Advances developed for the Pesquería Power Plant to reduce employee exposure to high-risk areas and tasks have been recognized among Latin America's most innovative safety initiatives at the Safety Summit in São Paulo, Brazil.

An autonomous drone and a quadruped robot deployed at the plant are changing the way Tecpetrol carries out inspections in hazardous areas. Selected from more than 220 projects presented at the event, the solution—designed to strengthen prevention and improve safety—was named one of the three finalists in the competition.

"It's always gratifying to receive this kind of recognition," says Federico Sameghini, Chief HSE Officer. "It confirms that we're moving in the right direction and that the solutions we're developing are not only effective, but innovative enough to inspire others. We're convinced that embracing emerging technologies is essential to continuously improving the way we work."

The autonomous drone and quadruped robot help minimize the need for personnel to enter high-risk areas around electrical systems and other critical infrastructure. Programmed to carry out remote inspections, they capture thermal images and video that are then analyzed by the engineering team to assess equipment performance and determine whether maintenance is required.

"Our main objective is to reduce people's exposure to high-risk environments and move toward a more preventive approach supported by technology," says José Antonio Torres Moreno, HSE Manager. "Today we're able to identify unsafe conditions without sending people into critical areas, which significantly strengthens our Health, Safety and Environment culture."

The technology has reduced the need for physical inspections in these areas by as much as 80%, lowering the risk of incidents while enabling earlier intervention before equipment failures occur. "Instead of reacting to problems after they've occurred, this approach allows us to identify risks early and take preventive action," says Javier Alejandro Mares Reyes, HSE Supervisor.

The solution was developed jointly by Tecpetrol's Engineering, IT, and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) teams. For Javier, the award recognizes a truly collaborative effort. "This recognition belongs to everyone who contributed to the project," he says. "From the outset, we had the company's full support, and that was fundamental to turning the idea into a reality."

The road to the podium

The road to the awards ceremony in Brazil involved a rigorous three-stage evaluation process. Representing Tecpetrol's HSE team, José Antonio Torres Moreno, Javier Alejandro Mares Reyes and Mauricio Guerrero Márquez, HSE Lead Supervisor, first presented the project's objectives and impact. They then submitted a video demonstrating how the technology is used in the field and the results achieved. The final stage was an interview with the judging panel, where they discussed the project's impact, lessons learned and future potential.

"When we received the email telling us we'd been selected as one of the three finalists, we were thrilled," Javier recalls. "Traveling to Brazil and standing on the stage together was a very special moment. The whole experience inspired us to keep pushing ourselves and looking for new ways to improve. We learned a great deal throughout the process—and in two years’ time, we'll come back even stronger," he says with a smile.

For José Antonio, "Being named one of the top three projects is a tremendous achievement for the company. Obviously we’re delighted, but more importantly, it reflects the commitment, collaboration and perseverance of everyone involved, as well as the strategic vision of our CEO and the safety leadership of our Chief HSE Officer. Crucially, it motivates us to keep raising the bar and making the most of the tools and resources available to us as we continue strengthening our safety culture."