A joint venture company is being established by three of Mozambique’s longestestablished logistics and marine services companies to support gas and oil companies setting up operations in the north of the country.
Subtech Mozambique, Alpha Logistics and LBH Mozambique have signed a memorandum of understanding to be able to offer a holistic logistics and services solution in and around the strategically located port of Mocimboa da Praia.
“It just makes good sense to combine our capabilities in the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia, literally the closest port to the oil and gas development at Palma,” says LBH Mozambique MD, Athol Emerton.
“We have no doubt that bigger and more efficient facilities will be built with better draft solutions but right now it is the most convenient logistics hub.
“Furthermore, the customers don’t have to re-invent the wheel, I am confident that between the three alliance partners we can create a rapid logistics solution for materials in and out of Northern Mozambique”.
There is renewed interest in the Mozambican gas industry with the launch in August of the Coral South LNG project implementation phase in a consortium headed up by Italian company Eni.
It will be an offshore platform.
Texas-based Anadarko signed an agreement to establish an onshore facility near Pemba.
The Mocimboa Alliance will be able to provide diving, materials handling, clearing and forwarding, ships agency, waste management and environmental services, according to Emerton.
According to Alpha group director, Arif Kurji, the Mombasa-based company has invested in a set of multipurpose vessels capable of handling the shallow draft conditions in the region, where the continental shelf stretches far out to sea.
The investment includes multi-purpose specialised landing crafts, barges, shallow vessels, and jack-ups suited for the Afungi area.
Neil Scott Williams, managing director of Subtech Inshore adds, “Subtech has been established in Mozambique for 15 years and has developed a world class maritime services offering through local investment and skills development”.
