French, Italian Engineering Maintains Global Centrality

As European prospects for 2014 are better than 12 months ago, the main risks for Brussels come from the Italian political situation and France’s economy. However, the first days of the year prove that the two countries maintain some competitive advantages in the energy industry when it comes to project management and engineering.

On Monday, Petrobras awarded France’s Technip with two ultra-deep water contracts for the supply of flexible pipes for two fields in Brazil.  

“At Technip, we strive to ensure this technological excellence and continually improve high reliability, generating value for the energy industry… Keeping strong focus on quality, we look at the future and are preparing for tomorrow, today, as reflected in our intense R&D efforts or in our new plant in Açu,” Frédéric Delormel, Technip’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Subsea, stated in a note released on Monday. 

Last week, the Turkmen Ministry of Oil and Gas said that Turkmennebit is ready to sign an agreement with Italy’s ProBusiness. The Turkmen producer is expected to buy 2,424 tons of drilling pipes for drilling at oil and gas fields. 

The two deals reasserted Europe’s engineering tradition. Companies in the energy industry seem the most reactive to understand global opportunities.