TOFCO GM: Loss of Angelin disappointing but work, training continue

Located on the LABIDCO Industrial Estate in Brighton, La Brea, TOFCO’s most recent major project was deck fabrication of bpTT’s Juniper platform, completed in January 2017 and offshore hook up which is currently ongoing. Juniper was the ninth platform completed by TOFCO. All of bpTT’s platforms since Cannonball, which was commissioned in 2005, have been constructed at the La Brea facility, including Cashima, Mango, Savonette and Serrette. In all, TOFCO has worked on the Angostura field development flare, boom and bridges, Cannonball, Cashima, Mango, Savonette, Serrette, Oilbird, Toucan, Poinsettia platforms and their related infrastructure.

Industrial action during the early stages of Juniper’s construction, and the subsequent decision by bpTT, TECHNIP and TOFCO to have the jacket built in the USA, has been well-documented. So too has been the recent announcement that bpTT’s Angelin platform will be built in Mexico rather than at TOFCO.

While this was disappointing news, TOFCO has never been a company to place its proverbial eggs in one basket, said its General Manager, Javed Mohammed, during a recent interview with Business Day.

“A project of Angelin’s magnitude is one fifth the size of Juniper, so in our opinion, not getting to build Angelin has not posed a challenge to us in any way. The company is structured with new-build projects which we refer to as green field, such as Juniper and all the other platforms, while our brown field group handles maintenance on existing facilities.” “So, we still have persons working in brown field and we have opportunities coming up later this year that would see us continue our operations, not at the forecasted level that we would have liked but business development continues, business goes on as usual,” Mohammed said. TOFCO has taken the opportunity, while its yard is quieter than expected, to “further train and develop our employees.” This includes classroom sessions with management and the superintendent, the engineering group and the Human Resources group, where members of the various departments spend time with each other on a one-on-one basis or as a collective group. TOFCO is also conducting training for individuals.

All of this, Mohammed explained, is meant to prepare the company “for the next level, which would help us drive our efficiencies and competitiveness.” Established in 2004 as a joint venture of Chet Morrison Contractors LLC, a Houma, Louisiana-based company, and Weldfab Limited of Trinidad, TOFCO describes itself as having “progressed from a sole focus on the offshore business to supporting work to downstream providers.” The company added that “diversifying its operations has allowed TOFCO a greater agility, leading the company to explore prospects that will ensure even more sustainable growth.” On its website, TOFCO also states that “with a strong view to capitalise on opportunities in international markets, (it) has attracted attention beyond our nation’s shores, from as far as South Africa and South America.

The company has hosted government officials from countries such as Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Ghana and Nigeria, all of whom have expressed interest in adopting TOFCO’s business model.” The company has 38 permanent staff but at the peak of the Juniper project, it employed 750 persons. Prior to that, “we saw numbers of 700 when we had three projects being built at the same time for three different operators. That was between 2008 to 2009.

“We’ve also completed over 7.5 million man hours at this facility since inception without any lost time incidents or days away from work,” Mohammed stated. Guyana’s emerging energy sector is one of the other focus areas in which TOFCO has placed some of its interests.

Mohammed attended the March 27 - 29 Oil and Gas Conference in Georgetown, which was organised by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA). They’ve also “been having some discussions in Guyana” about how TOFCO can train and develop Guyanese nationals as the South American nation builds its energy infrastructure.

“We have a couple of bids with some EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractors; to do fabrication for them. Guyana doesn’t have the infrastructure.

Due to Trinidad’s close proximity to Guyana we are hopeful that it will be pre-fabricated here and delivered to Guyana, if we are successful in our bids.” The successful tenders in the Guyana bids are expected to be announced before the end of this year.

Business Day asked Mohammed if he envisions a TOFCO Guyana in the medium to long-term.

“We want to see ourselves grow and we’re not limited to Trinidad.

Once the opportunities are there for further discussion, at a higher level, it will allow us to perhaps set up a small facility because Guyana doesn’t have construction of this magnitude at this time.” Asked if he would consider something similar to Mexico, where the Angelin platform is being fabricated before being sent down to Trinidad, Mohammed said he was not in favour of that.

“I’d rather we have a presence in the country, developing local capabilities.

There’s a difference. We have the skill set, the competency, the capability and the (Angelin) project is for Trinidad. To get Guyana to that level, it may take bringing folks here for training them and then going there.” “We want to develop our La Brea facility to be able to compete with (fabrication yards) in the Gulf of Mexico and other areas. Once we get to that level, then we will look to expand further abroad.” Mohammed also expressed his pride and gratitude to the TOFCO employees for their “dedication and achievements.” Their families too came in for praise, “because it did take quite a lot out of our employees to make (Juniper) the success that it has been.” Looking at La Brea, Mohammed said having waterfront access at LABIDCO “is a huge advantage because it gives us direct access to loading out facilities and structures at the port.” On the “needs improvement” side, he cited delays in people getting to and from work whenever there is congestion, heavy equipment passing, flooding along the Mosquito Creek or even major potholes along the Southern Main Road.

“So I think having the (Debe to Point Fortin) highway completed would be a major advantage, not just for us, but for all companies that operate in the area because the exit point would be closer to Union Industrial Estate and would reduce your daily commute by about 30 minutes.” The lack of employment opportunities in La Brea is a major concern for many residents.

Mohammed said this could be improved by updating the curricula at training facilities in the area, as well as ensuring all students get proper hands-on experience during their programme.

“They need to look at improving some of the curricula and the facilities to meet international standards and to have persons ready (for work). You see, it’s not just about theory. You need some hands-on training, some sort of practical training at these facilities as well. By that I mean what’s available now needs to be improved,” Mohammed stated.

For more information about TOFCO, visit its website www.tofcott.com