INSPET TALKS | Marian Cojocaru

INSPET TALKS | 2022

Welcome to conversations “with” and „about” people who have impact on the energy infrastructure area, the construction sector, and the private Romanian business environment. We want to highlight the reality of those who work every day, whether as entrepreneurs or employees, to generate meaningful ideas and stories that are both personal and organizationally inspiring.

In this series of conversations, our guest of today is Mr. Marian Cojocaru, Chief Engineer with INSPET. Marian Cojocaru is an engineer by trade, specialized in the oilfield equipment, with a further specialization in natural gas with more than 20 years of experience in energy, industrial and civil infrastructure. He is a firm believer in well-built foundations, thinks in terms of tons of reinforcing steel, in dozens of works coordinated on work sites. But he also believes in people and in their strength to build and to work.

What is your opinion on the Romanian construction market – in particular, the market of energy infrastructure and utility projects for fluids?

The Romanian construction market is continuously increasing. If we consider the gas distribution market where, unfortunately, we are lacking progress, currently approximately 35% of Romanian households are connected to the gas network. Recently there has been a surge of works in this market segment, specifically the establishment of smart gas distributions networks – which involves the construction of measuring and control stations, their connection to the natural gas transport system and, naturally, the construction of pipelines and connections to the end users. This will lead to an increase in the quality of life for the general population because, until the establishment of these distribution hubs, wood and coal were used for heating – which are toxic emission sources.

At the same time, the fluid infrastructure includes many water supply and sewage network projects, with water treatment plants and the entire required infrastructure. There are also works for the compressor stations and natural gas dehydration plants, for the increase of the transport capacity and storage in gas storage facilities. There is a lot of work to be done and the market is on an upward trend.

It is fair to say that you have been working for INSPET for your entire life. You started on the work site as a team leader, then construction manager, then work site manager. You have covered all phases, starting from a junior engineer and becoming a chief engineer with INSPET. What does it feel like to be a chief engineer in this large company?

First of all, it is a great responsibility.

You told me you were Project Manager for BRUA. BRUA was the largest investment project ever implemented by the Romanian natural gas industry. Has it been a challenge for you?

Yes, it was an enormous challenge because we had to synchronise both our company schedule and those of the Association members. We have been assigned Lot 1, which covered 180 kilometres. We had to provide an execution according to the quality requirements and to the deadlines undertaken towards the Beneficiary. We had to ensure that we did everything right, including the complete restoration of land to its original condition and return to agricultural use. INSPET had been assigned 180 km in Lot 1 and 30 km in Lot 2. There were 210 km of main natural gas pipe.

Without even considering the natural gas compressor stations, which were also a part of the BRUA project.

Yes. The compression stations were included in a different contract, also for the BRUA project, but I wasn’t the project manager for this contract.

How do you measure performance? What do you consider to be good performance?

In my opinion, good performance means more contracts signed for the company, new projects to continue our business and, at the same, to make sure we execute works according to the required quality standards and within the specified deadlines. This is what very good performance means.

Do you have any benchmark? Do you compare yourself against anything else?

I can say that I compare myself to our former mentors who, sadly, are no longer among us – Mr. Petre Mustățea, Chairman, and Mr. Nicolae Pândaru, Deputy CEO – people from whom I had a lot to learn. I hope to match or perhaps surpass their accomplishments.

What is a regular day’s work for you?

A regular day’s work starts with accessing the Electronic System for Public Acquisitions (SEAP) to select the works made available for execution. We review the data sheet and the requirements of the respective works very carefully. Afterwards, we have a review meeting attended by the people in the department and distribute our tasks. Who is in charge with the technical offer, with the financial offer, with the answers to subsequent clarifications – which takes us more than eight hours.

Can you give us any insight on the important projects to which you have contributed throughout time? We have barely touched the BRUA topic.

Yes, we had many projects. Back in 2003, we had a project that the World Bank has funded – for the replacement of pipelines and end users connections in Cluj County, with a total of 8 towns covering a distance of 100 km. We continued in 2005 with the second project financed by the World Bank and have been responsible for the Ungheni-Ogra distribution pipeline and the replacement of pipelines in Șăulia, with a total of approximately 80 km and 4,000 gas end users’ connections. We continued with Mureș and Sibiu counties, in a series of replacement works for pipelines and branch pipes with a total of 70 km and more than 5,000 connections. We have also been part of a water supply project for Iernut and Cristuru Secuiesc towns. In my area, which is the Prahova County area, our company replaced the pipelines and gas connections in 70% of Băicoi town; replaced all pipelines in Blejoi – which is a rather large town, with 60 km of natural gas distribution network and 6,000 households’ connections; in Ploiești city; in multiple districts of Brazi town; in Ceptura; in Dâmbovița County – Pucioasa town; in Galați County – in Tecuci town and Galați City.

I have also worked on the pumping stations of Conpet and the replacement of crude oil transport pipeline sections also for Conpet in Dâmbovița County, in Gorj County – where I had my first job with INSPET, where we started the establishment of gas distribution units in Bălești and Mătăsari.

There are many of them. In addition, I was the Project Manager for the natural gas storage facility in Group 145 Bilciurești, which we handed over last year, and it was a proud moment for me and our company because Prime Minister – Mr. Ciucă attended the inauguration.

To my understanding, this is one of the largest natural gas storage facilities in Europe.

Yes, this is the fourth largest in Europe in terms of natural gas storage volume. This is a facility of strategic importance, particularly in the current geopolitical context.

In order to be able to build all these facilities you mentioned, according to the specified delivery deadlines, first you need to build your teams. This means the workforce required on the construction site, both skilled and unskilled workers. What is the recruiting process for these people? What are the circumstances?

Unfortunately, similarly to all other players in the Romanian industry, we are currently facing a shortage of workforce, but our company provides scholarships to pupils whom we will train for the trades we need, welders, mechanic fitters, carpenters, bricklayers. At the same time, we also take internal recommendations from our employees.

We are discussing the work sites, life on the work site, which is not suited to everyone. Compared to 20 years ago, what is life on the work sites like now?

It is changed to its core. Changed for the better. First of all, all this equipment we have simplified work on the work sites a lot. Second of all, the care we show for our employees. If 20 years ago we had the so-called campuses, barracks on the work sites, all our workers have been accommodated in hotels and guest houses at least for the past ten years. Our means of transportation are state of the art. There’s no similarity to the past, actually.

As the Chief Engineer in INSPET, you have an overview and coordinate teams. How do you manage to engage the teams, the people with whom you work?

First of all, we are all like a family and there is a lot of understanding – knowledge of job or personal issues of the team members under my coordination. Plus, there is always the financial motivation. We are doing our best to attract new people in the teams, to grow our teams. We found and included new colleagues, for seven months already, who have assimilated into the group. We have also colleagues with longer years of service.

For example, how long does it take an engineer to reach a level of knowledge which would allow him/her to become promoted?

At least two years.

To be part of a mentoring programme, to join an engineer in the company and learn, to perform actual work.

To go through all departments, work sites in particular, and select the department where they will work according to their skills and abilities. But the minimum two years are a must.

Does INSPET represent an opportunity for the young generations of engineers?

Of course. A big opportunity.

Why do you say that?

Because they can develop not only in a single direction, but in multiple directions. A company like ours provides safety and continuity particularly given the real possibility to be promoted. It is all up to the employee. Up to their desire to learn and desire to work. I can bring my own example – I started as a simple engineer and became a Chief Engineer in a company which is part of Top 50 construction companies in Romania. And it did not take too long. Value is cultivated in our company.

What is your advice to young graduates looking to get a job?

To learn continuously, first of all. Second, be dependable and aware that gaining knowledge and information takes time and does not happen overnight or even over the course of a month.

Be patient and settle out all information and knowledge they collect?

Yes, they need to be patient.

After 20 years of experience and actual work on the work site, which was where you started as a junior engineer, what do you think was the influence of field work upon you?

The influence is strictly positive. It makes you tougher, I admit, but it helps develop the cognitive process and making quick and right decisions. Of course, you increase your capacity and knowledge base with each project delivered, particularly that projects are different, they do not have the same specifics. All of the preceding contribute to the formation of a very good administrator or organizer.

Would you recommend each junior engineer to consider the work sites as well, not only the drafting, office, computer activities?

I believe that they should spend at least one year on a work site – that will change them a lot for the better. That year will prove very useful in life.

What are the first words that come to mind when you think of INSPET, where you work and to which you are highly engaged?

Professionalism. Safety. Successful continuation. Just think that we have been operating under the name of INSPET for 31 years, but the company has more than 70 years of experience in this field.

That’s an extended continuity.

And our projects are increasingly larger. According to our experience and our workers, our teams. Or course, our equipment is state-of-the-art.

Can you provide any details?

Of course. State-of-the-art equipment. We have semi-automated welding equipment which simplify work to a great extent. Modern technology powers our equipment, specifically excavators, backhoe loaders, bulldozers, pipelayers, tyre cranes. All of these is company-owned equipment. We do not rely on third parties to use our equipment or the means of transportation for the equipment. We have our own equipment, and in addition we have an industrial production factory on the West Industrial Platform Ploiesti where we can build a lot of our sub-assemblies. That is us, INSPET.

Can you describe – the metal structures or other industrial sub-assemblies – the items you can manufacture in this factory located on INSPET West Industrial Platform?

For example, in the case of a natural gas compression station, we can manufacture all isometries. Work conditions are better and productivity is higher in a factory than on the field, thus simplifying work. We only perform assembly works in the field. In addition, we manufacture pressure vessels, tanks, gas metering stations, about the entire range needed for a large project.

I have some rather personal questions for you. This field of energy infrastructure construction is no place for feelings. This is a technical field. But you have participated and contributed to the construction of many facilities. When you pass by such facilities – what are your feelings?

There is pride and professional satisfaction. At the same time, you remember the collaborators, the beneficiaries and the issues you have encountered in the performance of the respective project, but first and foremost is the satisfaction given by a job well done.

In your line of trade, you could have left Romania at any point in time. There is a lot of demand for your profession abroad, and yet you chose not to leave. Why did you not leave Romania?

Yes, it is true. I was lucky and I have been working with INSPET ever since graduation. Projects kept coming, one after another, each different from the previous. I love what I do and I considered that I am of use here, in Romania, I have never thought of leaving and working abroad.

Hobbies. Do you have any spare time? Do you have any time for hobbies? What do you love to do in your spare time?

Yes, I do have some spare time, not a lot of it, but there is spare time. I love travelling and am passionate about military technology, fighter jets in particular. This is what I pursue in the little spare time that I have. Of course, I also enjoy resting.

This Podcast has been brought to you by INSPET, Romanian company, a direct descendant of a seven-decade history of performance in the Oil & Gas Industry. If you liked this conversation and you believe that we can be inspirational for your friends, please forward and share it and show that we can do it in Romania, too, it is important that we really want it and are willing to put in the required work!

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Until our next meeting, be inspired in everything you do!