Mark Brown
Vice President & General Manager, Fluor Canada
Mariki Mackenzie
Manager, Engineering, Fluor Canada
David Mercer
Head of Technology – Energy Solutions, Fluor Canada
For over 70 years, Fluor Canada has been delivering engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to solve client challenges.
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with corporate offices in Irving, Texas, Fluor Canada focuses on three main service areas — mission solutions, urban solutions, and its core business, energy solutions.
New level of stabilization and confidence — especially in energy sector
As with many service industry providers, Fluor Canada has faced challenges over the past few years, pandemic included. But now the market is showing signs of recovery. “I think things like ESG (environment, social, governance), carbon footprint, and decarbonization have re-started the economic machine,” says Mark Brown, Vice President and General Manager of Fluor Canada. “I’m not saying that out of blind optimism but, from an engineering perspective, we’re seeing a new level of stabilization and confidence in the industries we serve that we haven’t seen in years,” says Brown.
With that, Fluor Canada has already seen a heightened level of engagement from the energy sector. “They recognize the need to innovate and create new solutions to these new challenges and the need to come back to the service industry and get our help,” says Brown.
Given its primary concentration in energy solutions, Fluor Canada is highlighting that experience and its applicability to energy transition. “It’s exciting because when you think about engineering and the technical solutions that engineers provide, it’s a great opportunity to think about this industry in a different way,” says Brown. “Also, as a company that prides itself on having global reach but with a local face, energy transition lets us demonstrate that we’re not only a company that helps solve client challenges, we also have a deep connection to the communities we serve,” says Brown.
Changing attraction retention mechanism to draw innovative thinkers
To ensure a steady pipeline of new talent to meet its new demands, Fluor has enhanced its engagement and collaborations with clients, industry, academia, and the greater community in Canada. “It’s very encouraging to see what the academic world is doing, what the owner operator side is doing, and what the industry side is doing and how we can become part of that equation,” says Mariki Mackenzie, Manager, Engineering at Fluor Canada.
The Oil Sands Pathways to Net Zero initiative is an example. “Six of Canada’s largest oil sands producers are working together with EPC companies and government entities to find solutions, so that kind of collaboration is a new and attractive way for us to bring more talent into our industry,” says Mackenzie.
Fluor is also challenging the status quo by the way it collaborates with external schools and organizations fostering this type of education in Canada. “We have close relationships with our universities and technical schools, especially the ones close by here in Alberta,” says Mackenzie.
One of the challenges to attracting new grads is the perception that the energy industry is dirty and polluting. “What they may not realize is that these energy companies are the ones best positioned for energy transition, so we make a point of showcasing how this sector is working to the greater good of society and the planet and highlight the opportunities for them in this space,” says Mackenzie, adding, “the need for engineers in this sector is huge and there’s never been a better time to be an engineer.”
Providing answers to client challenges
Solving today’s complex energy problems requires innovative, market efficient solutions. Fluor’s Canadian expertise in creating these solutions is already being seen through technologies like hydrogen, carbon capture, renewable fuels and small modular reactors (SMRs). “These are suitable technologies for companies wanting to demonstrate their net zero commitments,” says David Mercer, Head of Technology – Energy Solutions at Fluor Canada.
One specific area is developing hydrogen for use as a transportation fuel. “In addition to being carbon free, hydrogen is manufactured using natural gas — which is inexpensive, abundant, and the technology has been proven and de-risked over a number of decades,” says Mercer.
Another area of expertise is carbon capture and sequestration. “We’ve been in this business for over 30 years and have designed and constructed numerous plants that are operating with this proven technology,” says Mercer. “We continue to invest our technology smarts toward supporting new and emerging technologies to help companies get to net zero,” says Mercer.
With over 1,200 active patents and 15 licensed technologies, Fluor brings an extensive roster of ready-made solutions. “We also have over 90 offices worldwide and more than 41,000 professionals so that’s a tremendous breadth and depth of personnel experience that can be brought to bear on any one of these projects,” says Mercer. “Additionally, because we are a global company, we have a seat at the table on an international platform and can draw upon the expertise of other countries that have been early adopters of these technologies — and help Canadian companies bring them forward,” says Mercer.
