“I am fueled by the excitement and relevance of the energy sector to Trinidad's economy. A major motivation for me is the impact of the work we do in the energy sector and its contribution to Trinidad’s natural gas production and the bottom line for T&T. Apart from the economic value which the sector delivers to Trinidad and Tobago, I have noticed a strong work ethic and team-oriented quality of persons employed in the energy sector. The commitment and discipline of those responsible for keeping things going in a sector that is so critical to T&T’s economic growth, is a factor that must be acknowledged”.
Photo credit: Luvo Productions Ltd.
It’s rare that someone would be fortunate enough to find themselves in a field that marries their two major passions; this however is the good fortune of Ansaar Hosein, Automation Engineer with Plant Solutions Ltd. Ansaar is also senior instructor at UTT and has always been drawn to understanding how various systems work. Spending time with his grandfather, a mechanic, deepened not just his curiosity, but his exposure, and so it was that he decided to pursue a first degree in Electrical Engineering. Fast forward to his current position at Plant Solutions where he now deals with control systems, particularly Honeywell brand controllers. These controllers collect data from plant equipment and make it available to operators, while also maintaining process variables within safe parameters and implementing safety measures in case of emergencies. In addition to this he manages multiple projects, clients and has to also jump in to help with training his team; to some, this might seem overwhelming, but for Ansaar it is a definite win-win.
Prior to joining the team at Plant Solutions Ltd. and immediately after completion of his first degree at University, Ansaar found himself at Petrotrin; the transition from theory to practice was made much easier with support from two gentlemen and energy sector experts who have left an enduring impression on Ansaar, Mr. Clyne La Borde and Mr. Anis Mohammed. They both provided guidance and support which enabled Ansaar to develop a level of competence and confidence which has helped in his current role.
In a field which requires detailed product knowledge and clarity in communicating with team members and clients, Ansaar seems very grateful to be a part of a team that is open to learning and working collaboratively to deliver solutions to their clients, not just in the energy sector but across multiple sectors. Being responsible for equipment and solutions that some may consider complex, Ansaar values the “seamless relationship” which he has been able to foster with many of their energy sector clients. The open dialogue and respect which his team has been able to develop with their clients facilitates a collaborative approach to optimizing results in an efficient and cooperative manner. This has allowed them to be leaders in their field and has meant successful partnerships with some of the key energy companies such as PPGPL, Touchstone, NGC, bptt, Atlantic, Proman and Heritage.
While his scope and focus have been applications in the energy sector, Ansaar explained the versatility of electrical instrumentation engineering skills which are applicable beyond the energy sector in manufacturing, food and beverage, and large commercial facilities. For young persons with an interest in this career path, there are multiple opportunities but as he pointed out “there are also some essential traits that you must possess, including problem-solving skills, independence, self-learning, and strong communication abilities”.
Personally, Ansaar is fueled by the excitement and “relevance of the energy sector to Trinidad's economy.” He added that he is motivated by “the impact of work we do in the energy sector and its contributions to Trinidad’s natural gas production facilities and the bottom line for T&T”. Apart from the economic value which the sector delivers to Trinidad and Tobago, Ansaar has observed “a strong work ethic and team-oriented nature of persons employed in the energy sector.” In his view, “the commitment and discipline of those responsible for keeping things going in a sector that is so critical to T&T’s economic growth is a factor that must be acknowledged.” And he doesn’t have to look very far to find examples, referring to his team members Kimberly Pustam and Aneal Deonarinesingh.
Having to spend long days at the office and sometimes put in extra hours to ensure that clients receive the service required to keep the sector moving, Ansaar also stressed the need for a supportive family. He is very grateful to have that, as he continues to play a major role at Plant Solutions Ltd., and within a sector which has given him scope to fulfill his childhood dreams.