Neal
& Massy extends grasp on energy
By Sherwin Long
The Trinidad Guardian
Port Spain
Petroleumworld.com
09 24 06
The
Neal and Massy Wood Group yesterday expanded its
reach into the local energy market after agreeing
to maintain all of bpTT’s plant and operating
equipment for the next five years.
During
a news conference at the Hilton Trinidad, Port-of-Spain,
bpTT CEO and chairman Robert Riley estimated the
move would take bpTT’s safety standards to
a higher level and support occupational safety and
health legislation.
Looking
ahead, Riley noted that in three to four years bpTT’s
platforms and equipment would need a more structured
approach to maintenance for the company to remain
reliable.
Currently,
bpTT’s maintenance department has 29 permanent
employees and 200 contract workers.
While
the cost of Wood Group’s services was not
given, Riley quoted US$50 million per year as the
amount bpTT currently spends on maintenance.
This
figure is expected to rise, he said.
However,
Riley also said he did not expect the number of
bpTT’s maintenance workers to decline.
Neal
and Massy Holdings chairman Arthur Lok Jack said
workers would actually benefit from the agreement.
“During
this agreement, the Neal and Massy Wood Group will
offer permanent employment with full benefits, training
development and career opportunities to many, many
contract workers,” Lok Jack said.
Neal
and Massy Wood Group is a 50/50 joint partnership
between Neal and Massy Energy and the Wood Group
of companies.
Lok
Jack called on local contractors to seek similar
partnerships so they can leverage what they learned
for the future.
Wood
Group chairman Sir Ian Wood said T&T’s
current situation paralleled that of the United
Kingdom in the 1970s, when there was a need for
local service providers in the oil and gas industry.
He
added that foreign expertise would help develop
locals and transfer technology and know-how.
“For
the first two or three years it is totally going
to be about investing in the confidence in the local
experience. Fortunately, there is a very good education
base (in T&T) and there is a very good basic
indigenous capability here,” Wood said.
The
Neal and Massy Wood Group was responsible for the
engineering and design for the EOG OilBird Platform
which is the largest offshore platform ever built
in T&T.
Trinidad
Guardian
Thursday, September 21st 2006
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©2006 Trinidad EGuarian. All Rights Reserved.
