Steered by a holistic and sustainable approach, MB Century is committed to advancing the future of renewable energy, providing reliable, innovative solutions for its clients. Alan Stewart, CEO, reflects on 75 years of success for the company.
INNOVATING TODAY, SUSTAINING TOMORROW
As New Zealand’s (NZ) energy sector navigates the commercial reality of providing sufficient infrastructure across a large country with a comparatively small population, it seeks to strike a delicate balance.
Key to achieving this equilibrium is being able to generate enough power in peak winter months, whilst not over-investing in or holding onto underutilised assets during periods of lower demand.
“This makes our industry incredibly dynamic and constantly challenging as we navigate how to best support our generator clients,” opens Alan Stewart, CEO of MB Century.
A leading energy services provider specialising in renewables, the company is well placed to support the government’s Electrify NZ commitment, which seeks to double the country’s renewable energy output by 2050.
Offering world-class drilling expertise, reservoir services, geothermal and hydropower (hydro) engineering, and comprehensive power station refurbishment, MB Century’s suite of services is extensive.
Additionally, the company offers rehabilitation project delivery through dedicated project managers and experienced hydro and geothermal mechanical fitters, all supported by specialist standalone workshops providing precision machining, fabrication, and industrial coatings services.
“Ours is an exciting and dynamic market, and our breadth of services is critical in helping to manage clients’ tight timeframes – particularly during critical outages, maximising uptime and our ability to respond,” he explains.
As it continues to overcome industry challenges and recognise the commercial realities of power supply, the company will work collaboratively with key market players to build a stable and growing talent pool for the future.
In support of the energy sector’s push towards supercritical and geothermal exploration, MB Century’s decades of expertise mean it is ideally positioned to provide innovative and technical energy solutions.
“Our strong capabilities and extensive experience provide the necessary foundation to present cutting-edge geothermal technologies that can help support harnessing the immense potential of supercritical geothermal resources,” Stewart tells us.
RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
In the past 75 years, MB Century has evolved from a division of the NZ government’s former Ministry of Works – initially formed to oversee exploratory drilling – into an energy solutions provider offering comprehensive services across the geothermal, hydro, hydrogen, and industrial sectors.
“All of this underscores our commitment to delivering reliable and sustainable energy solutions,” Stewart confirms.
Part of the Tūaropaki Trust (Tūaropaki), a Māori organisation that owns and operates a geothermal power station, 11 hectares of geothermally-heated glass houses, and a product processing facility that utilises geothermal heat, MB Century has access to an extensive library of industry activities.
For example, as part of a recent joint venture between Tūaropaki and Japanese construction company, Obayashi Corporation, it has been involved in constructing NZ’s first green hydrogen plant.
The initial stages of the project, including equipment reviews and local compliance requirements, were managed by MB Century, whilst it played an integral role in the procurement of equipment, Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study, power supply design, alongside the facility’s overall compliance.
Furthermore, it is proud to continue to operate and maintain the plant today.
“Being part of Tūaropaki has allowed for an alignment of values, particularly in terms of our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development,” Stewart prides.
Working alongside Tūaropaki and supporting its aspirations has allowed MB Century to enhance its ability to deliver innovative, sustainability-focused solutions whilst reinforcing its dedication to creating a lasting and positive impact.
“All of this is underpinned by the strong ethical standards that have defined us for over 75 years,” he adds.
As such, MB Century will continue to share its deep geothermal knowledge with a range of clients, particularly those operating within the Ring of Fire zone – NZ’s most volcanically active plate boundary that powers countless geothermal stations.
Meanwhile, having grown its hydro services throughout the country, the company is also expanding into the South Island, New Zealand, and targets international growth.
GLOBAL REACH
MB Century is proud to have been a pioneer of renewable energy advancement since its inception, having created the globe’s first wet steam power station in Taupo, through to its recent involvement in NZ’s first green hydrogen plant.
“We continue to advance the industry by innovating technologies with world-leading geothermal wireline tools,” Stewart informs us.
The company’s ongoing collaboration with top research and science organisations continues through its partnership with preeminent geological research institute, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science), which supports leading renewable energy initiatives.
It connects regularly with schools, universities, and the community through public events to help disseminate industry information and attract the next generation of talent through successful apprenticeship and graduate schemes.
“We regularly attend both national and international geothermal conferences, whilst also providing workshops to a range of global clients,” he expands.
By supporting clients across Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines, MB Century seeks to partner with countries on the path to implementing renewable energy strategies.
“We appreciate our position as a world-leading geothermal and power solutions provider and, as such, seek to leverage our expertise,” Stewart outlines.
Across Southeast Asia, a wealth of untapped natural resources, combined with myriad governments’ commitments to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, presents an opportunity to accelerate the development of renewable energy, with geothermal energy set to play a key role.
“Our strength is partnering and collaborating with clients to provide cost-effective, innovative, and safe energy solutions,” he asserts.
As such, MB Century’s proven track record of providing state-of-the-art technical innovation and deep industry knowledge will be instrumental in unlocking new geothermal resources and ensuring sustainable, low-carbon energy options for countries across Southeast Asia.
RELIABILITY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY
Thriving as more than a leading energy solutions provider, MB Century’s business model is powered by a set of core values that drive every project, decision, and relationship.
“At the heart of our business are the principles of pono, aroha, and kaitiakitanga – key values in how we strive to operate,” Stewart says.
These principles have helped the company earn a reputation for reliability, respect, and responsibility over the course of its 75 years in existence, creating a legacy that it is proud to build on every day.
Pono, meaning “doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason”, is the cornerstone of MB Century’s philosophy, driving it to approach every challenge with honesty, transparency, and integrity.
More than just a commitment to ethical business practices, pono is the company’s promise to its clients, partners, and each other that it will always do what is right.
“This dedication has earned us the trust of our stakeholders and shaped us into the ‘team that gets the job done’,” he smiles.
However, pono is just part of the story; the company’s belief in aroha, the art of building meaningful and empathetic relationships, is what binds it together.
With a belief that great relationships are built on understanding, acceptance, and support, MB Century embraces the uniqueness of each individual and values diversity. As such, team members, partners, and clients are all part of the company’s whānau (family),.
Finally, kaitiakitanga embodies guardianship of the environment and reflects MB Century’s unwavering commitment to sustainability.
Through this key value, the company recognises the sacredness of the physical environment and is therefore dedicated to protecting it for future generations.
“This is why we continually innovate, ensuring that our activities have a positive impact on the land, waterways, and air,” Stewart elaborates.
Through collaboration with its business partners, MB Century holds itself accountable to the land and the communities it serves, and as it looks to the future, it remains grounded in these core values.
“We will continue to push forwards with integrity, empathy, and responsibility, striving to be the company that not only meets the needs of today but builds a better tomorrow.
“Our success is not measured solely by the projects we complete, but the trust we cultivate, fostering strong relationships, and our contribution to a sustainable future,” he shares.
ENABLING A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE
MB Century is a professional development partner (PDP) of Engineering New Zealand (EngNZ), the nation’s professional engineering body that administers the necessary integrity and qualifications of the country’s engineers.
“The purpose of the PDP programme is to provide engineering graduates with an exciting opportunity to experience a variety of fields within their engineering discipline and the wider company,” Stewart explains.
Those who graduate from the programme gain a broad knowledge of the business and the services MB Century offers through foundational training.
As such, the company believes in the importance of supporting its people through ongoing skills development to ensure that, as a business, it is kept up to date with industry trends and is able to provide an engaging, supportive, and attractive workplace for its team.
Moreover, as the global energy sector continues to shift towards sustainability, MB Century remains deeply committed to attracting and educating the next generation of professionals and experts in the renewable energy field.
Through strategic partnerships and hands-on training programmes, it is empowering new talent with the technical knowledge and practical expertise required to meet the growing demands of the global renewable energy sector.
“Our proactive approach not only strengthens the workforce but also ensures a pipeline of forward-thinking leaders who will shape the future of clean energy solutions,” he details.
This focus on talent development is a key part of the company’s broader vision to support the energy transition whilst contributing to local communities and international sustainability goals.
Elsewhere, MB Century is dedicated to helping clients achieve their renewable energy generation goals by providing tailored, innovative solutions that align with the growing demand for clean, sustainable power.
“We are keen to continue to deliver high-quality work and best-in-class industry solutions,” Stewart surmises.
By leveraging its technical capabilities and industry expertise, the company will continue to support and enable the international market to navigate the complexities of renewable power generation, reduce its carbon footprint, and contribute to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
“This commitment to supporting clients underscores our role as a trusted partner in the global transition to renewable energy,” he concludes passionately.
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