Bridging business and environmental goals: John Grover on joining Envorem
John Grover, Envorem Middle East Director (non Exec)
Envorem’s new Middle East Director looks to drive environmental impact with commercial sense
Introducing John Grover, Envorem’s new Middle East Director (Non-Executive), who brings nearly four decades of international oil and gas services experience to the company. In this interview, he shares what drew him to Envorem, his thoughts on the technology, and how he sees its role in addressing environmental challenges in the region.
Envorem News: John, welcome to Envorem. What attracted you to this role?
John Grover: I was drawn to Envorem because of the clarity of its environmental purpose and the simplicity of its technology. Envorem is a company with a clearly defined environmental goal and a technology that’s practical and deployable. That’s refreshing. I’ve worked in many parts of the Oil and Gas Industry and I know how important it is to bring in innovation that makes economic sense as well as having environmental benefits. That’s exactly where Envorem is positioned.
What appealed to me in particular about Envorem’s approach is that it solves a problem, a very visible, very serious one. Large oil lagoons and sludge pits are no longer acceptable and the conventional methods for dealing with them – landfill or incineration – are poor options. The fact that we provide an alternative is very appealing. And, I must admit, I’m just as interested in the commercial and business aspects as I am in the environmental benefits.
Envorem News: How do you see Envorem’s role within the wider energy sector?
John Grover: There’s growing pressure on the Oil and Gas Industry to deal with its environmental legacy sludge lagoons, contaminated soil, all the by-products of production. Envorem offers a credible solution. It’s not about criticising the industry but about partnering to help clean up in a commercially viable way. That’s something I believe major operators will increasingly engage with.
The Envorem Oil remediation system is built around a standard design, however the industry faces challenges that are project specific. So, depending on the type of sludge that we analyse, we customise our system to suit. And of course, our system can be used in other industries as well.
Envorem News: You’ve worked across many markets. How important is the Middle East for this type of technology?
John Grover: Hugely important. The scale of production, the volume of waste and the visibility of environmental issues make this region a priority. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are serious about diversifying their economies and addressing sustainability. There’s a real window of opportunity here for technology like Envorem’s to make a difference.
Envorem News: Envorem’s system uses water rather than thermal methods, with no emissions. How well do you think this aligns with regional sustainability goals?
John Grover: I think it’s more a question of how we quantify and validate how much more environmentally friendly Envorem is than the next alternative, in hard numbers. One of the failings in green business is making vague claims without evidence. It’s easy to say “this is greener” or “this helps net zero”, but unless we can show how we are 50%, 70%, 90% more efficient, and can verify that, we’re not helping the client understand the value. And where this fits in their emissions profile? It’s all about context and measurable impact.
For Envorem this is easy. We can demonstrate direct emissions savings against an incineration solution which just burns the oil out of the waste converting it to greenhouse gases. Compared to a landfill solution, we divert the waste from landfill by processing it and removing the contamination. Whether benchmarked against incineration or landfill, we save emissions from transport by bringing our mobile equipment to the waste source and we recover the oil and water from the waste for recycling. So, in summary we deliver quantifiable emissions savings, landfill diversion metrics and definitive amounts of recycled products.
“We clean up your waste, we give you the oil back, we do it cheaper, with less environmental impact, and we do it faster. That’s a compelling offer.”
Envorem News: So what’s needed to move from innovation to adoption?
John Grover: I was taught something 30 years ago during a tendering course that I still use today. We were given a rubber stamp that said ‘so what’ and every time I write a proposal, I still apply that thinking. What does this actually mean to the customer? What are the issues, features, benefits and proof? It's about being able to articulate potential results that resonate with the client. With Envorem, I think the proposition is strong: we clean up your waste, we give you the oil back, we do it cheaper, with less environmental impact and we do it faster. That’s a compelling offer.
The challenge is finding the right person to make that pitch to and ensuring they have the budget and motivation to act. But if the process in all cases was cheaper than current practices, that would be incredibly powerful.
Envorem News: What will your immediate focus be?
John aims to connect the dots for operators with the aim of creating new partnerships
John Grover: Building relationships and supporting local strategy. Operators in this region want to see results, they want assurance, and they want to know the people behind the technology. I’ll be working to establish that trust, support new deployments and ensure we’re aligned with the needs of the region’s producers and regulators. My job as a non-executive director is to help connect the dots. Envorem has the technology, now we need the partnerships, the pilots and the proof points to take it further. I’m looking forward to being part of that.
Envorem News: What do you think success looks like for Envorem in the Middle East over the next few years?
John Grover: I think the immediate priority is delivering our first commercial project with ABCO for Saudi Aramco. The equipment is now on site and work will commence shortly. The success of this project will be the catalyst for everything else.
Success this year means a smooth and effective delivery in Saudi Arabia, followed by securing a second project. Ideally, that next step will come with greater commercial clarity, a better revenue model and a more refined operational approach. That’s how you build momentum, one successful deployment at a time. And if we can also generate strong case material from the first project, that will be vital for supporting wider engagement across the region.
Envorem News: As we end off, tell us what else you are passionate about? We hear you’re also a musician. How does that fit into your life alongside the Oil and Gas world?
John Grover: Yes, I’ve always played music, it’s a great counterbalance to work. I mainly play guitar and have been in a few bands over the years. It’s something I do for enjoyment rather than performance these days, but it keeps me grounded. There's a discipline to music that’s not dissimilar to engineering – you’re always looking to make things work together in harmony, which I suppose applies to business as well.
Envorem News: Any final thoughts?
John Grover: Just that it’s great to be part of something with such a clear impact. I’ve spent years working in technically complex, often high-risk environments. Helping a company deliver something this direct – taking waste and turning it into recoverable resources while protecting the environment – feels like the right challenge at the right time.
For more about John and his career, read: Envorem Welcomes John Grover As Middle East Director
