Bechtel develops human resources for expansion<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Engineering and construction company Bechtel of
\nthe United States sees the improvement of local human resources
\nas an important factor in its continued expansion in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Bechtel's Indonesia country manager Dick Erskine said skilled
\nworkers were essential in a company's ability to meet market
\ndemand.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged the Indonesian economy was currently facing
\nmany problems, but believed the country had the best footing for
\nan early recovery.<\/p>\n
Bechtel has been active in Indonesia for 46 years and is
\ninvolved in a number of pioneering projects including the
\nconstruction of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at
\nthe Badak field, East Kalimantan and LNG plants in Arun, Aceh.<\/p>\n
Bechtel recently introduced the Bechtel Foundation in
\nIndonesia to help educate students in certain fields. The
\nfoundation provides annual grants to several local universities,
\nincluding the Bandung Technology Institute, for the development
\nof engineering and technology studies.<\/p>\n
Erskine said Bechtel would provide chances to their students
\nto temporarily or permanently work for Bechtel to learn its
\nlatest engineering and construction technology.<\/p>\n
\"We shall certainly benefit from this measure as it will
\nprovide us with new graduates who are capable in using our latest
\ntechnology,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The company had invested US$100,000, three times larger than
\nlast year, to train its local engineers this year. Another
\n$400,000 would be used to install a computer network in its
\nJakarta's office on line with Bechtel's global network.<\/p>\n
The global computerized connection enabled local engineers to
\ninstantly access Bechtel's latest technology worldwide, he said.<\/p>\n
\"For banking corporations, a global computerized connection is
\ncertainly an ordinary thing. But for engineering companies, it is
\nreally extraordinary,\" Erskine said.<\/p>\n
Erskine said its human resource development program was part
\nof Bechtel's global policy to \"regionalize\" its operations by
\nemploying only local people.<\/p>\n
\"In the future, we (Bechtel's subsidiary in Indonesia) will
\nbecome an Indonesian company managed by Indonesians,\" Erskine
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Opportunity<\/p>\n
Erskine said the current economic crisis had a short-term
\nimpact on the engineering and construction business in Indonesia
\nbut noted that several business sectors would continue to grow in
\nthe near term.<\/p>\n
\"We have done a quick analysis of the market to see where the
\nnear-term continued growth would be. Mining and metals, petroleum
\nand petrochemicals, telecommunications, and pulp and paper look
\nto us to be strong in the near term,\" Erskine said.<\/p>\n
He said Bechtel was eying business opportunities in those
\nsectors.<\/p>\n
Bechtel was currently constructing an aromatics plant in Aceh
\nfor PT Humpuss and a carbon disulfide plant in Cikampek, West
\nJava for Akzo Nobel. It also was installing 370,000 telephone
\nlines in West Java for PT Aria West and was involved in the
\nexpansion of PT Freeport's copper mill in Irian Jaya, he said.<\/p>\n
Aside from seeking business opportunities in engineering and
\nconstruction, Bechtel was also seeking to invest in small power
\nplants in the country through its subsidiary Energy Works, in
\nlarge power plants through its subsidiary InterGen, and in
\ndrinking water products through International Water Limited.<\/p>\n
Bechtel had a 50 percent stake in each of the three companies,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Bechtel had also set up a construction and engineering joint
\nventure with the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina -- PT
\nPurna Bina Indonesia -- with 22 percent of the shares owned by
\nPertamina and 78 percent by Bechtel. (jsk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bechtel-develops-human-resources-for-expansion-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}