Fadi Kardahji, vice-president of International Inspection Centre Company, talks to The Energy Year about how the company has remained competitive in the market for the last four decades and the new opportunities as activity ramps up in Kuwait’s oil and gas sector. International Inspection Centre Company provides inspections and training for all levels of the nation’s energy industry.
What makes the company unique compared to its competition?
We have invested a considerable amount of money to introduce and develop new technologies, some of which are rare in Kuwait. We have invested hundreds of thousands of Kuwaiti dinars into the market in the hopes of gaining an upper hand in the market. This, of course, energises us to focus on our specialty services, not only in Kuwait but also in the Middle East. The advanced and conventional NDT technologies we introduce are one of the many examples of this.
Another strategic advantage we have is that we are a self-financed organisation. This provides more freedom to venture into new realms of research and investment in user-friendly and cost-efficient technologies. Unlike other inspection companies in Kuwait, we are independent, focusing exclusively on diverse inspection activities. We seldom function as a subdivision or subsidiary of any construction firm. Hence, we understand how crucial it is to invest in and introduce advanced technologies for our business operations.
Quality is our policy, and no compromise shall be made in maintaining the quality standards in any situation. We maintain the quality of services by being selective in resourcing manpower, updating our know-how and closely monitoring the performance of employees and execution of activities. This contributes a lot to remaining in the market as a unique operation.
Where do you see the most opportunity for contractors in Kuwait’s oil and gas sector?
The Al Zour petrochemicals complex will be a huge undertaking. KOC’s effluent projects are also big-budget enterprises. Around KWD 5 billion [USD 16.1 billion] in projects were supposed to be announced in 2021 in this arena but were delayed.
The Covid-19 pandemic situation adversely affected the oil and gas sector. However, with the hike in oil prices, we are seeing a lot of activities coming up in the drilling subsector, which will surely be sustained for years to come. Our main focus is to invest in novel technologies, which we want to introduce into Kuwait’s market. There are restrictions to disclosing them now, as they are patented technologies. We are confident that these will help us continue to be ahead of everyone else in this stream of business.
What plans do you have for the company in the next decade?
We have been active in the market for 42 years, watching its ups and downs. Kuwait provides oil and gas, which will remain a required commodity for the world for the coming 10 years. Kuwait floats on a lake of oil. It is mandatory for KOC to carry out expansion projects to raise their production to the tune of 4 million bopd. The market is promising. Being an essential service provider in the oil and gas sector specialising in inspections, the market is promising for us, too.
Of course, there are challenges ahead. In order to pursue success with the mounting demands of the market, we have to move forward with our new initiatives, modernise our equipment, educate and train our personnel in new technologies and continue achieving the heights of international standards. We provide a service that is essential to the market, whether in petrochemicals, in the oil and gas sector, in power plants or elsewhere. We have the right vision, the right workforce, the right equipment and we rightly invest every year to be on the right track for business success.
Curtis Boodoo, assistant professor of utilities and sustainable engineering at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), talks to The… Read More
François Tack, general manager of Newrest Angola, talks to The Energy Year about how the company’s portfolio of clients evolved… Read More
Hassan Choudhry, CFO of Umm al Hayman for Wastewater Treatment Company (UAH), talks to The Energy Year about the key… Read More
Jacinto Sabino Mutemba, chairman and CEO of Belutécnica, talks to The Energy Year about the company's expanded production capabilities and… Read More
Carlos Firme, CEO of Fortaleza Seguros, talks to The Energy Year about the role the company wants to play in… Read More
Faisal Ayesh, president of Alkhorayef Kuwait, talks to The Energy Year about the growing importance of public-private partnerships in the… Read More
This website uses cookies.