Work resumes at Tofco after three-week protest
By Radhica Sookraj
Business Guardian
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
07 01 07
Weeks after its entire workforce staged crippling
protest action, Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Company
(Tofco)—one of T&T’s leading fabricating
companies—has resumed construction of the 4,000
tonne platform topsides for British Gas T&T.
The contract had been awarded to Tofco in January
by Fluor Daniel South America.
And although Tofco is still reeling from losses
sustained following the three-week demonstration,
operations have returned to normal.
In
an interview yesterday, Tofco’s general
manager, Suresh Gangabissoon, said the work on
the 4,000 tonne platform topsides project began
in January 2007. He said fabrication and pre-commissioning
are scheduled to be completed in June 2008, while
final completion for offshore Trinidad is scheduled
for August 2008.
Gangabissoon said Tofco remains committed to fulfilling
its obligations to its clients.
“Since its inception in 2004, Tofco has
completed works for bpTT, BHP and EOG. The most
notable of these are three topsides and jackets
for bpTT and a topside and jacket for EOG. However,
he said the BG’s Poinsettia topsides will
be the largest built to date in Trinidad or by
Tofco.
Asked about the costs incurred for building the
platform, Gangabissoon said:
“Tofco is not at liberty to discuss pricing
or cost of the project.” But added that the
job represents work for about 300 workers over
a year and a half period.
“The
fabrication and hook-up of the Poinsettia topside
is a small portion of the enormous cost
required for an oil company to bring a field from
discovery into production.”
He
noted that skilled workers from T&T will
benefit from the project.
“In
addition to direct jobs, there will be involvement
from many vendors and subcontractors.”
As
to how Tofco will benefit, Gangabissoon said
the project will allow international companies
to see T&T’s work standards.
“The BG Poinsettia project will allow T&T
to prove that major offshore platforms—once
destined to be fabricated elsewhere in the world
and installed in Trinidad waters—can, in
fact, be built to the required standards and schedule
demanded by the offshore oil and gas industry in
Trinidad, utilising a T&T labour force.”
He
said that Tofco’s goal is to establish
a skilled and permanent workforce as opposed to
a workforce that is transient.
“Tofco’s
aim is to demonstrate capability in terms of
safety, quality, cost and schedule,
thereby attracting other projects. This allows
for the provision of longer term employment.”
On May 15, more than 200 workers downed tools
to highlight poor wages. Assembling works on six
offshore platforms ground to a halt.
According to Gangabissoon, an agreement has been
reached with workers to prevent further protest.
“Tofco
and our workforce have reached agreements on
compensation packages and have both committed
to continuous dialogue to ensure the lines of communication
remain open and clear.”
Adding
that, “both the workforce and Tofco
have agreed on a plan that establishes general
increases for the workforce over the next few years.
This will give workers visibility they lacked with
respect to such plans in the past.”
Tofco workers returned to work on May 31 after
accepting a 15 per cent wage increase.
Gangabissoon
said that the protest has affected Tofco’s
credibility.
“Unfortunately,
all parties lose in such an event. There are
monetary losses, emotional
losses and credibility losses. Employees are deprived
of their ability to earn their living during such
work actions. Companies lose the confidence of
their clients to produce to the demanding schedules
of the oil and gas industry, while clients lose
due to impacts on their ability to deliver to their
downstream clients.”
He said the country, as a whole, loses due to
the negative impact such actions have in attracting
new industries.
Giving back
In
a bid to give back to the community, Tofco’s
general manager, Suresh Gangabissoon, said the
company is planning to construct a training facility
in La Brea so T&T’s skilled workforce
will be supplemented.
“The
facility will be established by the local community
and Tofco will provide equipment
and trainers to support it. With an average workforce
age of only 26 years, this type of training has
proved to be the best path forward.
“We
hope to establish the skills and trades required
by our works in the local community which
will allow us to further increase the local community
percentage of our workforce.”
Gangabissoon said to make this project successful,
Tofco needed the co-operation of local community
leaders, government officials and its employees.
Although
the sub-contract to Tofco was awarded months ago,
engineering and construction companies Fluor
Corp and McDermott International Inc only officially
announced last Wednesday that they had been chosen
to lead the consortium to build the offshore drilling
and gas production platform for BG T&T Ltd.
A report from the Associated Press out of Irving,
Texas last week indicated that Fluor Daniel South
America Ltd and McDermott subsidiary J Ray McDermott
will lead the Poinsettia project, which will be
located off the northwest coast of Trinidad in
530 feet of water.
Fluor will handle overall project management and
the design and fabrication of 4,000-tonne platform
topsides.
The report indicated that this was the first time
that topsides of this size will be fabricated
in T&T by a local fabricator.
“Two major companies have teamed on this
EPCI project to provide our client with a one-stop
solution that meet its goals of a faster schedule
with significant local content, without compromising
on the safety or quality in the project,” said
David Seaton, president of Fluor’s Energy & Chemicals
Group.
Tofco, a key subcontractor on the project, will
be fabricating the topsides at its fabrication
yard in T&T.
J Ray McDermott will design, procure and fabricate
a 9,100 short tonne jacket and 4,600 short tonnes
of piles. J Ray also will be responsible for transportation
and installation of the jacket, piles and topsides.
Fluor will provide the final hookup and commissioning
assistance.
Project construction is scheduled to begin soon,
with mechanical completion in the fourth quarter
of 2008 and first gas at the end of 2008.
Business Guardian
Thursday 28th June, 2007
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