As part of the commitment made by Governor Alberto Weretilneck, a meeting was held last week between provincial authorities, the Chamber of Petroleum Services of Río Negro (CASEPE) and the company Phoenix Global Resources where concrete measures were discussed to strengthen the growth of local SMEs based on the possibility of incorporating them into unconventional development projects that are underway.
Mario Figueroa, responsible for Institutional Relations at the Secretariat of Energy and Environment, stressed the importance of these initiatives. “At the end of May, we met with CASEPE and the Governor to address the needs of the sector. The businessmen raised two fundamental issues: access to financing and the possibility of being part of non-conventional development in Río Negro,” explained Figueroa.
One of the first steps taken was an important event organized by Banco Patagonia, in conjunction with the Federal Investment Council (CFI). This initiative brought SMEs in the region closer to new financial alternatives, necessary to continue offering quality services to the oil industry.
The other point that was pending with CASEPE in particular was the link with the operator Phoenix Global Resources, in charge of the first non-conventional development in Río Negro. “The objective is for the development of suppliers to take into account the service chambers of the industry in our province,” Figueroa stressed.
Ivana Hernández, vice president of CASEPE, said that “it was a very enriching meeting for the parties. First, getting to know each other, and then working to strengthen these spaces day by day to develop the Rio Negro SME.” “Today our SMEs work under quality, safety and environmental care standards, and they have the knowledge that operators are looking for,” she said.
CASEPE, which brings together more than 60 companies in the province, has been a central player in the development of the oil and gas industry in Río Negro, contributing since 2012 to the sustained growth of the hydrocarbon-related services sector.
