Dutch engineering company Fugro said on Monday it is taking appropriate measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep its employees, partners and clients safe and healthy while ensuring service delivery. Current market conditions have forced the company to implement a programme aimed at significantly reducing costs and capital expenditure, with the aim of realising cash savings.
“This includes minimising the hire of short-term charters, implementing a hiring and salary freeze and measures to reduce our workforce,” the company said.
Fugro said these are painful measures that are necessary as a result of the dual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the low oil price environment.
“Furthermore, we are assessing all available possibilities for government support to bridge this difficult period. Current liquidity is good with over EUR 400 million available in cash and committed facilities,” Fugro said.
Restrictions are in place regarding non-essential travel and international travel has almost come to a standstill. Fugro said for those working at operating sites, the company has put additional health and safety measures in place. Offshore work is generally subject to quarantine prior to mobilisation. Furthermore, Fugro is reaching out to its clients and partners on a regular basis in order to understand their plans, challenges and measures, and is available to support them where possible.
“Our priorities in this complex environment are clear: preserve the health and wellbeing of our people and those of other stakeholders, ensure business continuity and reduce costs and CAPEX in order to protect liquidity and profitability. We have a strong and committed team in place that is dealing with this unprecedented situation,” CEO, Mark Heine indicated.
Heine said he is impressed by the professional behaviour and dedication of all the company’s colleagues, especially those who work in the field or onboard one of its vessels. “Although our backlog is still solid, our business operations will be impacted, especially given the combination of the pandemic with the recent sharp decline in the oil price. We are continuously analysing scenarios and are implementing mitigating measures.”
Despite strong efforts to keep operations going, some projects cannot be executed as originally planned due to increasing travel restrictions and country lock-downs, which are impacting the business, particularly in the Europe-Africa region, the company said.
The impact of the virus is compounded by oil and gas companies’ recently announced spending cuts due to the sharp decline in the oil price. At the same time, offshore wind is anticipated to show continued growth, though somewhat less than assumed at the start of this year. The pandemic may result in a decline in building and infrastructure activities, which could be partly compensated by government initiatives for additional infrastructure investment programmes.
Fugro said at this stage, it is impossible to forecast the magnitude and duration of the impact of the virus and oil price development given the limited visibility on how this global crisis will unfold.
The company said it is withdrawing its earlier guidance for 2020 and will provide further information on April 30, with the publication of its first quarter trading update.
The Dutch company is currently in a joint venture with Guyanese engineering firm, Ground Structures Engineering Consultants Inc. for development work related to ExxonMobil’s operations at the 6.6 million acres Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.
