Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Derwick improves Venezuela's energy and technology capabilities




During our recent business trip to Spain we had the opportunity to speak with some media representatives from that country. I'd like to share with you a few paragraphs published by the Spanish magazine “Sector Ejecutivo” (“Executive Sector”):


Thermoelectric company Derwick has been well-positioned within Venezuela's electricity sector, thanks to the constant work that has taken place in recent years. As its president Alejandro Betancourt stated to Spanish magazine Sector Ejecutivo, Derwick is "a recognized company that provides real solutions both in project engineering, procurement and construction of power plants, as well as all related services to plant operation and maintenance."






The work and skills of its technicians and management have been the keys to its success, as the company was not well-known when it was entrusted with the mission to build eleven power plants - for this reason Derwick has received much criticism recently. Nonetheless, Betancourt is proud of the work of his team: his"most qualified" technicians and "most experienced" employees have allowed Derwick to respond with actions, not just words.



At this time, Derwick has built eleven thermoelectric plants —some of them part of the Caracas ring—  that have allowed for an increase in the capacity of the electricity sector in Venezuela to 1,216 megawatts. The president believes that "in contrast to what other international companies have done, Derwick just stepped forward and took on the challenge of our customers."




After proving its value in the domestic sector, Betancourt is planning the international expansion of the company with investments in Spain and other Latin American countries, and opens the door to collaborations with Spanish companies nationwide. During his recent trip to the European country, he met with some of the leading companies in the Spanish energy sector.



Despite its expansion plan, Derwick will not abandon its work in Venezuela. For this reason, it is continuing its plans for the deployment of its Technological Turbine Center, which is among the ten largest in the world, and for which a $40m investment was necessary. This project has two objectives: to respond to the needs of the electric and oil industry in Venezuela, and to transfer the latest technological innovations to the local sector.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Derwick brings to a close the construction of its Technological Turbine Center




The Spanish newspaper ABC has shown an interest in our Technological Turbine Center. Here's a summary of the information published last January:





The Technological Turbine Center is the latest project from Derwick Associates with the aim of transforming Venezuela into "a major technology supplier in Latin America", according to a statement from its president, Alejandro Betancourt, for the Spanish newspaper ABC. Thanks to the technology of this new center, the largest of its kind in Latin America, thermoelectric turbines will be able to be sent and repaired locally, without depending on German or U.S. companies, thus bringing costs down for the Venezuelan energy sector as a whole.




The entrepreneur has visited Spain with the intention of investing in the European country in order to import advanced technology into Venezuela. According to Betancourt, "Spain has technology centers in the areas of ​​energy storage and large-scale networks. Spanish technological advancement in these centers is overwhelming."



The purpose of the company is to continue focusing on positioning Venezuela as the leader in the thermoelectric sector on the continent, because it believes that "it is a country that has so much potential. There are opportunities here for all Venezuelans."

The CTT is a clear example of Derwick's commitment to Venezuela. The center is located in the industrial area of Guácara, in the state of Carabobo, and has an area of 31,000 square meters. The main goal of this plan is to respond to the country's need for technical assistance and to improve and speed up repairs of plants and electric turbines in the country. Moreover, it will allow for the training of the best specialists thanks to the company’s experience, and for the spread of the latest technological advancements in the field so that the benefits might reach all regions of the country. The CTT will boost Venezuela's production and technical capacity at an international level, through technical mechanisms such as Alba and Mercosur.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Derwick wins award for Best Latin American Entrepreneurship from Capital magazine




We have another reason to be proud! The Spanish magazine “Capital” granted its Best Latin American Initiative award for the construction of the Technological Turbine Center (CTT), currently a work in progress. Various media outlets expressed their views: The company’s president, Alejandro Betancourt, received the award and stated that the CTT will "offer experts and specialists to the Venezuelan and Latin American electric and oil industry, in order to meet the current demand for technical assistance." During the ceremony, Betancourt wanted to thank the team of technical professionals from the company for their efforts and dedication.




The CTT, located in the state of Carabobo, in the industrial area of Guácara, has an area of 31,000 square meters. This is an unprecedented initiative in Latin America, which will strengthen and maintain the independence of the thermoelectric sector in Venezuela through an efficient repair and support service. Local companies have usually had certain dependence on foreign services until now, but the CTT will break this pattern and, in turn, offer economic savings for companies nationwide.




The innovation center will be the largest workshop of its kind on the continent and will rank among the ten largest in the world. This is an important project, which will renovate and modernize the electricity sector in Venezuela and also ensure continuity of service, as affected plants will have to wait less time for service restoration in case of contingencies.





The award ceremony took place in Madrid where other Spanish and Latin American companies were awarded as well, such as Rafael del Pino the President of the construction company Ferrovial; NH Hotels, Air Europa, Mutua Madrileña Foundation and DHL Express, among others. This event was attended by prominent figures from Spanish politics, culture and business, such as the Secretary of State for Promotions (Fomento), Rafael Catala; the High Commissioner for Brand Spain (Marca España), Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros, or ambassadors of Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Mexico, Serbia or the Vice President of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE), among others.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Alejandro Betancourt meets the President of UNESA in Spain to study investment opportunities in the Spanish electricity sector



Alejandro Betancourt, president of Derwick Associates, met with Eduardo Montes

President of UNESA, the Spanish electric power lobby  in Madrid, during his last visit to Spain. At this meeting, the president of the Venezuelan company studied investment opportunities in the Spanish electricity sector with a view towards international expansion.




Derwick has been present in Spain since 2010: its existing office in that country is currently in charge of international strategic development. Derwick chose Spain over other European countries due to the fact that the production and distribution of electricity is one of its economy's primary components, totalling 1.2% of GDP. In addition to this, a number of important Spanish firms are on the stock market and are financed through first-class international funding.




During his stay in Spain, Betancourt is expecting to strengthen the Venezuelan electricity system, which has been booming for the last five years, ever since the country suffered a power shortage due to its over-reliance on hydropower, exacerbated by the high demand from the petroleum industry and by a severe drought faced by the country. At the time, the government had decided to draw up an energy ration plan, as well as to expand the electricity capacity nationwide.




Derwick carried out this plan with the construction of eleven thermoelectric power plants in Venezuela with a total capacity of 1,216 megawatts, benefitting over 800,000 Venezuelan families.


http://www.expansion.com/2013/11/01/latinoamerica/empresas/1383298409.html

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The power ring restored power to Caracas in just 30 minutes during the December blackout




It worked! The power plants that form the so-called 'power ring' of Caracas contributed to the fast restoration of electric power during the December blackout. The “National” newspaper quoted that according to data from top management at Corpoelec, the service was restored 30 to 50 minutes after the blackout, thanks to the electric capacity of the Caracas 'power ring', a series of power plants that were installed around Caracas between 2010 and 2012.


Derwick has been commissioned to build plants Picure, Guarenas I and II, and Raisa I and I, which together have a total capacity of 576 megawatts.


According to the Venezuelan Minister of Energy, Jesse Chacon, the last blackout was caused by a release of a driver, a device which conducts electricity in the transmission line 765 of the national power system. The Venezuelan minister denied that the limits of the transmission were caused by an excess of demand or by generation deficit, since the system generates 21,000 MW and at the time of the power failure, demand was at 17,000 MW. "There was capacity for 4,000 megawatts, " said the minister.


Chacon said that sending troops to monitor the electrical network is an almost impossible task. He explained that it’s impractical to monitor so many miles of electrical lines in the country, 24 hours a day, "tower by tower".

http://segurpricat.org/2013/12/17/segun-fuentes-de-corpoelec-empresa-electrica-nacional-de-venezuela-el-apagon-ocurrido-el-pasado-lunes-hubiera-tenido-peores-consecuencias-de-no-ser-por-el-llamado-blindaje-electrico-de-caracas-que/