Byrne Insider - Mick Tipp

BYRNE INTERVIEW MICK TIPP country manager - oman

1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH BYRNE AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE? I joined Byrne in 2018 in the role of Operations Manager for the UAE with over 15 years in the power generation industry behind me. After two years in this role I was appointed Country Manager for Byrne Oman’s operations and I have been based there since, overseeing and managing the business in this region.

2. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF THE RENTAL INDUSTRY IN OMAN AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THESE? One of the challenges that can be hard to predict or control is unforeseen events such as breakdowns. When equipment unexpectedly breaks down during a rental period, it can reflect poorly on the reputation of any business.

We have built a solid reputation in the industry and when clients are provided with our equipment, it is with the expectation that the equipment is well-maintained and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will continue operating through the rental period. Equipment breakdowns and unexpected maintenance often occur due to difficulty keeping track of different equipment, how it’s being used, and when it’s due for maintenance. To combat this, we are vigilant with routine maintenance – or preventative maintenance – to mitigate the event of unexpected breakdowns. We ensure that all equipment is accurately monitored on a regular basis and we always have consistent maintenance schedules in place for our full fleet.

Another challenge that we can face is delays in project planned start dates. This was compounded by the pandemic which caused subsequent lock downs and restrictions. We deal with this with effective planning and scheduling which is executed by our operations teams and this is something that is getting back on track in the aftermath of the pandemic.

3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY TRENDS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND O&G INDUSTRY AT THE MOMENT? ?

A key trend that bodes well for us as a rental company is that the market for renting equipment in the Middle East has surged over the recent years and I predict this will continue to grow as the preferred option for contractors.

Renting equipment has become one of the feasible options for numerous companies as gives them the capability to reduce costs and operate a more efficient business as all maintenance and repairs of equipment is taken care of by us.

In Oman, the construction and O&G industries are likely to witness rapid growth over the years owing to rising government focus on development of robust public infrastructure and increase in projects with funds being released to realize the potential of the country in line with Oman’s 2040 vision.

4. WHAT ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT ARE UTILIZED THE MOST IN YOUR FLEET? We have over 14,000 items of equipment in our fleet across the GCC as in addition to our depot in Oman, we have 18 operational depots in the UAE, KSA, Kuwait and Bahrain. In this region, the equipment we mostly utilise are Generators, Compressors, Temporary Buildings, Sleeper Units and Ablutions, mostly utilized together as a full turnkey solution as part of our camp offering which we are seeing an increased demand for in Oman.

5. WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE RENTAL INDUSTRY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? I predict that the industry will continue to grow and we will grow alongside it - it is a challenging

industry

and

to

successfully

continue moving forward, it is vital that we adapt with the market and the requirements from our customers in the region. One of the key pillars of Oman Vision 2040 is sustainability and the Sultanate has been at the forefront of spearheading initiatives that advocate economic growth and the protection of the country’s environment with intentions to implement sustainable practices in every sector. This is something we must be aligned with as a business so we have plans in place to develop new lines of equipment that are sustainable, produce less emissions and are kinder to the environment.

6. WHAT INDUSTRIES ARE YOU FOCUSED ON IN OMAN AND DO YOU SEE THIS CHANGING? Currently we are concentrating on the normal construction and O&G industries as our mainstay to the business. With O&G, the majority of production in Oman comes from the oil and gas fields on land with offshore exploration and production activities on the upturn. This will take more time to develop but is a sector that we are more than equipped to cater to when the time comes. The government of Oman has adopted a strategic policy to increase exploration activity in the country, noting that, for example, in December 2018, the Omani Ministry of Oil and Gas signed two contracts for oil and gas exploration with Occidental Oman worth $58 million, paving the way for the establishment of more than 10 wells drilled offshore in the country.

Under Oman’s Vision 2040, initiatives undertaken by the government in streamlining the retail infrastructure and strengthening investments towards infrastructure is helping the construction sector gain further prominence and we are poised to cater to this growth in the country.

Furthermore, we are seeing an upturn in events across the sultanate which we are gearing up for.

As a business and as a team, we are feeling positive and looking forward to a busy 2023 and beyond.