The recent certification of the facility’s quality and safety management system has enabled the Pesquería Power Plant to strengthen its commitment to running safely and efficiently, standardizing its processes and keeping its team engaged in continuous improvement.

“This company has always prioritized safety,” emphasizes Ana Laura Piña, Quality Sr. Engineer, one of the four team members who took the initiative to secure certification for the Integrated Management System (ISO 9001 and 45001)—a goal achieved by the end of 2024. “We already had a solid foundation for a workplace safety and health management system in line with Tecpetrol’s corporate standards,” explains Mauricio Guerrero, HSE Sr. Supervisor, who helped implement the certification from the Safety, Environment and Health (SAS) area.

Guerrero points out the voluntary nature of adherence to ISO Standards, explaining that, “We saw that these international standards could help us grow as a system, streamline our processes, and give us a competitive edge, so we made the call to go for it!”

This dual certification is a big milestone. Renewing quality recertification reinforces the company’s commitment to standardizing key processes and pushing for continuous improvement (ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management). At the same time, adopting occupational health and safety standards helps prevent injuries and boosts staff engagement and commitment (ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety Management).

“Senior management has our back 100%. They’re really involved and that’s made a huge difference,” enthuses Piña. “From the moment they gave the green light, we knew we had their full support and said: let’s go for it!”

Another key factor in earning ISO certification was the audit team’s involvement. They kept a close eye on the system, making sure that everything was running smoothly and on time. During the process, they had the support of Yessenia Yánez, HSE Lead Supervisor from Quito, Ecuador, who was in charge of the internal audit of the company’s central Health and Safety System.

“ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 are key to managing and improving quality as well as workplace health and safety,” points out Yanez. “On their own, these standards have the power to change the way we work, but their real impact comes from driving smarter management and a shared commitment to continuous improvement. By integrating both systems, companies can strike a balance between productivity and employee well-being—setting the stage for long-term success and sustainability.”

The ISO certification earned by the Pesquería Power Plant is a testament to the leadership of the implementation team—Fausto González, Laura Piña, Génesis Bautista and Edgar Cobos—as well as dedication of the entire staff. Many team members had to take on new responsibilities, adjust procedures and implement controls along the way. But more than just the extra effort of the past few months, this certification reflects what we do every day as we seek excellence and continuous improvement.