A California-based oil and gas entrepreneur and investor, Levon Termendzhyan serves as an equity holder with Viscon International and regularly seeks out business opportunities in foreign markets. In 2013, Levon Termendzhyan formed the Turkish-based SBK Holdings and has since invested more than $500 million in the eight energy companies under its umbrella.Around the world, investments in renewable energy have surpassed investments in traditional energy sources over the past few years. This is particularly true in Turkey, where in 2017 renewables accounted for almost half of the country's power generation. Overall, $5.6 billion was invested in renewable resources in 2017, which was responsible for 65 percent of the 100 megawatts (MW) of power generation capacity added to the power grid.According to Oguz Can, Turkey's energy and natural resources ministry general director of renewable energy, the country allocated 3,000 MW in wind power in 2017 and led all of Europe in renewable energy capacity creation. Moreover, Turkey ranks among the top 10 European countries in solar and wind power capacity.
For nearly four decades, Levon Termendzhyan has guided fuel delivery, storage, and distribution companies in the United States and around the world. In addition to leading Viscon International, a clean-fuel company in California, Levon Termendzhyan serves as a joint venture partner with a biofuels company based in Indonesia. Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels are derived from living organisms, such as corn, algae, and palm oil. As the world’s top producer of palm oil, Indonesia has emerged as one of the major providers of biofuels in Southeast Asia, and the country has planned much of its future economic program around it. Recently, European Union (EU) officials made a key decision that will provide the country’s biofuel industry with a major boost.Since 2013, the EU has slapped additional duties on imported biofuels from Indonesian manufacturers, driving up prices on the continent and putting Indonesia at a trade disadvantage. In March of 2018, however, EU officials removed these restrictions after a decision made at the European Court of Justice. The elimination of the duties is expected to jump-start Indonesian imports, with some analysts suggesting that shipments could reach more than 400,000 tons in the coming year. The decision will negatively impact nearby Malaysia, whose smaller biofuel industry stands to lose its already negligible European market share.
Under the guidance of Levon Termendzhyan, Viscon International manufactures an innovative clean energy fuel additive that received certification and verification from the California Air Resources Board and could become a candidate to assist in the state’s goal of achieving mandated emissions reductions. Active in his field, Levon Termendzhyan belongs to a range of professional organizations, including the San Francisco Global Trade Council (SFGTC). A respected industry group, SFGTC provides members with extended opportunities to network with fellow business leaders from Northern California and around the world. For example, the council offers members the option to attend exclusive policy and trade briefings, where they can meet and discuss ideas with government leaders and industry influencers. In addition, SFGTC conferences and lunchtime events introduce the Bay Area business community to representatives of other nations’ governments with whom they can discover common interests.Members also gain access to the council’s trade missions, providing an opportunity to travel to meet other governments’ leaders and businesspeople who can demonstrate firsthand the industrial and commercial situations in their own countries.Wells Fargo, UPS, Virgin America, and Chevron are among the large corporations that partner with the SFGTC for the benefit of the local and national business communities.
As the head of Viscon International, Levon Termendzhyan has positioned the fuel additive manufacturer to help states meet emissions mandates for diesel. Levon Termendzhyan's firm has received approval for the use of Viscon within Texas and recently achieved California Air Resources Board (CARB) verification and certification for the additive.The latter is important in furthering Viscon's potential to meet a 2015 mandate targeting the reduction of CO2 emissions by 10 percent by 2020. As reported by CARB in a mid-2017 statewide inventory, California has achieved emissions reductions milestones in line with its 2020 goals, while enjoying the strongest rate of economic growth in a decade. Under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, the state has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent from their 2004 peak and is on target to bring them to 1990 levels, as mandated. This complex, coordinated effort encompasses the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the Renewables Portfolio Standard, the Cap-and-Trade Program, and the Advanced Clean Cars Program.
