Senergy, a UK-based diversified energy business, is strengthening its presence in the Middle East as it embarks on an ambitious growth strategy focused on driving up international business.

To spearhead this international drive, Senergy’s co-founder and chief executive officer, James McCallum, is now based in the company’s Middle East regional office in Abu Dhabi, while also maintaining a presence in Dubai, with a view to developing relationships with national oil companies, international E & P and service companies.

“During a period of continued global financial uncertainty, it is important that we use our time wisely to position Senergy to take advantage of strategic opportunities, to identify and progress merger and acquisition targets, and be ready for the inevitable upturn in energy prices,” explained McCallum.

“We have only started to scratch the surface in terms of international growth but we are very serious about meeting our global ambitions and basing myself in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, from where we will have access to major global opportunities as well as our existing global network, underlines this intent,” he added.

“Being ‘on the ground’ will allow me to develop the right knowledge and contacts to deliver a step-change in our internationalisation.

“The market in the Middle East is particularly attractive to us, given the requirement for our set of skills which delivers a fully integrated energy service, not only in oil and gas but increasingly in alternative energy. The UAE in particular has declared its ambition in alternative energy and we want to be the company it looks to for an innovative, knowledge-based, joined-up solution.

“Equally, the international expansion of national oil companies in the Middle East and Asia demonstrates they still have capital to work on both domestic and overseas projects, therefore we need to focus on developing these relationships.

“As we plan the next phase of growth for the company and with financial liquidity likely to be a problem for some time to come in the markets we know well, the time is right for Senergy to accelerate growth overseas and explore opportunities in other markets.”

McCallum relocated to the Middle East in April and in addition to supporting growth in this region he will fully maintain his involvement in the ongoing development of the business in other locations including the UK, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

Senergy’s growth to date, both organic and through strategic acquisition, has resulted in turnover increasing to $105 million in the last year.

It operates in 15 locations worldwide in the areas of oil and gas services, survey and geo-engineering services and alternative energy and aims to double its turnover in the next three years, with half of this growth coming from the Middle East.

Senergy’s Abu Dhabi office was established in 2007 and is led by Regional Manager, Sirak Kifle, whose team is delivering technical expertise across the spectrum of subsurface and engineering disciplines and is currently managing projects worth around $20 million for clients in the Middle East. – TradeArabia News Service