Charles Greenway Biography

Selects Abadan Island as the refinery site and begins establishing the company's Persian Gulf refining base.

The company consolidates interests connected with the Bakhtiari Oil Company as its Persian structure expands.

The new company acquires the petroleum rights and shares held through the Concessions Syndicate.

The company reaches an agreement with Sheikh Khazal securing local cooperation for operations near the Persian Gulf.

Directs development of refinery facilities at Abadan to process crude from the Persian oilfields.

Becomes managing director and takes a leading role in building Anglo-Persian into an integrated oil company.

Develops the long-distance pipeline system needed to carry crude oil from Masjed Soleyman to Abadan.

Gives evidence with Lord Strathcona to a government committee examining oil fuel and future naval requirements.

Opens the Abadan refinery with an initial annual capacity of about 120,000 tons.

Faces serious technical problems when an early refinery test fails and product quality proves poor.

Signs a ten-year marketing arrangement with Royal Dutch Shell because Anglo-Persian lacks a large distribution network.

Reaches the end of the year with working capital effectively exhausted despite the major Persian oil discovery.

Negotiates with British officials over state investment that could preserve Anglo-Persian's independence and finance expansion.

The Foreign Office reviews the history and strategic significance of D'Arcy's Persian petroleum concession.

Two government-appointed directors join the company board with special veto rights over defined strategic matters.

The British government acquires a majority interest, giving Anglo-Persian new capital while preserving commercial management.

Becomes chairman of Anglo-Persian as the company enters its decisive partnership with the British government.

Concludes a long-term arrangement guaranteeing the Royal Navy a secure supply of Persian fuel oil.

Orders seven tank steamers as Anglo-Persian invests government-backed capital in transport capacity.

Establishes a research laboratory at Sunbury, broadening Anglo-Persian's technical and refining capabilities.

Decides to establish refining capacity at Swansea using improved technology for British and European markets.

Abadan refinery capacity reaches about one million tons annually after sustained wartime expansion.

Persian crude production reaches roughly 23,600 barrels per day as the company's wartime output expands.

Parliament is told the government holds two million of Anglo-Persian's three million ordinary shares.

Anglo-Persian offers one million pounds to settle disputed Persian royalty claims through the Armitage-Smith negotiations.

Waives claims over wartime pipeline damage while seeking a broader settlement of royalty disputes with Persia.

Parliament examines the company's pre-government marketing agreement to supply Shell through the end of 1922.

North Persia Oils concludes a sale agreement connected with acquisition of northern Persian concession interests.

A company linked with Anglo-Persian is incorporated to pursue former Russian oil interests in northern Persia.

Expands company-controlled marketing subsidiaries in Europe, Africa and Asia after the Shell agreement expires.

The ten-year Shell marketing arrangement expires, allowing Anglo-Persian to expand its own international sales network.

The British government decides to retain its large equity holding rather than privatize its Anglo-Persian interest.