August deadline for deployment of jack-up barges

LBH Mozambique has revealed plans to deploy two jack-up barges to Northern Mozambique by the end of August. “The two massive heavy lift jack-up barges are currently undergoing ‘return to service’ maintenance in Durban and will be ready for their deployment to Northern Mozambique,” Athol Emerton, managing director of LBH Mozambique. “These barges will add muchneeded capacity in the Mocimboa da Praia port and other cargo handling facilities. They will be utilised as instant cargo handling barges for containers, breakbulk and bulk cargoes, as well as providing a mooring facility in the port for landing craft, barges and vessels.” He said the versatility of the barges would allow them to be relocated or reconfigured for an existing terminal at very short notice. According to Emerton, major opportunity exists in Mozambique with the discovery of over 180 tcf of natural gas reserves in the Rovuma Basin. The country ranks 12th among the countries with the largest natural gas proven reserves, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). “The gas find has gathered impetus as the nation has begun to realise the myriad opportunities that this will create across a broad swath of commerce and industry,” said Emerton. “Two significant Final Investment Decisions (FID) have been made recently and the project is gaining momentum. We have been planning for almost ten years and we look forward to the logistical challenges using our proven experience in Mozambique.” Emerton said the LNG project at Afungi in remote Northern Mozambique was a major opportunity for LBH which would continue to expand its service offering to the oil and gas sector in the country. It was also an example of how the LBH Group had used its knowledge, home-grown experience and strategic partners to spearhead a local solution to a global challenge by establishing niche logistics solutions, he said.