A
giant step in the local energy sector
By
Louis B Homer
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com
07 09 06
This
in spite of stormy beginnings on the La Brea Industrial
Estate which was the centre of controversy over
its location as a viable industrial estate.
Drilling
platforms are now fabricated there by Damus and
Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Unlimited (TOFCO).
For
the past 50 years, these platforms were imported
from the United States, but with the emphasis on
the use of local content in the energy industry,
not only platforms will be fabricated, but other
items needed in offshore drilling operations.
The
initiative has been hailed as a major success by
Prakash Saith, President of the National Energy
Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Saith
said last week on the anniversary of the second
year of operation of TOFCO, "This is a tremendous
step for Trinidad's local industry as exploration
and producing companies have been importing platforms
into Trinidad for approximately 50 years resulting
in hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands
of jobs going to the United States of America."
He
said that with the introduction of the local value
content, "the experts had estimated that in
the past it was less than 10 per cent, but with
the fabricating of platforms locally, it is estimated
that this figure has increased to over 30 per cent."
Saith
said the NEC had planned for a maximum fabrication
of three platforms at any one time. "We have
achieved that goal in the first two years and every
square inch of the fabrication yard has been leased
out well ahead of schedule," he said.
A
major company involved in the fabrication business
is TOFCO, which is a joint venture formed in 2003
between Weldfab Limited and Chet Morrison Contractors
Inc.
TOFCO
recently built for bpTT, the Oilbird platform, regarded
as the largest and heaviest platform in local offshore
operations.
Mango
and Cashima are expected to be completed by February
2007, and discussions are underway for the construction
of a 3,500 tonne Poinsettia.
Saith
said as at June 1, the fabrication yard employed
650 skilled people providing services in fabrication,
welding, fitting, security, stevedoring, directly
through TOFCO.
Seventy
per cent of the labour force comes from La Brea
and its environs. The company operates from its
base on the LABIDCO estate on a 30-acre site.
Shuresh
Gangabissoon, general manager of TOFCO, said the
outlook for the company's future looked promising.
He
said: "Based on present trends, and projected
opportunities the company intends to pursue investments
in assets and personnel that would allow for maximisation
of our opportunities."
He
added: "TOFCO regards La Brea as its home and
will readily identify with communities in La Brea
and its environs, especially the youth in the area.
"
Trinidad
& Tobago Express / Wednesday, July 5th 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Express. All Rights Reserved.
