Growing
without noise in a crowded sector
By Louis B Homer
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
11 26 06
Prime Minister Patrick Manning (left) gets an over
view of the Phase 3 Gas seperator from San Fernando
Mayor Kenneth Furgerson San Fernando Mayor who is
also managing director of Kenson Engineering during
the formal commisoning of the company's building
at Lady Hailes Avenue San Fernando. Photo: Stephen
Doobay
Growth
in the energy sector has been responsible for the
development of a number of service companies designed
to provide specialist services to this sector.
Since
the discovery of oil and gas offshore, the industry
has taken on a new dimension which has resulted
in better opportunities for entrepreneurs, especially
in providing goods and services to the industry.
The
number of service companies engaged in the industry
now stands at well over 200.
One
firm that has emerged as a leader in onshore and
offshore services is The Kenson Group of Companies
whose fortunes have rocketed in just over 10 years.
It
began operations as Kenson Production Services Limited
in October 1994 with 10 workers under its founder's
house and has grown into a fairly large establishment
in spacious quarters and nearly 400 workers.
During
that period, a number of subsidiaries were formed
with a view to providing maximum services to the
industry.
Last
week, it formally opened the doors to its head office
at Lady Hailes, Avenue, San Fernando.
Prime
Minister Patrick Manning, in delivering the feature
address, spoke in glowing terms about the contributions
Kenson has been making to the energy sector.
"This
company does its business in a quiet way without
making noises and today we see the results of the
strength of its management," he said.
Included
in the modern office complex are a number of classrooms,
fitted with state-of-the -art equipment for training
employees. There is also workshop space and machine
shop services.
In
keeping with the company's policy to provide services
in engineering, another subsidiary, Engineering
and Construction company Limited, was formed in
May 2000 which provides the base for warehouse and
workshop activities.
This
operating unit is located at Lot 21 B, at the Labidco
Industrial Estate, La Brea where equipment rental,
machine shop services, welding and fabricating and
steel bending are carried out.
Two
companies at Labidco are now engaged in the fabrication
of steel structures and Kenson is on hand to service
this growing aspect of the energy sector.
Thus
far three steel platforms have been fabricated and
are in use offshore. A fourth is nearing completion.
Owner
and Managing Director of Kenson, Kenneth Ferguson,
a former production superintendent at Amoco, who
was elected Mayor of San Fernando earlier this year,
said that after he decided to quit his job at Amoco
and open his own company he and his family had sleepless
nights over the decision.
"My
wife was concerned as to whether we could make a
success of the new venture, but I must say she was
very supportive of the move and together with the
rest of the family we started our operations in
the ground floor of our home at Alice Street, La
Romaine."
Ferguson
said the company grew from strength to strength.
"We
started with 10 employees, now we have 346, and
plans are in the pipeline to increase that number,"
he said.
Asked
whether his appointment as Mayor had interfered
with the operations of the company, he smiled, then
said: "Not at all. Since I decided to offer
my services to the city of San Fernando, my daughter
Rene and my son Blair have assumed greater responsibilities
at the company."
Rene
looks after the administration and finance while
Blair is in charge of the operations.
Kenson
has a unique training scheme for its employees.
The training module includes Operations, Safety,
Mechanical, Electrical/electronics and Crane Operation
and Maintenance.
Said
Ferguson: "As the needs of our clients grew,
as well as the demand for qualified, skilled and
experienced labour, we developed the production
-operator training programme."
He
said the objective was to develop a well rounded
production operators capable of working on any offshore
facility. For Kenson and his company there seems
to be just one way to go - that is, as always, up.
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday, November 22nd 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Express . All Rights Reserved.
