Home > Oil & Gas > View from the Top

Looking for Efficiency

Octavio Navarro - Heerema Marine Contractors
Country Manager Mexico

STORY INLINE POST

Wed, 01/22/2020 - 08:28

share it

Q: The AMLO administration is prioritizing the oil industry. What windows of opportunity has this opened for Heerema?

A: With the arrival of the new administration, new opportunities have emerged that did not exist before. Since the middle of the previous six-year period, there have been no projects for companies like Heerema, but new schemes are being generated that will have to be reviewed since we are working in a context that we are not familiar with in Mexico. Adapting to this context has not been easy. All contracts are going to be EPCI and in the specific case of Heerema, we will be subcontractors in the transportation and installation segment working mostly for Mexican companies.

Q: What is the status of the relationship between Heerema and PEMEX?

A: Heerema does not have any direct relationship with PEMEX. Our relationship with the NOC is through the consortiums in each project. When PEMEX requests the fabrication of platforms with transport and installation and also the installation of pipelines, at least three companies must join together: a fabricator, a pipeline installer and a platform transporter and installer.
Q: How is the dialogue between PEMEX and private companies conducted?

A: In the past, there was the option of delivering proposals to PEMEX and there were forums and meetings in which companies like ours could provide their opinion. With the current administration, this is not happening. I suppose this is because PEMEX is in a hurry to do things, so it does not want to waste time in discussions that may delay its plans.

Q: What changes should be implemented at PEMEX so that the company continues to improve its efficiency?

A: I believe that for PEMEX to be more efficient, projects should be separated. In other words, there should be fabrication contracts and contracts for the transport and installation of platforms. This would make it possible to have the right vessels for long-term projects with sufficient volume to pique the interest of major companies. 
Q: Heerema is in several countries around the world. What can Mexico learn from other markets to boost its industry?

A: Mexico no longer needs to learn too much, especially with the focus on shallow waters. PEMEX is a company that does not learn from their lessons learned: it continues to make the same mistakes despite the passing of the years. This may be caused by the amount of structural changes that the organization has experienced.
Q: What strategies does Heerema use to attract, retain and train the best possible Mexican talent?

A: The work that Heerema is carrying out in Mexico is not on a large scale, so our vessels arrive in the country with all the necessary personnel on board. Engineering is carried out in our offices in the US and the Netherlands, while in Mexico we work hand in hand with Mexican the companies that work for the manufacturers.
Q: What is your relationship with the companies interested in working in Mexico’s as-yet untapped deepwaters?

A: Most of the companies that have interest in the Mexican oil and gas market already know us and are our customers. Heerema always adapts to its client’s needs; that is, we do not have preferences for brands or materials. Once the project is finished, our relationship with the client ends, since we are not manufacturers, but installers. 
Q: What are Heerema’s near-term expectations in Mexico?

A: We are looking for work that we can do in 2020, although we do not have anything closed yet. Hopefully, the inertia initiated by PEMEX will continue in the coming years and the NOC will continue to develop new fields, but we do not really know which projects will be carried out over the next few years. Heerema has also diversified into other segments. This includes decommissioning, which is a must for Mexico.

Heerema Marine Contractors is headquartered in the Netherlands. It is a leading marine contractor in the international offshore oil and gas and renewables industry. It excels at transporting, installing and removing offshore facilities.

You May Like

Most popular

Newsletter