Alejandro Betancourt's speech to the graduating class of "Principles of maintenance and operation of thermoelectric power plants"

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Auditorium, Simón Bolívar University, Caracas

Friday September 5, 2014

Good afternoon,

To the authorities of Simón Bolívar University, graduates of the course, ladies and gentlemen:

We are extremely pleased that the Simón Bolívar University is working in conjunction with private companies for the implementation of courses such as the one from Derwick.

Venezuela is a country with great potential and with a bright future ahead of it. Today marks the completion of this innovative and progressive project together with the Simón Bolívar University.

There are few things in life that are more rewarding than the acquisition of new knowledge, particularly in the energy sector, considering its high importance for this country.

Graduates, when you talk to your fellow employees and you show them your certificates which guarantee your new knowledge acquired during your weeks of study, do so with enthusiasm, so that they may also see in themselves the desire to do the same, the desire to be better professionals and better Venezuelans.

The more knowledge we acquire in the energy sector in this country, the less dependent we will be in the future on foreign professionals for the resolution of technical problems. That required knowledge will already be here, within our borders; from now, we must sow the seeds of this knowledge and allow it to spread, thanks to institutions and knowledge providers such as this university. Our company is currently developing the Technological Turbine Center, on which we plan to collaborate with the Simón Bolívar University on aspects of research.

Thank-you for this opportunity. We are confident that we will continue to promote new technical courses for professionals.

Please share your pride with others, as you are now graduates of the prestigious Simón Bolívar University.

   

Derwick adds a course in technical writing within its continuing education program

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Derwick supports its partners in the process of personal and professional growth. To reach this goal we have developed a continuing education program, whose main aims are focused on raising the educational, professional and cultural levels of our collaborators from different work areas within Derwick. Part of these continuing education activities consist of workshops, courses and programs in which various subjects are on offer. While some of these subjects are constantly available, such as learning English as a second language, others are covered by temporary courses whose content changes according to the preferences and personal needs of the participants.

An example is the most recently added writing course. The main purpose is for the participant to acquire the basic tools to improve their writing, expand vocabulary, improve their command of grammar and learn different writing techniques and resources. The first participants successfully completed the course held at Derwick headquarters in Caracas.

Here are some evaluations from two of the course participants: 


"I am very happy with the English course. Our teacher is very versatile and not only focuses on giving the class based on a book, but also takes into account the requirements of our working environment.

Students differentiate types of accent (American and British) in every class. We got evaluations every 15 days on pronunciation, writing, reading and analysis.

We are currently in the beginning of a new level, so we expect to continue to improve the study of the language".

—Vanessa Virguez, Marketing

"The writing course was very productive, just to improve my written communication skills. In every class I could obtain a wide variety of knowledge: writing clear and concise emails, drafts, memos and reports; spelling and tone of communication.

I particularly enjoyed the diversity of topics covered in class and would love to continue to improve different aspects of my written communication. The course helped me to achieve greater development in my workplace, my colleagues and daily communication activity."

—Genesis Barreto, Assistant Derwick Foundation

We use these assessments along with the contributions of other participants as well as instructors to continue to improve our program.

The most advanced technological turbine center in Latin America

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Derwick improves Venezuela's energy and technology capabilities

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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."

Sector Ejecutivo magazine interviewed Alejandro Betancourt López, president of Derwick Associates

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.

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

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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.

Derwick wins award for Best Latin American Entrepreneurship from Capital magazine

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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.

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

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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

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

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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/

Alejandro Betancourt discusses Derwick's investment opportunities in Spain

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In one of my latest visits to Spain, the Spanish magazine “Capital” asked me for an interview in which we talked about Derwick's future plans and investment interests outside of Venezuela. Here below is a summary and a link for you to read the full interview:


Derwick Associates remains committed to the transfer of advanced technology to benefit Venezuela's international electrical industry. To this end, Alejandro Betancourt has visited Spain to study existing companies in this country and to see "what tools we can use for our benefit and bring back home with us." The main interest of the Venezuelan company, as commented in an interview with the magazine Capital, is to import energy storage and networks technology.


The company is focused on enhancing the technological development of the thermoelectric sector in order to export to other Latin American countries, such as Ecuador, Columbia and, most importantly, Brazil.


Meanwhile, Derwick is still working —along with the Venezuelan government— on the creation of "a shield for the country's most important cities" and to this end, has worked with companies such as the Spanish Iberdrola or Duro Felguera, on the construction of Caracas' thermoelectric power ring, already operating successfully and allowing power restoration in as little as 30 or 50 minutes, in case of a blackout. Despite recent successes, the company continues to work tirelessly because, as Betancourt himself stated, "Venezuela's Electric Park requires updates every few years; all governments should be aware of this and they should have a long-term plan."



During the interview with the Spanish publication, Betancourt responded to the most critical voices and ensured that Derwick's commitment is to build a country and ensure the reconciliation of its citizens. If this reason alone endures criticism, then "it's just part of the job", he says.

http://www.capital.es/2014/02/25/alejandro_betancourt_derwick_associates_/