November 24, the PetroCatering&FM 2023 Forum and Exhibition was held in Atyrau, dedicated to one of the most important areas – catering and FM (catering and facility maintenance) in the Oil and Gas industry. This event brought together key players in the Oil and Gas and oilfield services markets.
Representatives of more than 400 companies from all regions of Kazakhstan registered for the Forum and took an active part in discussing current issues of catering and management of industry facilities.
The event was organized by the Council for the Development of Strategic Partnerships in the Oil and Gas Industry Petrocouncil.kz. As Gibrat Sarsenov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Petrocouncil Oil and Gas Council, noted in his welcoming speech, today Petrocouncil is in fact one of the main and reliable platforms for developing interaction between oil and gas operators, SME companies, as well as government bodies, with the goal of developing and increasing local content. The Council works closely with Oil and Gas companies, operators, as well as various stakeholders in the region on the most pressing areas of the oil and gas industry, the problems and solutions of which are openly discussed at industry forums and seminars organized by Petrocouncil.
According to the managing director of the oil and gas sector and ecology of NCE RK Atameken Muratbek Makhanov, about 5 thousand people are employed on a permanent basis in the field of catering services in the Oil and Gas sector:
“Their competent work makes an important contribution to the implementation of large-scale projects, because food is a basic necessary need for any person and especially for shift workers engaged in heavy physical labor. I would like to note the high-quality standards of food services that have emerged in this industry thanks to the strict requirements of operating companies and the contractors and subcontractors who have accepted this responsibility. Today, food safety, quality and freshness of products, as well as proper transportation and storage have become unshakable operating principles for industry leaders…
Among the problems that exist today, I would like to note the insufficient quality of feedback from subsoil users based on the results of tenders. Entrepreneurs want to receive answers to questions about tenders of large oil and gas operators. Even if he lost, he should receive an answer. We also believe that verification of payments 30/42 days takes a lot of time. The controller may reject the application due to an error, which will delay the payment deadline. This can be reduced to 10 days,” Makhanov said.
As Assylbek Jakiyev, the official representative of the NCE RK Atameken for interaction with Oil and Gas operators and the development of oil services, noted, in 2022 the republic’s Oil and Gas operators (the leaders among them are TCO, NCOC and KPO) spent about $500 on the purchase of catering and FM services million, and according to forecasts for the next 7 years, this figure could reach $900 million.
“This market is very promising, so one of the goals of the Forum is to establish constructive relationships between operators and potential suppliers, so that the former can share their needs and plans, and the latter can directly ask all their questions. The Forum also sets itself the task of increasing the level of local content in the procurement of goods and services,” said A. Jakiyev.
The event’s speakers – professionals with extensive experience in the oil and gas sector and oilfield services market – introduced those present to various forms of logistics, supply chain, needs, as well as best practices in providing facilities management services.
“Such events have a very great effect for both the producer and the consumer of services. This is a very good opportunity to show your products not only to domestic but also to foreign potential customers. Over a quarter of a century of work in the market for providing accommodation, accommodation and food services, our company has covered all regions of the republic, and now we have gradually begun to expand our geography, going beyond the country. Therefore, such Forums provide a good opportunity to express oneself,” emphasized Berik Amirov, director of the Tengiz branch of Karat LLP.
During the forum, top managers of large companies – subsoil users and general contractors told market participants about cooperation opportunities and needs for services and food products. In turn, market participants addressed the representatives of potential customers with pressing questions and concerns.
The forum was held with the support of NCE RK Atameken, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, National Company KazMunayGas JSC, Tengizchevroil LLP, North Caspian Operating Company and Karachaganak Petroleum Operating.
The partners of the Forum were the companies Karat, Qazaqstan Catering Solutions GUW, KazGlobalSolution, Alma East West Group, Best-Service LTD, CIS Group, NASAR Solutions, TOP Cleaning Kazakhstan, Borkit Safety, “Torgoviy Design”, Aspar Kashagan “, PR agency “Business so smyslom”.