Oil and gas sector offers major opportunity

Opportunities for exporters servicing Africa’s mining sector will always exist but it is in the growing oil and gas sector where the real possibilities lie. While countries like Nigeria and Angola have been pumping oil for years, there has been renewed interest in recent times. The major gas finds off the coast of Mozambique and Tanzania are sparking particular interest and experts maintain that Africa’s oil and gas story is just beginning. “The oil and gas industry on the continent is definitely growing and that brings major opportunities for South African businesses willing to operate in these markets which traditionally may not have been on our radar,” says Keith Govender, chief services and support officer for Nautic Africa. The Cape Town-based shipbuilding and maritime solutions business has seen major success servicing the oil industry in Africa, predominantly supplying support and security vessels for oilrigs. It is a very specific market though, says Govender, where the pressure to deliver is high and the room for error zero. “Understanding the African operating environment is important for exporters to ensure they are delivering a product that meets the specific market needs and requirements,” explains Govender. “We realised very quickly that we needed to design a vessel that had a multi-purpose function as this was an essential requirement in the oil and gas sector. Security of vessels and crew was another major concern that had to be addressed.” Finding customised solutions for these African conundrums is what ensures longevity in the market place. “It’s a market that requires diligence and patience along with the ability and willingness to invest,” he says. At Nautic Africa this has gone a long way in pushing up sales. “Our ability to deliver solutions-based products with on-the-ground service and support is what has made the difference.” Even more so in the tough competitive world that is oil and gas. For the Nautic Africa team meeting the needs of the oil and gas industry meant finding a ballistic protection system for vessels that would ensure the safety and security of both the crew and the vessel while at the same time developing fast deployable interceptor vessels that could respond quickly to situations at sea. INSERT & CAPTION We realise very quickly that we needed to design a vessel that had a multi-purpose function as this was an essential requirement in the oil and gas sector. – Keith Govender