We interviewed Roger Ventosa, CEO of Catalana Drilling | Deutschland, to hear his views on the present and future of drilling in Germany.
“Germany is experiencing an extraordinary level of demand, and drilling is key to driving the country’s digitalization and energy transition”
Catalana de Perforacions has become, over the past years, an international benchmark in the drilling and underground construction sector. With more than 55 years of experience, the company has taken a strategic step forward: its expansion into Germany, under its international brand: Catalana Drilling.
The country is undergoing a profound transformation in infrastructure: digitalisation is advancing rapidly, fibre‑optic deployment is a national priority, and the energy transition requires thousands of kilometres of new high‑voltage underground power lines. In this context, drilling has become essential to ensure fast, sustainable and safe development.
Leading this expansion is Roger Ventosa, CEO of Catalana Drilling | Deutschland, who heads a team of more than 70 specialised professionals. Today he shares his view on the present and future of the drilling sector in Germany.
Roger, how would you describe the current state of the drilling sector in Germany?
The drilling and underground works sector is experiencing a moment of high demand and transformation. In telecommunications, Germany still has a fibre‑optic deployment rate of only 30%–40%, which highlights the enormous amount of work ahead and the importance of drilling to accelerate this rollout.
In addition, the country’s decision to install new high‑voltage direct‑current power lines underground adds a significant technical challenge and increases the need for reliable and efficient drilling solutions.
For all these reasons, drilling has become a fundamental element in responding to the emerging needs of the territory.
What role does Catalana Drilling – Deutschland play in this context?
We bring together extensive experience and an operational agility that few operators can offer.
Our key strength lies in our ability to execute complex projects quickly, with the highest safety standards and exceptional technical control at every stage.
What are the main challenges you encounter in the German market?
The main challenge is the availability of qualified personnel, a common issue across the sector. Added to this is the high technical demand of the projects and the need to deliver very fast response times.
Germany is an extremely rigorous market, and this requires us to maintain a constant level of excellence in every project.
What opportunities do you see for the coming years?
The growth of energy and environmental projects will undoubtedly be decisive. The German government’s plan to electrify the country with renewable energy —especially wind power generated in the north— requires thousands of kilometres of new high‑voltage power lines.
All these projects demand highly technical and reliable drilling solutions capable of ensuring precision and operational continuity, and this is where Catalana Drilling plays a fundamental role as a partner in drilling and underground construction projects.
How is Catalana Drilling – Deutschland innovating to respond to these opportunities?
We have incorporated new drilling equipment and maintain ongoing dialogue with leading machinery manufacturers to adapt our capabilities to real market needs. At the end of last year, we added a new state‑of‑the‑art drilling rig to our fleet: a Grundodrill ACS300 from Tracto‑Technik.
Innovation is part of our daily work: we strive to improve processes, increase efficiency and ensure that every project is executed with maximum technical reliability.
How important is sustainability in the drilling and underground works sector?
Sustainability is a central pillar. Clients demand cleaner, more efficient processes with reduced environmental impact. Modern drilling allows us to minimise waste, optimise resources and ensure responsible use of materials.
In our case, reducing liquid waste through on‑site recycling systems is essential, and in the medium term, machinery electrification will be a decisive step for the sector.
How do you see the future of drilling in Germany in the medium term?
It will be an increasingly specialised and technological sector, with growing demand.
We will see a clear shift towards more powerful, more sustainable machinery and towards operators capable of adapting quickly to the technical and environmental requirements of each project.
To conclude, what message would you like to share with clients and partners?
Thank you for your trust.
Our commitment is clear: to work with rigour, maintain transparent communication and deliver high‑quality results in every project.
That is the foundation of our relationship with clients and partners.