Greater Plutonio FPSO arrives Block 31 offshore Angola IN A TIN

27 Pages·2007·2.26 MB·English

SO UUnniivvANGOeeLA | OIL rr| BUSINssESS | oCoULTURE ISSUE 14 SUMMER 2007
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2 ON TIME: Sonangol Namibe joins the family ■ ON SITE: Greater Plutonio FPSO arrives
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7 Block 31 offshore Angola ■ IN A TIN: Pictures by Kandengues Unidos Luanda Orphans

ISSUE 14 SUMMER 2007
S
INSIDE SONANGOL INSIDE ANGOLA Something Big
T
N 30 There is an awesome
30. Troubled Eden
grandeur about almost
E For a region of such distracting everything to do with
beauty and easy-going lifestyle, the oil industry: the
T
now, as it rebuilds its future ambitious concepts, the
N Uíge has seen more than its fair huge structures, the
share of disruptive influences amazing technological
achievements – and the
O almost unimaginable
36. Paradise in
sums invested to extract
Waiting the sought after gas
C
and liquid.
36 With a new international airport
In this issue we salute two momentous
and world-class hotels under
events. The first is the arrival in Angolan
construction, Angola’s tourism
waters of the world’s biggest FPSO, exclusively
minister sees a time when the
photographed for Universosoon after it
8 14 country can be less dependent
arrived on Block 18.
on oil
The second is the delivery of the fifth
Suezmax crude carrier to join the Sonangol
8. Our Growing Family 42. Child’s Eye View fleet, the Sonangol Namibe, taking its total
As the m/t Sonangol Namibedeparts Korea’s The camera obscura was the tonnage to just under 800,000 deadweight
Okpo shipyard to begin her travels across the first mechanical means of repro- tonnes. As our special report from Korea
Sonangol oceans of the world, so begins another chapter ducing a picture of an actual describes, her crew includes an elite cadre of
Rua 1°Congresso do MPLA, for Sonangol Shipping scene. Pictures taken by youthful Angolan officers and cadets, products
N.º 8-16 Luanda’s orphans demonstrate of the Sonangol maritime scholarship scheme.
Caixa Postal 1316,Luanda
República de Angola how potent this simple tech- Elsewhere, we explore the highlands and
14. Win-Win Opportunity
Tel: [phone] nique still is. forests of Uíge to reveal a province of much
Fax:[phone] beauty and tranquillity, and imparting some
Angolanisation and local content are buzz
Telex:2089 SONANG AN
hopeful possibilities in contrast to the starker
[email protected] words long familiar to Angola’s oil sector – and 46. Fly Like a Bird
news that more usually comes from this region.
another successful Sonangol-led initiative shows
Sonan1g1o77l UEnScAlav (eS Poanrkuwsaay) one way of making it happen Since Icarus, it has been man’s The future opportunities of tourism to the
Second Floor dream to take wings, and skim- country as a whole are discussed in an exclusive
Houston,TX 77077 ming over the Atlantic surf of interview with tourism minister Eduardo
USA 18. On Site – on Time 46
the Ilha a growing number of Chingunji, together with a profile of the cur-
Tel:[phone]
Fax:[phone] On the eve of first oil from the Greater Plutonio young Luandans experience rent state of the industry.
[email protected] Field Universomeets Mary Shafer-Malicki, just that The swooping kitesurfers of the Ilha are a
newly- appointed leader of the BP Angola reminder of summer days now on the wane in
Sonangol UK
Merevale House Business Unit 50. Out to Lunch Angola, and we are afforded some fascinating
Brompton Place glimpses of life in Luanda through the eyes of
London SW3 1QE
Hardly a week goes by without children using old tin cans for cameras.
United Kingdom 22. Small is Beautiful
Tel:[phone] a new restaurant opening its To round off the menu, we go on a gastro-
Fax:[phone] Angola’s exploration and production boom is doors in Luanda, adding to the nomic tour of Luanda’s favourite restaurants –
Telex:893212 SONANG
set to continue as the oil majors are joined by a eclectic choice of eating places a big treat, we hope.
Sonangol Asia growing band of local and international compa- available in the capital
3 Temasek Avenue nies defined by their entrepreneurial spirit --The Editor
31-04 Centennial Tower 50
Singapore 039190
Tel::[phone]. West Africa Hub
Fax:[phone]
Sonangol Department for Communication & Image –– Director:João Rosa Santos;Corporate Communications Assistant:Cristina de Novaes
As the principal support for its west and south-
This magazine is produced for Sonangol by Impact MediaGlobal Ltd,53 Chandos Place,London WC2N 4HS,UK,Tel:[phone]~ Fax:[phone]
ern African operations, Vetco Gray’s Luanda
Publisher:Sheila O’Callaghan;Group President:John Charles Gasser;Project Consultant:Nathalie MacCarthy
base is centrally located to deliver rapid Editor:Peter Moeller;Sub-editor:Ron Gribble; Art Director:Lisa Pampillonia;Advertising Design:Bernd Wojtczack;Circulation Manager:Matthew Alexander
Contributors:Nina Asz,Karen Iley,Bruce McMichael Cover Photo:m/t Sonangol Namibe(PMP Global)
response to its sub-Saharan clients
24 All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
[email protected]
4SONANGOLUNIVERSO
N E W S I N B R I E F
Chevron has notched up
another important discovery
Terminal expertise New Partner
in the deep waters offshore
Royal Boskalis Westminsterand the Jan Eniis to join the $4 billion project to
Angola in Block 14. The
de Nul Group have been awarded the con- build an LNG plant at Soyo in northern
Lucapa-1 well, spudded in
tract to develop the landing site for the Soyo Angola after buying a 13.6 per cent
late 2006 in water depths of
LNG export terminal. The $400m contract stake in a company in charge of the
1,201m, is the tenth explo-
involves dredging an access channel and cre- project, the Angola LNG Limited consor-
ration discovery made in the First meeting ating an artificial island to allow the LNG tium (ALNG). Partners in the project
block since 1997. Angola’s Senior oil carriers to berth. About 5 million cubic metres include Sonangol, Chevron, Total and
officials have for the first of dredged material will be used to create BP. Earlier this year, super-
Sonangolis developing plans
time attended a quarterly 140 hectares of new land on which the major ExxonMobil
to put some of its non-oil sector
meeting of the Organisation of terminal will be built. A contract for transferred its 13.6
interests up for sale, with local
Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) advance engineering and procure- per cent stake in the
companies being the preferred
since being admitted to the organisation in January. The assembly took place on March 12. ment has also been awarded to project to
buyers. According to chairman
Angola is the newest member of the influential group, and is the organisation’s first new member engineering company Sonangol,
Manuel Vicente, the develop-
since 1975, but is not yet subjected to monthly Opec production quotas. Bechtel. The project is whose share
ment of the Angolan business Opec meetings generally take place in Austria at the Vienna headquarters of the organisation scheduled for completion rose to 36.4
sector will enable the company that represents the interests of 12 leading oil production and exporting countries, which include by the end of 2008. per cent.
to sell off peripheral businesses Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
and allow the group to focus on The next Opec ministerial conference has been scheduled for September, when the decision will
its core exploration and produc- be made on which of Angola’s three crudes – Cabinda, Palancaand Girassol– will be used in the
tion activities. cartel’s oil price index. Opec’s benchmark index is set according to production and export levels of
member countries. Spoilt for Choice
Saipemhas scooped $1 billion
Angola’s membership of Opec follows a significant growth in the country’s political influence in Sonangolsponsored 2nd Regional Deepwater Offshore West Africa Conference and
worth of contracts for offshore West Africa after agreeing ties with São Tomé and Príncipe and heading the revival of the region- Exhibition, being held for the first time in Luanda from October 3-6, has an embarrassment of
and onshore services around the al co-operation body, the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC). Along with the two riches in attracting no less than 175 abstracts.
world including Angola. Saipem Portuguese-speaking countries, the GGC is made up of Gabon, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, “We had planned to present no more than 60 during the three-day event,” says Gerard Kreeft,
will begin installing a pipeline Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. managing director of the organisers, Energywise. “But rather than reject so many valuable con-
system in Chevron’s offshore tributions, we have decided to re-jig the programme to run three parallel sessions instead of the
Block 0 Mafumeira oilfield at the original two. This means that the technical committee will now be able to select 90 – 100
abstracts,” he adds.
end of 2007.
toLhypieTne odght uaainglt ehBa a lDocsáoc flksilato 1 woo7fie, l f$dtieh4 fle dibr ,sfi tlidle iooeldivnl e.ifslr-om SiLtsho AiApmcnpageinorligl capan(An rp BeBrSeus)s reeisen anecuexcp boeayfn dhiinrigng w$C3iSth hbooiinlnluiaotan nag goeoriellx ’ersem inftieenngetor yto iaavetti roL onambs iwbtoiit.ti hoC uShsii nnpoelapsene scc othoma vipneav neensietd sie nhd aave tseitvcTMaeihptnoeeat-r t.oeue fn t-ihetnhax etpnh-e ae5cr 0ttee xTpdhae linabr utictomeionnbnate Croru foon ntfnh fhieenir ggsehp ni-nacqc euce oCa hnleiatjnuyst n praecaltr.pieoeanrds yw rbeitcehee itnvh eebd o cioosk naefldesor ep rnreocfmele iacsttien Ldgu aiann pdthoaet’se knneteieawnllny essusc tcoe spsafur-l ILLUSTRATIONS: GREG GRIGO
expected to pump up to new staff. John Gallagher, played a leading role in the recent oil-driven reconstruc- RIO
U
240,000bpd and is the first in director of offshore technolo- tion boom, with Angola recognised as one of China’s
gy and business development, most important suppliers of crude oil. Planning for the Filters tipped Going to Market
the world to produce such vis-
ABS Europe, says: “We are Lobito refinery will now focus on producing a range of Weatherford Angola, the Sonangolmay join the
cous, acid oil at depths of
working closely with the products that will be marketed interna- Angolan subsidiary of US engineer- Johannesburg and New
between 1,200 and 1,500m.
Angolan government to iden- tionally, rather than focusing ing company Weatherford York stock exchanges by
Mustang Engineering, a sub- tify and train suitable local solely on supplying International, is to start exporting 2010, according to chair-
sidiary of international energy candidates as part of our pro- China. sand filters for oil well drilling oper- man Manuel Vicente.
services company John Wood gramme to assist in ations this year when the first Joining the stock markets
Group, is to design the compli- developing a core of maritime factory on the African continent will allow Sonangol to
expertise within the country.” begins production. The plant repre- access international capi-
ant piled tower (CPT) for
The classification society sents an investment of around $20 tal markets, with Vicente
Chevron’s Tombua–Landana
might set up a second office million and will manufacture filters pointing out that
development project, located
in the northern city of Soyo to and drilling countersinks that will Sonangol has never been
within the eastern portion of
manage its work on the pro- be used in the energy, civil engi- in better financial health as it is
Block 14 in approximately 366m
posed liquefied natural gas neering, architecture and mining today, and thus well placed to
of water.
(LNG) terminal. sectors. consider such a move.
6SONANGOLUNIVERSO SUMMER2007 7
our N E W B U I L D I N G
our
G
Growing
rowing
family
family
As the m/t Sonangol Namibe
departs Korea’s Okpo shipyard
to start her travels across the
oceans of the world, so begins
another chapter for Sonangol
Shipping
A
At precisely 18.10 on the evening of March 22, as
her last mooring line slips into the waters of No 2
Quay at the sprawling Daewoo Shipbuilding and
Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard south of
Pusan, Korea, the motor tankerSonangol Namibe
remains motionless.
Like a person just awakened from their slum-
bers to reflect on their plans for the future, so
perhaps there was a moment of contemplation on
a life of service – maybe 30 years – about to begin.
Three years after she was conceived with the sign-
ing of the contract to build Hull 5277 in June 2004,
Sonangol’s newest Suezmax crude carrier was on
the point of leaving her birthplace, never to return.
Now, with the last inches of welding complete,
the myriad of classification and survey forms
approved and signed, fuel tanks topped-up and
every surface from stem to stern, gleaming with
new paint, the Sonangol Namibehad come alive
and was almost on her way – first to Singapore and
then to Mina Al Fahal, Oman to receive her first
cargo destined for Meizhou, China.
The previous day she had been officially named
by Lucinda Guimarães, commercial operations
director of Sonangol EP, in the presence of chair-
man and Chief Executive Manuel Vicente, Angola’s
Minister of Petroleum Desidéiro Costa and Mr S. T.
Nam, DSME president and chief executive, and a
host of well wishers from the company and others
who will be involved with her future.
GLOBAL SUMMER2007 9
MP
P
PROUD MOMENT: Mrs Lucinda Guimarães, Commercial Operations Director, Sonangol EP names ONDUTY: Second Engineer Francisco Miranda with Manuel Vicente,
m/t Sonangol Namibe, applauded by DSME President, Mr S.T. Nam. Chairman Sonangol EP and Angola’s Minister of Petroleum, H.E. Desidério
SHINING EXAMPLE: Every surface glistens as Sonangol Namibe is ready to take her leave of Okpo Costa, who takes a keen interest in Sonangol’s maritime scholarship scheme
Master and
Commander
PMP GLO DMSE sea Einve 1r9 s7in0c, eC ahpet faiirnst D weeenpta kto
BAL Nigam has always wanted to
work in tankers, though his
early experience was gained
in containers and general
cargo carriers. “I relish the
challenge,” he says. “Tankers
are just so much more
demanding.”
Having worked with
Wallem Ship Management
since 1975, he obtained his
Master’s ticket in 1981 and
was promoted master in
1984. Captain Nigam first
came to Sonangol Shipping
in 2005, since when he has
skippered both Girassoland
Kassanje.
Prior to that, he had
worked mainly on ultra-large
crude carriers (ULCCs) and
was the take-over master of
both the “jumbo-ised” Jahre
As she performed the ceremony in the small margin, but one which can represent sig- tings, in various specialist areas spread across ceremony, Baptista Sumbe Sonangol USA
“As long as she
spring sunshine, Ms Guimarães said: “As long nificant savings in the faster delivery of a full the 400-hectare shipyard. These are then executive chairman said: “It would be difficult
sails, I wish this as she sails, I wish this remarkable ship cargo of crude and with greater fuel efficiency. brought together in the huge dry docks for to measure the excellent relationship between
favourable weather and smooth voyages. May “Namibealso embodies other improve- welding together. Sonangol and DSME, and I offer my warm
remarkable ship God bless her and all who sail in her.” While ments in construction which will increase her For Namibe, stage one, involving the cut- thanks to its management and staff for this
ship’s horns hooted around the yard, the name life to 30 years, as against 20 years for her sis- ting of the steel plates to laying the keel, took valuable support.”
favourable
Sonangol Namibewas revealed on her bows. ters in the fleet,” says Mr Andersson. “These just over four months – from June to October His words were echoed by DSME president
She is the fifth Suezmax tanker to join the mainly relate to upgraded structural features, 2006. Ten weeks later, on January 20, the large- Mr S. T. Nam, who said: “Our relationship has
weather and
Sonangol Shipping fleet, bringing its total ton- improved materials and more detailed weld- ly completed hull was floated for final fitting lasted for ten years. We are very impressed by
smooth voyages. nage to almost 800,000 deadweight tonnes ing. For example, Namibe’sclosed double out alongside a quay. the management of Sonangol and with the
(dwt). All have been built to the same bottom extends into the aft pump room, This tight schedule is crucial to avoid quality of their staff and supervisors who have
May God bless 159,000dwt design, with minor modifications which adds safety and strength – and there is potential bottlenecks in the dry dock and all worked with us at Okpo.”
based on operating experience and to meet built-in permanent means of access to every effort is focused on floating out at the earliest These sentiments were endorsed by petro-
her and all who
the requirements for greater efficiency. part of the vessel to allow for easier close-up opportunity to enable on-time delivery dates leum minister Desidério Costa who said:
Viking, as well as the Sea
The entire newbuilding was overseen at the inspections.” to be achieved. “Angola’s oil industry is growing fast. We hope
sail in her.”
Giant, the world’s largest
DSME yard by a Sonangol team under the With its registration in Nassau, Bahamas, Two months later, just eight months after that next year production will pass 2 million
designed-and-built vessel.
direction of Sonangol Shipping fleet manager Namibeembodies all the latest safety require- the first steel was cut, Namibewas delivered to bpd. Other important milestones will be the
“I am especially looking
Lucinda Guimarães, Catarino Pereira. ments and is equipped with state-of-the-art her new owners. Angola LNG project and the new refinery at
forward to commanding
Commercial Operations “Namibeis very similar to Kassanje, deliv- navigation and communications equipment. With such an intricate, fast-moving opera- Lobito. These developments are possible
Namibe,” he says. “She is a
Director, Sonangol EP ered in June 2005,” says project manager Jan State-of-the-art applies equally to the hi- tion, heavy responsibility rests on the through the vision of our leadership, our fine new vessel and has ben-
Andersson who supervised the building opera- tech DSME shipyard, now one of the world shoulders of Mr Andersson and his team from humility, hard work – and the contribution our
efited from the experience
tion. “The only changes are to the design of leaders in shipbuilding and capable of turning Seaquest Marine Project Management, spe- partners.” gained in building and oper-
the hull, mainly to get better performance for out more than 50 large commercial vessels, cialists in working with owners and builders to Mr Sumbe see these as early days. In ating her Sonangol sisters.
the same 22,920bhp engine power.” offshore structures and military craft a year. ensure that ships are delivered to specification February 2005 he said: “We are growing. I I’m also looking forward to
This means that her single 55-tonne screw Its secret is minutely planned mass pro- and in superior condition. already have a mandate to go for three more passing on my knowledge
will drive her through the water at a service duction techniques that involve the The launch ofNamibealso marks a high units if the market is right, and to continue and experience to my youth-
speed of 15.5 knots, as against 15.2 for the first pre-construction of gigantic ship-sections, point in the harmonious bonds enjoyed by Sonangol’s policy of becoming an integrated ful team of officers and
in the series, Sonangol Girassol– an apparently complete with internal piping and other fit- Sonangol and DSME. Speaking at the naming oil company from exploration right through to cadets.”
10SONANGOLUNIVERSO SUMMER2007 11
DSME PMP GLO
BAL
slowly building a cadre of trained deck officers
“Our relationship has
and engineers, is the start of a new maritime
tradition for Angola – served by professionals
lasted for ten years, and
who will bring a host of new skills and jobs to
the country. we are very impressed by
“Remember, we can always build ships,”
concluded Mr Sumbe at the naming ceremo- the management of
ny. “But please join me in saluting these young
Sonangol, and with the
men. They are our truly precious resource –
examples of the greatest contribution that
quality of their staff and
Sonangol can provide for our nation in edu-
cating its young people and providing them supervisors who have
with a good job opportunity.
“Sonangol will continue to train more and worked with us at Okpo.”
more candidates. Shipping is part of the core
business of the company. And with the advent
Mr S T Nam, President,
of Angola LNG and the Lobito Refinery, more
Daewoo Shipbuilding &
ships will be needed, and surely the shipping
culture will grow and be consolidated here in Marine Engineering
Angola.” ❖
“Remember, we m/t Sonangol Namibe
distribution – as well as offering training
can always build opportunities in all the aspects of vessel Crude oil tanker, built by the Daewoo
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co Ltd
management.”
Delivered: March 22, 2007
ships, but please At Okpo, he reaffirmed these points, first scholarship. His wife is a schoolteacher in Luanda.
by acknowledging the success of the Stena- “There is always something new to learn at sea,” he says.
join me in Length overall 274m
Sonangol Pool. “It is a perfect marriage,” he “Since graduating, I have served in all the Sonangol ships.”
Length between perpendiculars 264m
saluting these said. “It has performed above the market aver- Breadth, moulded 48m Pereira joined Namibein good time to be involved in the final
age, profiting from all opportunities that the Depth, moulded 23.7m stages of construction and classification.
young men. They market can offer, from the Atlantic to the Designed draft, moulded 16m “I found the participation in the sea trials really interesting,”
Pacific and Indian Oceans.” Scantling draft, moulded 17m he says. “I’m especially interested in navigation and cargo man-
are our truly He went on to draw attention to the young Deadweight tonnes 158,425
agement, and on this new vessel there are a lot of new skills and
Angolans who form a large part of the team Service speed 15.5 knots
expertise to acquire.”
precious resource” responsible for operating the Namibeunder Main engine Man-B&W
Second engineer Francisco Miranda from Luanda was a
6S70MC
Captain Deepak Nigam, explaining that they
Ship’s complement 26 teacher of electrical drawing when he won his Sonangol scholar-
were part of swelling band of graduates pro-
Baptista Sumbe, ship, going on to become the first engineer to gradate in the
duced by Sonangol’s ‘shipping academy.’
Executive Chairman, Classification,American Bureau of Shipping: programme.
To date, the scholarship scheme has pro- Frederico Pereira and Second engineer Francisco Miranda
Sonangol USA Company +A1(E), Oil Carrier ESP, SH, SHCM, RES, “Going to sea has brought a completely new life for me,” he
duced some 23 graduates – 14 of them
+AMS, +ACCM, ES, UWILD, VEC-L FL(30)
says. “I love the travelling and I have served in all vessels except
engineers and nine deck officers. At any one
the Sonangol Luanda. I’m really enjoying the challenges of this
time there are about 60 cadets in training at M/T Sonangol Namibe is the fifth Suezmax Shipmates
new ship.”
colleges in Scotland and India, and on tanker to join the Sonangol Shipping fleet,
The other Angolan officers are third engineer Edmur Costa,
Sonangol vessels. technically managed by Wallem Ship
“The scheme is working well,” agrees Management and part of the Stena- The 27 crew who sailed in the m/t Sonangol Namibefrom second officer Alfredo Massango and fourth engineer Euler
Richard Speight, assistant principal head of Sonangol Suezmax Pool. Okpo to Singapore and Mina Al Falal, Oman, on March 22 under Miguel. The cadets include engine cadet António Paim and deck
ON COURSE: maritime studies at the Glasgow College of Her four Sonangol sister ships are (by age): the command of Captain Deepak Nigam included five Angolan cadets Orlando Vandik and António Pita.
m/t Sonangol Namibeundergoes Nautical Studies where the students spend one Sonangol Girassol158,706dwt, Sonangol officers and three cadets from the Sonangol training scheme. The remaining officer complement is made up of chief engi-
her trials in the South China Sea Luanda159,178dwt, Sonangol Kizomba
year of their two-year course. “We are now Second officer Frederico Pereira, 27, who was born in Uíge neer Paramjit Singh, chief officer R. Singh, electrical engineer A.
159,168dwt and Sonangol Kassanje
anticipating that the first of our Angolan grad- province, started his college education studying economics along- Kumar, second engineer Rajesh Shah and third officer Hoshang
VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE: 158,706dwt
uates will receive his master’s certificate within side his elder brother, before winning a Sonangol sea training Wadia, all from India.
Sonangol Namibeprepares to
depart from the DSME yard, five years.” Total fleet 794,183dwt
Okpo, South Korea So Sonangol’s shipping academy, which is
12SONANGOLUNIVERSO SUMMER2007 13
D E V E L O P M E N T
w
in-win
Angolanisation
and local content
opportunity are buzz words
long familiar to
Angola’s oil sector
– and another
successful
Sonangol-led
M
initiative shows
Most oil majors operating offshore the oil industry.
one way of
Angola have become accustomed to pay- CAE-Apoio Empresarial is the brain-
ing high prices for goods and services – but child of Sonangol’s Projecto de making it happen
the old adage that paying more gets you Desenvolvimento da Participacao Nacional
better quality may not be as true today as – Project for the Development of National
it once was. Participation [Universo 6]. PDNP’s mission
During the civil war years, exploration is to ensure that more private Angolan
companies had little choice but to import businesses can become involved in the
nearly everything as the private sector had country’s lucrative oil sector. It also tries to
almost ground to a halt and the high-tech increase links between foreign and local
demands of the industry meant that cut- firms working in the industry and provides
ting corners could never be an option. management and business training to
“The oil business is one of the most Angolan entrepreneurs.
complex markets – deepwater oil drilling is Mr Benson is convinced that by using
not an ordinary service industry,” says Lars more local enterprises rather than relying
Benson, executive director of CAE-Apoio on imports, the oil companies can cut
Empresarial, a Luanda-based business costs without compromising demand for
centre which helps to match small and quality. “It’s true you can’t go out and buy a
medium-sized Angolan companies with jumpsuit in Luanda tomorrow. But there is
contracts to provide goods and services to no need to go to Korea to source it – you
the oil industry. “The problem facing oper- can get it made here,” he says.
ators is the high costs of doing business as “Local businesses might not have the
well as the quality of goods and services smartest signs on the outside, but they can
they receive in an industry where mistakes provide quality goods and services. It’s not
can cost millions of dollars per minute,” that you can’t get quality in Angola, you
says the senior US business expert with just may not know where to find it. That’s
considerable experience of Angola. why we are here to help.”
In five years of peace, the Angolan In addition to Sonangol, CAE-Apoio
business environment has flourished, with Empresarial is sponsored by BP, Chevron,
more local entrepreneurs trying to get onto Esso and Total, and managed by an
the lucrative oil industry ladder than ever American NGO. It has a database of more
before. This has enabled a better selection than 300 local companies, has carried out
ONDA of goods and services to be available local- due diligence checks on a further 50 and
OR ly, from the most basic to the highly more are coming onto its books every day.
ONY F specialised – especially those tailored to Mr Benson believes that the potential
ANTH
14SONANGOLUNIVERSO SUMMER2007 15
“The problem for Angolan companies to supply the oil Both Angolan and foreign business con- local companies to win these contracts.” Angolan companies keen to get into the indus-
industry is enormous. “Some of the oil majors sultants work from CAE-Apoio Empresarial’s Entrepreneurs often complain that the try and the big players saying they want to
facing operators
are spending hundreds of millions of dollars small offices in the Ingombotas district of legacies of war include heavy bureaucracy and work with local suppliers. But both sides, he
on operating in Angola,” he says. “We want to Luanda, helping clients to prepare for the diffi- high costs to get businesses up and running. says, should be realistic about the scope for
is the high costs
make sure as much of that money as possible cult jump to the oil industry. Indeed, according to World Bank data, Angola their collaboration.
of doing business stays here.” The centre offers training about twice a ranks 156th out of 175 countries in terms of “All oil companies will say they want to
The business centre wants to maximise the month on most business subjects including ease of doing business and it is not always work with Angolan companies, but in reality it
as well as the benefit to the oil companies and the more quality management, bidding for and manag- easy to survive in this tough environment, is often difficult for them to go out and find
local companies become involved in the ing contracts, marketing and financial especially for small Angolan companies strug- local suppliers,” he says. “I tell Angolan com-
quality of goods
industry, the more jobs will be created for management. It also provides information on gling to juggle slender resources. panies to be careful in what they wish for
Angolans. This process will also help to pro- upcoming contracts in the oil industry and Despite the challenges, Mr Benson says the because having a contract with an oil compa-
and services they
mote a better knowledge of the oil sector helps to polish up local companies’ bids so that range, availability and quality of goods and ny can be more difficult than they imagine.”
receive in an within the country, thereby creating an econo- they can compete against foreign suppliers. services provided by local companies have However, Mr Benson has no doubt that the
my that is more self-sufficient and less reliant In the last few years, Angola has undergone generally increased. However, the specifics of more local companies can secure a foothold in
industry where on foreign know-how. a massive economic upswing, essentially due the oil industry mean that the barriers to entry the oil industry, the better it will be for
The aim is to use the oil and gas industry to increasing oil production and high crude remain high. Angola’s long-term development.
mistakes can cost
as a springboard to promote growth across the prices. Foreign entrepreneurs have been trying “The potential for Angolan companies to “People always talk about the curse of oil.
country, which can contribute to a more sus- to get in on the action, but the government provide the quality services required is a chal- But one of the benefits of this industry is that
millions of
tainable type of development and also help and Sonangol are on a drive to ensure that lenge because offshore drilling is such a its supply chains are very advanced and there
dollars per other areas of the economy to flourish. more Angolan companies are included in the high-tech industry. And oil companies gener- will be a technological transfer which will ben-
In the past, the lack of openness on the oil industry food chain. ally only work with companies they already efit not only oil but other sectors, from
minute.” part of foreign oil companies and the high “Beyond being under pressure from the know. We introduce them to new companies.” agriculture to mining,” he says.
costs of doing business in the industry have government to Angolanise, most of the majors Despite the evident difficulties of working “As more companies win contracts, there
made things difficult for small and medium- recognise that this is good business practice,” for the oil industry, CAE-Apoio Empresarial are going to be more jobs created for
Lars Benson,
sized Angolan companies. It has sometimes says Mr Benson. “We’re helping the oil indus- has already helped 22 Angolan businesses to Angolans. This is a win-win situation for the
Executive Director,
discouraged them from competing for entry try to find new potential producers of goods or secure contracts worth around $2 million, pro- private sector in Angola, for the oil industry as
CAE-Apoio Empresarial into the market. services in Angola and our interest is to assist viding the sector with a range of products a whole and for the oil operators.”
from pumps, overalls and stationery to clean- With the training offered, Angolans will be
ing, technical maintenance and catering given a better chance to compete with foreign
services. companies. This process will strengthen local
Mr Benson describes the relationship companies and help to make sure that more of
Maintaining Growth between the two sides as “push and pull”, with the country’s wealth stays in Angola. ❖
An enterprising Angolan company that provides maintenance services for homes, including
Building a Future
those owned or managed by oil companies, has already succeeded in winning a contract with BP
worth $1 million a year.
Andre Ngeya, who is business development manager of Grupo Comercio e Industria Limitado The number of cranes on the Luanda skyline is a sign of the unprecedented construction boom in
(Coceeme), says: “Our existing contract with BP is mainly for housing maintenance. We are now the capital. Small Angolan companies such as DSM Comercio e Industria Limitado, whose core busi-
negotiating a second contract with them and we are also in talks with Total and Sonangol to pro- ness is building homes, clinics, schools and low-income housing as well as providing water filtration
vide them with services. systems, are growing continuously to keep pace with the demands of the market. DSM, established
“The oil companies can offer us a secure market and guarantees that we will be paid, which is in 2005, has been on CAE-Apoio Empresarial’s books since late 2006.
obviously important for us. But working for them isn’t easy. Their standards are such that we have “We know we have a good product,” says administrator Cilas Cardoso. “Our construction system
to present ourselves with a certain image of quality. is American – in most cases we use wood panels and steel pillars which allow us to build more quick-
“They watch our evolution closely in terms of quality and management to make sure we are ly than companies using European cement-based systems. We manage to cut the costs to the client,
moving in the right direction, and they also organise meetings and training sessions to help us, so primarily because we save a lot of time.
in this way we are also winners. We became involved with CAE-Apoio Empresarial through BP and “We have a mix of clients including governments, companies and individuals. But one untapped
we have already had several meetings, which have definitely helped us to develop our business market is the oil industry where there is a lot of work to be done, and at the same time we can learn
and management structure. a lot from them too. The oil companies here have very strict rules and want to make sure that the
“There are rules and attitudes that are now starting to penetrate our local market: things companies they give business to are up to international standards.
relating to security, quality and respect for the environment that didn’t exist before. Taking these “We’re a small construction company so we’re still going through the process of ensuring that
on board has helped our company to develop and gives us a better image when we go to negoti- things like health and safety and quality control are up to scratch. This includes everything from mak-
ate contracts with the oil companies. ing sure our books are in order to putting up handrails on all the staircases.
“We have done relatively well, and from our contract with BP alone we manage to make up “We see these kinds of requirements as an opportunity to get the company 100 per cent stream-
to around one million dollars annually. But it wasn’t easy for us to get to this point because the lined, rather than as a barrier to entry. A business like ours will never be a candidate to work with oil
laws in Angola are not always well adapted to the private sector.
16SONANGOLUNIVERSO SUMMER2007 17
P R O D U C T I O N
OO
nn--ssiittee
On the eve of first oil
from the Greater
Plutonio Field, Block
nn ttiimmee
18, Universo meets
Mary Shafer-Malicki,
newly-appointed
leader of the BP
Angola Business Unit
‘‘I
“I love animals, and when I was
very young I decided I was
going to be a veterinary doctor,”
says the newly-appointed
leader of BP’s Angola Business
Unit in her office overlooking
Luanda’s business district. “But
what actually happened was
that my father who was in the
oil business arranged for me to
work as a summer casual at
Amoco.
“I went back the second
summer, and then it was time
for university. The medical
thing just flew away.” After
graduating as a chemical engi-
neer, Mary Shafer-Malicki, who
grew up in Oklahoma, joined
the company where she had
first become hooked on oil.
After stints in North America,
Holland, Scotland and Vietnam
she now finds herself in Angola
where one of BP’s newest and
biggest projects, Greater
Plutonio is about to flow first
oil. The company has had a
presence offshore Angola since
the mid 1990s and is a non-
operating partner in the
development areas of Block 15
(26.67 per cent) and Block 17
(16.67 per cent) as well as
Angola LNG (13.64 per cent).
But dwarfing these two involve-
ments is its operatorship of the
development areas blocks 18
and 31. (see panel)
OBAL
PMP GL SUMMER2007 19