Company Report: Inerco

Inerco - succeeding at having and efficient and integral management

INERCO´s Sara Landon and Francisco Hoces provide a glimpse at how the company addresses investment projects that are interesting to the communities, to the government and to stakeholders.

Francisco Hoces

Consultancy Director | Inerco Group

More Than Marketing: Sustainability Key in Investment Management

Q: What sustainable projects is Inerco involved in internationally?

A: We are working on an important sustainable infrastructure project in Peru. This project aims to develop the country´s new central highway. Beyond having environmental licensing, achieving a sustainability approach has allowed us to anticipate the environmental impacts the project will have. This state-run development will become an emblematic road project for the country. Our objective is for the environmental impact to be almost non-existent. In addition, we plan to establish a social management program, where we can transfer the benefits of the project to sectors that have been involved in the making of the project.

We are also working on a project for Brazilian oil company Petrobras. For this project we are overseeing an audit for an important contract that will develop services and advanced studies in industrial safety. Having the opportunity to update Petrobras´ studies is important for us, since the oil and gas sector has always been a pioneer in industrial safety issues. This is something that is of great concern to the industry and, together with the petrochemical sector, both have always been one step ahead of many other sectors in regard to industrial safety and occupational risk-prevention studies. We plan to develop these types of studies with Petrobras in different facilities in Sao Paulo and along the Brazilian coast.

Likewise, we are carrying out work at the new Olmeca refinery in Mexico, related to Instrumented Safety Systems implemented for the safety of processes and the prevention of accidents that may affect the population and the environment.

These are three examples of projects we are working on. One is focused on the environment and the other two are focused on industrial safety. In addition, Inerco specializes in occupational health issues, with a focus on sustainable development.

Q: Inerco has been contributing to sustainable development solutions for more than 30 years. How fast is the sustainability train going and where is it heading?

A: This concept of sustainability began as a marketing element. Nevertheless, sustainability has gone from being just a label to becoming a reality in investment management for projects. From the very start, a project needs financing for it to be designed and licensed. Soon after construction begins, execution is carried out and, on some occasions, the final stages of dismantling the project are managed. I believe that sustainability is a key element, since it is essential to consider all sustainability aspects of a project. For instance, taxonomy is a system that is used to classify projects in terms of their sustainability contribution. By classifying these projects, they in turn will be more saleable and the financing process will become easier, whether public or private. If I want my project to attract resources, I must guarantee certain components, which include taxonomy, such as climate change contribution, and water resource studies, among others. Considering these elements, we can say that sustainability is key when developing a project.

Q: What does self-regulation mean to Inerco?

A: Self-regulation dictates that a company must comply with external regulations and with current legislation. For Inerco, this represents the opportunity to do things correctly. In addition, we must consider the project and its environment. When I say environment, we understand that we have neighbors as well as third parties that we work with. All decisions we take can affect them in a positive, negative or neutral manner. Furthermore, we must employ effective and transparent communication with clients when communicating our responsibilities to them. Moreover, it is important to consult top-level experts so we do not lose our competitive edge.

Another important tool to include in self-regulation is realtime data management. This is something we can do rather quickly, even when we have large amounts of data. This is possible thanks to algorithms and the latest software. It is essential to be owners of the information — the more up-to-date the information is, the better our decisions as managers will be.

Finally, it is essential to apply advanced technological solutions that will allow us to face common problems. For example, we employ gamification solutions to train our associates when taking occupational risk courses. In addition, we include 3D technologies, which have a direct result in effective management and accident prevention. By employing technological solutions, these allow us to align information management, as well as manage vehicular traffic in several specific areas of the project. As a result, we can predict and warn of traffic accidents in real time. Today, these technological solutions allow us to automate controls and situations that were not possible before.

Inerco employs effective communication, efficient information management and advanced technological solutions to ensure the highest environmental standards for industrial safety and accident prevention.

Q: How would you describe innovation and its relationship with sustainable and integrated technology and engineering consulting solutions?

A: Innovation has always been a hallmark for Inerco. The company was founded more than 30 years ago as a spin-off of the engineering school at the University of Seville. Inerco has specialized in offering the oil, gas and energy sectors advanced services with innovative solutions. For innovation to be an advantage that differentiates a company from other service providers, several key factors must be combined. On the one hand, it is essential to understand the region you are working in. You can have great ideas and technologically advanced services, but if you do not understand the complex realities of each of the markets you are working in, be it Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Spain or Portugal, it will be difficult to understand each market due to its diverse business cultures. In addition, you have to consider the needs of the project. We may have a super-advanced tool, but perhaps it is not what is needed for the project. Moreover, you must

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manage the project and understand how to adapt an existing solution that would resemble the local reality.

In regard to comprehensive environmental risk management, industrial safety, and occupational risk prevention, it is essential to always aspire to innovate. For instance, by applying software solutions, we can monitor and address risk problems from the other side of the world in real time using a mobile phone.

Q: What are Inerco’s near-term plans?

A: This past year, and those post-pandemic, have been interesting since we have experienced changes, new developments, and challenges. We expect these to continue into 2024. At Inerco Consulting, we are focusing our efforts on three areas. First, we want to use our value-added and innovative services related to comprehensive HSE management to continue growing in the markets where we are already present. For example, we employ these services in Mexico in the oil and gas, energy and renewables sectors. Second, we are developing new comprehensive HSE management services for the consulting markets based on technologies that have allowed us to work remotely. Finally, in the United Arab Emirates, where the oil and gas sector is very important, we want to consolidate our operations, just as we are in Latin America in regard to the environment, industrial safety and risk prevention.

Inerco Fosters Sustainable Development with Integral Solutions

Q: How do you determine the basic principles of industrial security and protection of the environment within the oil and gas industry?

FH: Inerco’s fundamental mission is to foster sustainable development that meets today’s pressing environmental needs. This means that we need to be able to take on investment projects that are interesting to the communities, to the government and to our stakeholders. In addition, we must do this without compromising the present or hampering the future of such projects and to know that doing this brings with it important cultural and technological challenges. Nevertheless, our mission is to overcome these issues and develop projects without causing damage to the environment. At Inerco, we achieve this by having an effective integral management that takes into account environmental, occupational and industrial security risks. Moreover, we believe we need to go a step further and tackle situations that may become problematic and make sure they do not cause further risks.

Q: What type of comprehensive solutions in the areas of engineering, environment and labor safety do you offer your clients who are keen to promote sustainable industrial development?

FH: We specialize in delivering integral solutions since we deal with integral problems. This means that whatever problem arises within the oil and gas industry and the energy sector predominately stays at a technological level. For instance, if there is an oil spill, it is considered an environmental problem; nevertheless, there is an industrial security management factor involved that results in a social problem. These environmental problems are complex and therefore our solutions to address these problems must be integral. Considering this, Inerco has developed a structural and integral management HSE (health, safety and environment) policy. We must consider present problems and how these could have an impact in the near future. As a result, we need to establish a series of guidelines in the company that will allow us to tackle environmental, industrial security and worker safety issues. To address these, we have advanced tools, such as taxonomy solutions that will allow us to have sustainable projects. In regard to industrial security, we have asset integrity solutions, as well as artificial intelligence solutions and satellite images that can detect and manage oil spills in real time.

Q: What is Inerco’s main role and objective in Mexico?

SL: Inerco’s main role is to contribute to sustainable development by providing solutions through an integral management HSE policy when developing an industrial project. This can happen during the investment phase, construction, engineering, or change management. Our main duty is to support the industrial sector in meeting its sustainability goals.

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Q: What is sustainable industrial development and how does Inerco contribute to this field in Mexico?

SL: By contributing to sustainable industrial development, we contribute to Mexico’s economic progress with benefits that are realized today without compromising the future. We understand that a society can change from day to day. At Inerco, we have the obligation to adapt to changes and work on implementing future technological measures that will allow companies to be sustainable. In today’s world, it is useless to build an industrial plant that can result in irreversible environmental damages and accidents to the community. Through HSE management, we provide sustainable technological solutions.

Q: What attributes does Inerco’s specialized team of engineers provide to bolster Mexico’s growth?

SL: Our engineers have international knowledge and apply their skills to the country’s specific needs. For instance, they know how to elaborate a HAZOP (hazard and operability) at the highest level. In addition, we follow ASEA’s (Mexico’s Safety, Energy and Environmental Agency) recommendations as well as corporate standards that operators in Mexico abide by.

Q: What are Inerco’s plans for 2024 within the oil and gas industry, particularly in light of the presidential election next year?

SL: Regardless of who wins the country’s presidency, Inerco actively participates in Mexico’s growth and development. We work closely with the oil and gas sector while considering any change in regulations and policies. We are ready to work with any administration that takes office in 2024. We can attest to Mexico’s economic resilience and we will stand by our client’s side. In addition, we will be ready to tackle decarbonization issues and industry trends as well as working with a sustainable taxonomy.