Cut of First Steel in the P2 Project
Tuesday 12 March 2019
In keeping with the Thai tradition, and now also in good Aibel tradition, Thai monks blessed the cutting of the first steel in a solemn ceremony on Friday 8 March. The ceremony marks an important milestone in Aibel's largest project ever.
“The ceremony marks Buddhist beliefs and is also an encouragement to inner motivation when we start something new. The P2 project is a big challenge and therefore it is important that we encourage and motivate each other as one team and go in the same direction,” explains Aibel's construction manager for the MSF module in Thailand, Suriya Phojit.
“This was a solemn and worthy marking on the construction start of a large and complex project. At the same time, it was very interesting to see how the cultural differences between Thailand and Norway appear. I think we have a lot to learn from each other in terms of meditation and time for contemplation versus impatience, quick decisions and great speed. I look forward to the continuation," says Ståle Nordal, Equinor's project director for the P2 project.
The ceremony was held at Deeline, Aibel's subcontractor, just outside Pattaya. It started at 7 in the morning with incense, chanting song, blessing with holy water and sacrifice of food.
Extensive work awaits
Both management, staff, customers and suppliers were present to attend the event. Here, both Aibel and Equinor in their talks pointed out that close cooperation and "one team" mentality have been decisive for the success of Johan Sverdrup so far.
"The awarding of the P2 project is a result of the fantastic effort and cooperation that was put down through the work of phase 1 and the drilling platform," said President and CEO of Aibel, Mads Andersen.
In the next two years, it will be in excess of 2,800 people engaged in the project in Thailand, where Aibel is ready to provide the effort required.
“It is clear that this is both a comprehensive and complex project, but we have done this before. We are very proud of previous deliveries and ready to address new challenges," says Harald Revheim, Aibel’s manager for the construction team in Thailand with responsibility for completion of the MSF module, the flare boom and the bridge that will connect P2 with the riser platform.
"We know it will be a lot of hard work, but we are humble with the challenge," concludes Stig Jessen, project director for P2 in Aibel.