GARO ARAPAJIAN, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

In 2001 I joined Petrofac’s Ohanet Project in Algeria for three years... Later in early 2016, I re-joined Petrofac, then in Kuwait where I was the Construction Site Manager of the MGT and GC32 projects. I’ve been in Lithuania for a year now, helping to set the groundwork for the project. During this period, I have been busy securing a foothold for the future team, from finding apartments to accommodate people, to solving transportation and other logistical issues. I’ve also been involved in recruitment, helped to hire the construction team, and I have closely participated in selecting the subcontractors for the project.

We have started construction… but unfortunately winter came early and we had to work in a snow-filled field. In winter, the working conditions are difficult and progress slows down significantly. I believe our progress will pick up pace over the next couple of months, and by summer we should make some good progress. The design is at a very mature stage and 90% of the model review has been successfully achieved. The project is anticipated to last around 38 months.

I love all the different stages of my job: every single stage has its own challenges and upsides… at the start I enjoy working with the engineering team, coordinating on design, and giving them the input required from site. When you reach the middle of a project and your set-ups are almost done, you need to concentrate on progress. The challenge is around coordination as we tend to have so many subcontractors working together, and you need to make sure one’s job doesn’t interfere with another’s. Towards the end of the project, you must start thinking about handing over systems. Again, this has its challenges, particularly around all the checks and inspections you must conduct to make sure everything meets the necessary standards. With the completion of every sub-system or system, the feeling of getting closer to the finish line brings me joy and pride.

Safety, quality, completion and financial success… We all have the same priorities for this project. With that also comes client relations and taking care of Petrofac’s reputation. It’s important that my team always has these in mind when we are executing a project.

Lithuania is a very beautiful country… Working here is a new experience for me and Petrofac. We are starting the project from scratch, which is challenging, but the people here are very friendly, with a diverse education, interesting hobbies and unique pastimes. What I respect most is that they look after the country’s nature. They are proud of their country, and it makes you feel good to work with people who are proud of their identity.

I enjoy photography… When I was younger, I worked as a photographer for a local newspaper, and I still maintain it as a hobby. I also like spending time with my family – I have an 11-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son. We enjoy ‘mini adventures’ as a family. We plan camping, hiking, fishing, and skiing trips together. I also enjoy some extreme sports like parasailing and paragliding.

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