mega-scale petrochemical investment project.

The Seoul-based company announced on Nov. 13 that Al-Hejazi has won the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit at a ceremony marking Foreign Company Day 2025.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan presented the nation’s highest industrial decoration to Al-Hejazi.

The award honors individuals who have played a significant role in strengthening Korea’s industrial competitiveness and economic development.

The S-Oil chief was recognized for his leadership in accelerating the company’s energy transition efforts and driving forward the 9.3 trillion won ($6.4 billion) Shaheen Project, the largest petrochemical investment in the company’s history.

The project aims to reinforce Korea’s foundational competitiveness in the petrochemical sector by expanding S-Oil’s portfolio into higher-value chemical products.

He was also honored for spearheading investments in a gas turbine power plant to reduce carbon emissions and for overseeing the completion of S-Oil’s TS&D Center in Seoul.

The center is expected to bolster research and development capabilities in refining and petrochemicals while establishing a foundation for next-generation technologies.

In addition, Al-Hejazi played a key role in supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to a commercial passenger route in August last year, making S-Oil the first Korean refiner to do so.

The government noted that continuous investments in both existing and new business areas have contributed meaningfully to national economic growth.

Al-Hajazi said that he would pull forth great efforts to successfully complete the Shaheen Project, which is expected to finish midway through next year, with the first production slated for early 2027.