Driving the Industry in the Digital Arena

Q: How has HCX made the most of the emerging opportunities in the oil and gas industry?

A: We are working in a wider array of areas, such as implementation, project execution, industry-related software development and specialized consultancy for key companies. We have experience in execution and development of projects for third parties and we have developed our own projects, mostly in storage for refined products. Now, we are looking to attract investors to our own projects.

Q: What is HCX's capacity to take on ambitious projects and add value to them?

A: We have seen a great number of ideas for projects but just a few have moved forward. Most of these projects are large in size and they require millions of dollars to be developed and meet market requirements. There are many smaller projects where we can add value, such as the marine distribution terminal in Tuxpan, where we are now working. We have the flexibility and capacity to integrate project teams rapidly, to develop them quickly and to bring people who add value for the client. Our flexibilty is also our competitive edge.

Q: How is HCX working to transform the Mexican oil and gas industry?

A: We have been working with our own best practices for a long time and now that Mexican companies are adopting international standards, we work with them too. We have helped other companies define and develop new technology solutions, both for new infrastructure projects and operational IT applications.

Q: How has HCX expanded its offer to cost-effective services for a broader number of industry players?

A: Gas stations have hidden costs since they see compliance as an extra burden in their daily operations. We have tried to change this perception and to help them adopt ASEA’s and CRE’s regulations so they can see them as an opportunity and avoid fines or extra costs that could come later. Complianceenhancing practices are among the key areas of opportunity we have identified as companies are still figuring out how to handle this. Franchise implementation and supply have become priorities but gas stations are repeatedly facing these compliance-related challenges since often they fall to the bottom of the priority list. The regulations have become more sophisticated and they are having problems coping with these mandatory requirements.

Q: What are the areas of opportunity you see in human talent development?

A: There is a shortage of specialized labor for high-tech operations. The industry’s expansion has also prompted many experienced people to move from PEMEX to private entities, causing a shortfall of experienced staff in the sector. Trading and commercialization is another area of opportunity since PEMEX did not have this section before and now there are gaps to fill. The industry has grown organically and they are just learning to see things differently. The lack of human capital can also be seen among lawyers with practical experience. All this could cause the market to slow down or run inefficiently if these gaps are left unattended. This integration and market completion is something we strive to achieve because we want people to understand how to do their job better.

Q: Where do you see HCX going and which projects would you like to achieve this year?

A: We want to continue developing our digital platform to build more things around it, to create a digital ecosystem that can fully serve the market with more business intelligence. We also want to start constructing the projects we have already developed in the market, look for new solutions and opportunities and see which innovations are coming and what can be done in that area. We want to deepen knowledge in the market to overcome the idea of monopolistic practices and foster competition as the ideal road for growth, to add value and to do things better. There needs to be a shift from the idea of capturing the market and we strive to work in that direction.