Venezuelans tap into North oil expertise

Mar 29 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

A SOUTH American oil delegation has visited the North East for the first time as it looks to develop business ties with the region’s booming oil and gas sector.

NOF Energy, the business development organisation for the oil, gas and energy-related sectors, hosted the delegation from Venezuela.

The visit to the North East included a significant number of senior representatives from Venezuela’s National Oil Company, PDVSA. Also among the group were representatives from Camera Petrolera, which is NOF Energy’s global energy partner based in Venezuela.

During their visit to the region, the delegation took part in a special networking event hosted by NOF Energy at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield, where they received a presentation from Jon Dale, managing director of Whessoe Oil and Gas, and met a large selection of the North East’s oil and gas suppliers.

The delegation also received presentations from other key oil and gas sector suppliers from the region including CTC Marine Projects, Sonhoe, LV Shipping, the Tees Alliance Group, Engica and the TTE Technical Training Group.

Joanne Leng, business development director at NOF Energy, said: “Venezuela is a priority market for UK oil and gas suppliers.

“PDVSA is extremely keen to work with the UK as the company sees our suppliers as being world class and technologically advanced.

“One of the main objectives from the visit was for PDVSA to see how the UK manages its supply chain and the infrastructure around this.

“They are keen to develop their own supply chain and support infrastructure for their offshore operations.

“The UK is well placed to assist in these areas and the North East in particular has a lot to offer.”