HEH – Portrait: "I am Passionate about Energy Transition Projects"
Oliver, what exactly is your role as Balance of Plant Manager? My main task is to coordinate all interfaces that extend beyond the actual terminal site. That may sound abstract at first, but it's a very diverse and exciting field. I'm responsible for coordinating the electricity and gas grid connections, liaising with our partner Dow – on matters such as the fire suppression system and waste heat utilisation via the cooling water channel – as well as managing numerous other interfaces. My job is to bring the right people together, such as our engineering team, external partners like Avacon or Gasunie, and our general contractor. I often find myself bridging different worlds, translating between them, facilitating dialogue, and helping to build a shared understanding.
How did you come to this job? My career path has been anything but straightforward. I trained as a marine engineer and then studied maritime operations in Flensburg – a combination of engineering and navigation. That gave me an incredibly broad foundation of knowledge: from steam systems to electrical engineering to sewage treatment plants. I always say, I'm a jack of all trades, master of none. But it's precisely this versatility that helps me today, especially when it comes to asking the right questions. After my time at sea, I moved into offshore wind energy, including work for EnBW, and later worked at ARAL Pulse, where I designed charging infrastructure. I've always been drawn to pioneering projects in the energy transition – and HEH is exactly that.
What do you value most about your job? Being part of a real landmark project. Land-based LNG terminals are new to Germany – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What particularly excites me is that we're building infrastructure here that can evolve over time, towards renewable energy. Being able to help shape that future is what I find so compelling. The variety of tasks means no two days are the same, and I’m working alongside experts from all sorts of different disciplines.
How do you relax after work? At the weekend, I spend time with my family in Hamburg – that's how I switch off. During the week, I'm fully immersed in the project, but it's exactly that intensity that I thrive on.