New Honorary Member

One of the highest honours that IPLOCA is able to bestow on any individual is that of Honorary Member. In order to receive this honour a person must have performed distinguished services to the onshore or offshore oil & gas industry and/or to the Association.

Born in Mercedes, Corrientes Argentina in November 1956, Juan Maria Arzuaga is celebrating his 15 th year as Executive Secretary of IPLOCA, having worked as such since 15 September 2008. He is retiring from his role at the end of December this year.

Since becoming Swiss citizens, Juan and his wife Alejandra Maria Noceti plan to stay in Europe spending time between their places in Switzerland and Spain. Almost coinciding with his retirement, Juan and Ale (as she is known) will be celebrating 40 years of marriage on 29 December 2023. Juan always mentions that he started dating Ale when she was 14 years old and married her when she was 23. In his words, “That proves how patient she has been and how much we love each other.”

Juan was previously President of Techint E&C Inc. Canada, in Calgary, and has been running IPLOCA since the retirement of Luc Henriod. When Juan was appointed he was well known to IPLOCA as a former IPLOCA director for the Americas.

Juan had worked with Techint in South America, Mexico and Canada in progressively senior roles since 1982. He became Pipeline Business Unit Director in 1996 based in Buenos Aires and was promoted to International Pipeline Business Unit President in 2000. In 2005 Juan became Managing Director of Techint SA de CV, Mexico City.

Upon approval of a Business Plan presented to the owners of the Techint group a subsidiary E&C company was established in Calgary, Alberta. Juan developed the new Canadian Techint company from scratch, being awarded five construction contracts with a total value of USD 450 million during the first year of operations.

After living many unforgettable experiences with IPLOCA, Juan and Ale were really moved in Vancouver when Juan was nominated Honorary Member. Juan mentions how much he was surprised by this kind gesture from the Board since this distinction is normally reserved for representatives of IPLOCA members. On top of such recognition they were also very surprised when CRC Evans and Caterpillar offered them the traditional gifts presented every year to the IPLOCA Presidents.

Juan and Ale say that with IPLOCA they have gained a long list of good friends all over the world with whom they now plan to spend, whenever possible, many more good times!