Netherlands-based Intero Integrity Services, a leading inspection and industrial services specialist, has announced that it has acquired The Sniffers, a longstanding service provider to the oil and gas industry and specialised in emission monitoring and pipeline integrity services.

The Sniffers, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Belgium, offers emission reduction services such as leak detection and repair (LDAR) and tank emission measurements, energy saving projects for flare- and steam-losses and underground pipeline integrity services.

The services of The Sniffers will be added to Intero’s current inspection and industrial services portfolio, said a statement from the company.

Intero CEO Rienk de Vries said: “The acquisition strengthens our business and is a further step in developing our environmental and sustainability goals and enhancing our presence in global key industry sectors.”

“The Sniffers experience and credentials, together with our own, will open new possibilities in providing additional services to our current and new customers,” he stated.

Intero employs 350 people in its 16 offices around the world. In 2017, the Dutch group was bought by First Reserve, a leading global private equity investment firm exclusively focused on energy.

First Reserve has cultivated an enduring network of global relationships and raised $32 billion of aggregate capital since inception.

The Sniffers CEO Bart Wauterickx said: “Intero Integrity Services provides our company with an extensive global network and access to many new customers. Our team is pleased to join strengths with Intero Integrity Services and to continue our journey to growth.”

“Our emission reduction expertise and our pipeline integrity services can now be brought to more customers around the world. We will help them realise their environmental and sustainability ambition. Climate change conferences like COP25 and sustainability objectives provide a very positive business outlook for The Sniffers. This acquisition will accelerate our global growth opportunities,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service