Why Planning Managers Now Control $20 Billion Energy Decisions

Valentin George Cretu demonstrates how integrated planning enabled Mozambique LNG and created thousands of global jobs 

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand will grow 60% by 2040, according to Shell’s outlook, driven by Asian economic expansion and AI’s energy needs. But behind every new LNG terminal lies a planning decision that mobilizes billions of dollars, drives industrial growth across continents, and generates tens of thousands of skilled jobs. The stakes are enormous: choices made in planning rooms today determine not just corporate profits but entire regions’ economic trajectories.

The Mozambique LNG project exemplifies this scale. Worth over $20 billion, it represents the country’s first-ever LNG plant and one of the largest investment decisions in the energy sector. Its approval in 2019 created 16,000 jobs in the United States alone through equipment and service contracts. Yet this project nearly didn’t happen — until one planning manager orchestrated alignment among governments, banks, contractors, and investors across different time zones and regulatory environments.

Valentin George Cretu, Project Planning Manager at TotalEnergies, transformed what could have been another stalled megaproject into reality through an integrated planning methodology. His approach — combining systematic risk management with stakeholder alignment from day one — enabled the crucial Final Investment Decision (FID) that unlocked billions in capital. As he puts it, planning means ‘orchestrating all elements of a project so they work smoothly and on time.’

His experience, now documented in the book ‘Planning Engineering – Principles and Memories’, published on Amazon, reveals why planning has evolved from a back-office function to a strategic imperative. In an era where single projects can reshape national economies, Cretu’s work demonstrates that the future of energy depends less on drilling technology than on the precision of integrated schedules and risk management systems.

Who is a Project Planning Manager and What Do They Do? 

Cretu is a mechanical engineer by training, yet his professional trajectory has long extended beyond technical specialization. For many years, he has worked in managing large industrial projects in oil and gas, energy, and infrastructure. His position as Project Planning Manager may seem auxiliary at first glance, but in reality, it forms the foundation for successfully executing projects worth tens of billions of dollars.

The planner’s task is to turn a large-scale idea into a structured and feasible project. He develops a “roadmap,” sets the sequence of actions, allocates responsibilities, and establishes realistic timelines. It is his responsibility to ensure that construction and commissioning schedules remain on track and that the budget is controlled.

The planner manages changes and risks: when equipment delivery delays, unforeseen natural factors, or logistical challenges arise in remote regions, he provides solutions and restructures the overall plan. At the same time, he coordinates the work of multiple stakeholders — from governments and contractors to banks and investors — ensuring transparency and alignment. Equally important is building a team of planning specialists and passing on accumulated knowledge.

This profession rarely takes the spotlight, yet it is thanks to planners that massive international projects do not collapse under their complexity. Their work makes possible what seems impossible: bringing to life a project that unites thousands of people, dozens of countries, and billions in investment.

Orchestrating Complexity 

The Mozambique LNG project was a test for Valentin in scale, complexity, and international collaboration. “For me, being a Planning Manager means orchestrating all elements of a project so that they work smoothly and on time,” Cretu explains. In this case, orchestration spanned different time zones, cultures, and regulatory environments, requiring not only technical precision but also diplomatic flexibility.

His role was to develop and implement a comprehensive plan aligning the strategic objectives of all stakeholders — from governments and banks to contractors and investors. “The key decision was to adopt an integrated project management approach from the very beginning. This ensured that everyone was aligned,” he recalls. Combined with systematic risk management, this approach became critical in achieving the Final Investment Decision (FID, the formal approval to commit capital to a project) in 2019.

Effective planning ensured that project phases were executed efficiently, creating demand for services and materials. This demand translated into job creation, including more than 16,000 jobs in the United States due to American companies supplying equipment and services.

Leadership Through Planning 

Cretu’s experience demonstrates how planning expertise naturally evolves into leadership. According to Valentin, “My experience in project planning gradually transformed into leadership as I took on more responsibility and guided teams toward achieving goals.” In this process, he did more than coordinate project stakeholders — he fostered knowledge sharing, collaborative problem-solving, and team cohesion.

The success of Mozambique LNG was made possible through a combination of strategic thinking and a systematic approach to project management. Valentin developed a methodology to promptly identify deviations, design recovery plans, and adapt to unforeseen circumstances. His “formula for success” in international projects includes understanding the local context, building trust with stakeholders, and maintaining flexibility. He believes these skills are crucial for future CEOs: the ability to make informed decisions, inspire teams, and achieve results under complex conditions.

Human Impact 

Valentin also served as a jury member for the Cases and Faces 2025 award, an international recognition program that evaluates achievements in project management and leadership across various industries. In this role, he evaluated new talent and shared his experience with a new generation of global professionals, emphasizing the importance of practical skills, strategic thinking, and continuous growth.

Today, Cretu is expanding his expertise to renewable energy and sustainability and is preparing to launch his own consulting company, continuing to create jobs and deliver successful projects. His role as a jury member for the Cases and Faces award allows him to support and evaluate emerging talent, passing on knowledge to the next generation. For him, succeeding in global projects requires not only skills but a mindset oriented toward continuous growth.

Professional success, in his view, is measured not only by technical or financial outcomes but also by social impact. Work should deliver tangible benefits, creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and positively influencing society. In Mozambique LNG, this approach combined economic efficiency with social impact, making the project internationally significant. Valentin’s advice to young professionals is simple and universal: “Stay curious, be adaptable, and never stop learning. Global projects are complex and dynamic, so openness to new experiences is your greatest resource.”

Planning as a Strategic Imperative 

The role of a Project Planning Manager extends far beyond a “back-office” function — it has become a key to the future of energy and global employment. In today’s world, integrated planning is a strategic tool influencing the energy sector, global investment, and employment. Mozambique LNG demonstrates that precise management of schedules, risks, and stakeholder interests creates conditions for successful global projects, economic development, and lasting societal impact.

In the hands of a skilled specialist, planning becomes a map of success — a map defining not only a project’s schedule and budget but also its influence on the global economy, jobs, and the future of energy. Cretu’s approach combines technical mastery, strategic thinking, and attention to social impact. This is what makes the role of a Project Planning Manager central to the map of success in energy and global employment — from executing multi-billion-dollar projects to creating jobs and shaping sustainable economic flows worldwide.