Tatweer Petroleum, a joint venture operating company between Noga (National Oil & Gas Authority), Occidental Petroleum Corporation and Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), has succeeded in vitalising the Bahrain economy through its substantial investment in redeveloping the Bahrain oilfield.
“We had an extensive development programme during 2011. Tatweer’s total annual spend in 2011 grew to $792 million, involving 167 contracts and 1,968 purchase agreements.
“Total commitments, including contracts, purchase orders and service orders increased to over $1 billion. The share of 2011 projects and material awards to Bahraini contractors and suppliers exceeded $500 million,” Adel Almoayyed, deputy CEO, Tatweer Petroleum, tells OGN in an interview.
At the end of 2011, the company’s headcount had increased to 747 staff from 624 at the end of the previous year. The workforce now comprises 31 nationalities. “For 2012 we expect to add about 150 jobs with approximately 80 professional and 70 skilled jobs,” he says.
Excerpts from the interview:
How has Tatweer helped to improve the economic prosperity of Bahrain? How does it align with the kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030?
Through a substantial investment over the next 20 years in redeveloping the Bahrain Field, Tatweer Petroleum will make a significant contribution to energising Bahrain’s overall economic growth and social prosperity.
The company is committed to giving preference to local contractors, merchants and the business community in terms of procurement and partnering; and to giving priority to Bahrainis in terms of employment and career development.
How many local industries have benefited from Tatweer’s operations? Which are they?
We had an extensive development programme during 2011. Tatweer’s total annual spend in 2011 grew to $792 million, involving 167 contracts and 1,968 purchase agreements. Total commitments, including contracts, purchase orders and service orders increased to over $1 billion.
The share of 2011 projects and material awards to Bahraini contractors and suppliers exceeded $500 million. There was a three-fold increase in number of Bahraini contractors and suppliers, underlining Tatweer’s commitment to give preference to the local business community in terms of procurement and partnering.
Who are the local contractors who have benefited from Tatweer?
Our local contractors base has continually expanded since Tatweer started its operations back in December 2009. We have seen new businesses, warehouses and workshops being established in the kingdom to support our operations and it is fair to say that we are ‘creating’ an oil and gas service industry. A brief list of Bahraini services and materials follows:
Line pipe; tubulars; valves and fittings; vehicles; chemicals; it equipment; wireless transmitters; cranes and forklifts; construction; coiled tubing; maintenance; security; vacuum tankers; engineering; and pipeline surveying.
In fact, when you cross out services and materials that Bahrain simply cannot provide, then the majority of our remaining spend in 2011 was within Bahrain.
How many more professional and skilled jobs will be added in 2012 as result of Tatweer’s operations?
During 2011, Tatweer continued its human resources (HR) focus on recruitment and training, in order to support the company’s ambitious growth and development plans.
At the end of 2011, the company’s headcount had increased to 747 staff from 624 at the end of the previous year. The workforce now comprises 31 nationalities.
Tatweer is committed to providing employment and career opportunities for Bahraini nationals, who currently account for 62 per cent of the total workforce; this is planned to rise to between 80 and 90 per cent over the coming years.
For 2012 we expect to add about 150 jobs with approximately 80 professional and 70 skilled jobs.
Our priority for these jobs will always go to Bahrainis and we are currently enhancing our Training and Development Team to enable us upgrade the skills and talent of our existing and new Bahraini workforce.
How many hours of training do you plan to impart to the local workforce in 2012?
The company continued to place the highest priority on training and development. A total of 106,000 man-hours of training was delivered during the year – more than double the total in 2010. Training and development comprised technical training, business training, special workshops and training assignments. This exceeded the 2011 training plan target of 70,000 hours by more than 50 percent.
The company adopts a ‘peer assist’ approach, drawing upon the skills, expertise and experience of staff from Bapco, Occidental and Mubadala to provide knowledge exchange and assist with problem solving.
In line with the company’s succession planning policy, priority continued to be placed on developing Bahrainis to take an active role in every aspect of the company’s operations, and to groom them for positions of increasing responsibility.
Tatweer provides opportunities at a trainee level for university and college graduates, including students from the Bahrain Training Institute; together with two-month internships for University of Bahrain or other students.
Could you comment on the HSE goals and how they are going to be met?
Protecting the health and safety of our personnel, contractors, and the citizens of the communities in which we do business is of the highest importance to Tatweer Petroleum.
Tatweer is also committed to safeguarding the environment. The company requires strict adherence to its health, safety and environmental policies and procedures at all times.
Health, safety and environmental (HSE) activities are administered and managed at Tatweer in accordance with the adopted health, safety and environmental management system (HSEMS). To safeguard employees, contractors and the environment the HSEMS requires the identification, evaluation and mitigation of HSE risks for planned activities.
In 2011, the HSE goals are aligned with the above-mentioned concepts. Also, we have selected the reporting of near misses as another safety performance leading indicator.
In terms of environmental “footprint” the goal is to minimise non associated gas flaring by introducing additional compression.
This will have a two-fold benefit, as the gas will be recycled to pressurise the oil bearing formations (EOR projects) and to minimise emissions.
Camping in Bahrain is a long-held annual tradition that takes place during the cooler weather from November to March.
The campsites are largely located in the midst of the Bahrain Field where Tatweer Petroleum conducts the bulk of its oil and gas drilling and producing operations.
As a member of the Supreme Committee for Camping, Tatweer worked closely with the Southern Governorate during the year to implement the Camping Preparation Plan with a clear mandate to protect and educate Bahrainis about the potential hazards associated with camping in an active oil and gas field.
As part of its Safe Camping Campaign, Tatweer erected large billboards with prominent safety prevention messages around the area; and distributed a dual language pamphlet as part of the camper registration process, containing clear safety guidelines and emergency contact information.
