The latest venture
Retired only from Bapco, but not from work, Hussain was a founder of Eastern Industrial and Oilfield Services (EIOS), a holding company operating a group of specialist companies that provide technical services to the energy sector in the region.

About a year after his retirement in 2006, someone approached Hussain and suggested they establish their own company. “We explored what would be a good niche business for us.”

They wanted to engage with well-established national and multi-national companies, “bringing our local know-how and experience together with the experience of international players. Then we could provide a useful service, initially for the energy sector in Bahrain with a vision to reach out regionally.”

They ended up joining a Kuwaiti investment company to form EIOS as a holding company operating out of Bahrain, with Hussain as its chairman. “We acquired two companies and created a consultancy,” adds Hussain. “We now have an agreement with an international engineering firm to provide engineering design and construction.”

EIOS acquired interests in two other well-established local companies with clients mostly in the oil and gas industries.

“We like to consider ourselves as solution providers. We provide solutions to problems, incidents and new installations.”

One of the joys Hussain gets out of this post-retirement activity is working with young people. “They have a dynamism that I love, and they are instruments of change. They have energy but may not have the requisite experience. I like the coaching aspect as I am able to give them something they don’t have.”

Recent oil disaster
The BP oil well blow-out in the Gulf of Mexico has been a major event in the news. Some have referred to it as the worst environmental disaster ever experienced.

Asked whether EIOS might offer advice to those attempting to contain the oil gushing from BP’s well, Hussain says, “We have no expertise in deep well drilling.” He explained that it’s a highly specialised area.

Commenting on mixed reports in the media, with some being exceptionally harsh on BP and others defensive, Hussain says, “Listening to BP enquiry, it is clear that one needs to await the company’s own investigation before jumping to conclusions.”

Asked what he thought about the use of dispersants, Hussain related how they’re universally used and are “wonderful chemicals to break up the oil, but they are very toxic and must not be used in shallow water.”

What amazed Hussain about the recent oil disaster was the lack of a contingency plan. “The industry doesn’t have a fallback position in the event of a blowout of this type. You would have thought they would since they’ve done a lot of drilling in deep water in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.”

Activities
Hussain had an early start with social activities as an engineer. “I joined the technical sub-committee of the Bahrain Society of Engineers that had been established in the early 70s. I went on to be on the board of the Society.”

He joined the Manama Rotary Club in 1982, and was soon on its board and eventually became the president in 1987-88. He is still an active member, and recently served as chairman of the District Awards Committee.

His involvement in community activities reflects his interest in helping others. He reflects, “I was a founding member and treasurer of the Bahrain Social and Cultural Society; and I’m involved as vice chairman of the Bahrain-Bangladesh Friendship Society.”

Serving on the Bahrain National Action Charter (NAC) Committee led Hussain to serve on an NAC’s Implementation Committee. He was an external member of Bahrain University’s Scientific Research Council. The council also had a number of implementation committees, one of which involved Hussain.

Non-retirement afterthoughts:
The only time Hussain looks back is to see what he can learn from the past and to know where he has come from. “I tend not to dwell on what life might have been. I’m always more focussed on where I want to go, what I want to be and what I want to do.”

After his retirement, Hussain received an award from His Majesty King Hamad recognising his achievements during his many years with Bapco. In 2009, he received another significant award as an ‘International Distinguished Citizen of the World’, presented by the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Interestingly enough, Hussain considers getting married his greatest challenge. He met his wife Rashida when they were studying in London. They agreed to marry, but both needed to get their parents’ permission. It took her about nine months to get her parents to agree. Meanwhile Hussain waited and agonised.

They married in 1968 and came to Bahrain immediately after. Rashida was the first Malaysian in Bahrain. Since then, she has been busy with a number of community programs and activities.

During an interview six years ago, Hussain said, “Although I’ve no thought of retirement yet, one thing I particularly want when I retire is to devote time to my grandchildren, to give them the attention I wasn’t always able to give to my own children when they were growing up because I was so busy.”

Hussain is still not retired, but he is devoting a lot of time to his grandchildren. With his knowledge of how to climb ladders and his experience as a leader, he makes an excellent coach for the younger generation.