Fuelled up for potential oil and gas boom

Drilling platforms anchored off Walvis Bay are a daily reminder of the impact of the plummeting oil price on the expected gas and oil-fuelled boom in the port city. Logistics companies like Manica Group Namibia, which had established dedicated teams to assist the exploration and production companies, have scaled down. Manica, which is part of Bidvest Namibia and comprises 14 companies, has the advantage of being able to retain the skills by assigning the project team members back to their original departments, says acting managing director Patrick Kohlstaedt. “Thanks to our specialised vertical structure we are able to align our services to meet the needs of different customers, while retaining the core competencies required by the oil and gas sector for when the companies return in full force. “Team members stay current with the latest developments in the logistics field by continuing to work on major projects and accounts. “This means we will continue to be able to find the right one-stop solution for clients from the oil and gas and other sectors,” he says.