Temporary power solutions for remote oil and gas sites

UAE

Kieve Pinto, Chief Operating Officer at Al Faris Group, talks to The Energy Year about growing demand in the oil and gas sector for sustainable temporary power solutions. Al Faris Group is a provider of heavy lifting, transportation and power services for the oil and gas, construction and petrochemicals sectors.

What steps has the Al Faris Group taken to capture business in the energy industry?
In 2007 we brokered a deal with Cummins Middle East, the largest OEM of Cummins generator sets, to launch a rental business. In the past 18 years, we have built a fleet of more than 1,200 generator sets – more than 600 MW of capacity. It is by far the largest-ever fleet of Cummins generators in the region. Today, our share of the generator rental market is around 12% in terms of capacity, and we are targeting to exceed 14% by the end of 2025.

How is your power generation business structured?
We offer diesel generator sets up to 1,250 kVA, both in 50 Hz and 60 Hz ratings, and gas generator sets up to 3125 KVA. We can also offer large-scale power plant rentals of up to 50 MW in a single site, mainly to utilities for base load applications but also to power industrial production, military bases and mines, and for the testing and commissioning of HVAC systems and data centres. Our rental business also generates revenue from events, construction and maritime customers seeking small and medium sets up to 800 kVA.

What are your key competitive advantages?
In our ever-shifting services business, after-sales support is crucial. Our rapid response teams operate 24/7, 365 days a year, and are always available for customers, be it for emergency rentals, maintenance calls or troubleshooting. During the flash floods in 2024, we supported the local authorities by providing a fleet of emergency power generation plants overnight.
Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with in-house resources for lifting and transportation that enable us to respond to customer requests in a manner that no one in the market can match. Our highly skilled engineering and field teams can mobilise and commission large-scale power plants in a very short time. We are a single source for all customers seeking robust energy solutions.

What work do you carry out in the maritime sector?
The maritime segment brings us short-term and long-term rental business throughout the year. Our customers include dry docks, shipyards and vessel owners. Onshore power for navy vessels is one of our prime business areas. We also serve rig builders and oil and gasfield contractors who develop onshore and offshore infrastructure. Offshore rentals require zone qualifications and special attachments, and they must be coated to prevent corrosion due to salt spray.

Can you give an overview of your footprint in Saudi Arabia?
Al Faris established itself in Saudi Arabia in 2009 as a crane rental company and is now present in all three regions with offices and a dedicated storage facility. We first offered power rental services through a long-term asset lease with a local company, and in 2024 we relaunched under the Al Faris flagship in Saudi Arabia.
By introducing state-of-the-art equipment and a sizeable fleet of generators, air compressors, tower lights and energy storage solutions we aim to grow our sales phenomenally, driven by the country’s massive infrastructure development programmes.

In what other countries do you operate?
We have extended our services to Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain and two countries in Africa. Africa is ripe for the energy rental business, but we will move forward where contracts are robust and our risk exposure is lowest. We recently had to exit a deal because the risk exposure was too high.

Do your temporary power solutions include renewable energy technologies?
As a first step towards sustainable solutions, we have started offering gas-fired rental power plants. Our first project in this segment was a 30-MW generator that was commissioned and is operating successfully under a long-term contract in an oil and gasfield in Oman.
Renewable power in the rental industry is in its infancy. Hybrid solar solutions with battery storage are offered by a few players in the market, but they have limitations because they require vast space. Storage and disposal of these assets after their shelf life is another challenge. Small nuclear plants are the latest power technology that can cater to remote locations, and temporary power generation using hydrogen fuel cells will be the next line of entry to the market.
Due to the continuous evolution of sustainable energy technologies, we are patiently waiting to choose the most fitting and reliable product that can provide a cost-effective solution to our valuable customers and give us the right return on investment.

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