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SU_19:Layout 1 1/9/08 10:22 Page 1 Universo Dancing to the AUTUMN 2008 same beat

Why and are the best of friends

Call of the wild Driving ambition Animals return to Sonangol’s fast track OIL AND GAS Kissama National Park to Formula 1 NEWS pages 38-51 SU_19:Layout 1 1/9/08 10:23 Page 2

THE BIG PICTURE CONTENTS

Name: Kikongo LANGUAGES Not forgotten: elephants in AKA: Quicongo, Congo, Kongo Kissama park, p24 Spoken by: Bakongo Sonangol Department for Cabinda Number of speakers: 1m Communication & Image Name: Useful phrase: “How are you?” Director Mbanza translates as “Unam m’bote?” AKA: Quimbundo Congo Spoken by: João Rosa Santos Numbers of speakers: 2m Zaire Corporate Communications Word fact: The name Angola Uíge Assistants comes from the Kimbundu ngola, Cristina de Novaes, meaning king Raimundo Vilares Uíge Bengo

Caxito Name: Publisher AKA: Umbundo Sheila O’Callaghan Luanda Kwanza Norte Lunda Norte Spoken by: Ovimbundo Number of speakers: 4m Editor Ndalatando Alex Bellos Malanje Useful phrase: “What's this?” translates as “Eci nye?” Art Director David Gould Lunda Sul Calulo Sub Editor Kwanza Sul Ron Gribble Advertising Design Bernd Wojtczack Bié Luena Circulation Manager Kuito Matthew Alexander Huambo Group President Benguela John Charles Gasser Name: Tchokwé Project Consultant AKA: Ciokwe, Cokwe, Shioko, Nathalie MacCarthy

Quioco, Djok, Tschiokloe istockphoto.com/David T Gomez Huíla Spoken by: Lunda-Tchokwé This magazine is produced for Number of speakers: Sonangol by Impact Media Letter from the editor 4 850,000 Custom Publishing. The views Sonangol News Namibe Culture: The Tchokwé are expressed in the publication are recognised as highly skilled not necessarily those of Sonangol Readers’ letters 5 Namibe craftsman, in particular in or the publishers. Reproduction in Briefing 38 Kuando Kubango sculpture. whole or in part without prior Angola news briefing 6 Cunene permission is prohibited. 40 This magazine is distributed to a COVER STORY: ANGOLA AND BRAZIL 8 closed circulation. To receive a The ties that bind us 10 copy please contact [email protected] Aiding the fight against HIV 16 n Angola more than 40 African languages are spoken in addition to Portuguese. They can be divided into those that are Name: Nganguela A long way from home 18 IBantu and non-Bantu in origin. The non- are a AKA: Nkangala, Ngangala, Cangala Name: Ovandonga minority and spread among the more remote areas of the coun- Spoken by: Vangangela AKA: Ndonga, Ambo André Vieira try. Of the Bantu languages, the largest group is the Mbundu, to Number of speakers: 180.000 Spoken by: Oshindonga, King of the Island 20 which both Umbundu and Kimbundu belong. Our house 40 Ovambo 53 Chandos Place, Big Soba tells all Kimbundu is the language most spoken in Luanda after Number of speakers: London WC2N 4HS Gala opening of the new HQ Portuguese, and has had a most noticeable influence on calao, Name: 200,000 Tel + 44 20 7812 6400 24 the Afro-Portuguese heard on the streets of the capital. It is the Noah’s Ark in the Park AKA: Otjidhimba Fax +44 20 7812 6413 Heave-ho and 44 root of the words kamba (friend) and candongueiro (informal How Kissama grew again Spoken by: Dhimba [email protected] taxis, deriving from the Kimbundu for “illegal trade”). Umbundu up she rises Number of speakers: 18,000 Name: Oshikwanyama is the native language with the most number of speakers in AKA: Oxikwnyama, Cover: Angolans Baiano and Va va voom 30 A world first at Pazflor Angola. , Kwanyama Bola 8 playing capoeira, picture Ricardo Teixeira steps on the gas Here we show eight of the largest ethno-linguistic groups and Spoken by: Ovakwanyama by André Vieira. Directory 50 the languages spoken by them, in their native regions. Number of speakers: glorious food 34 Ana de Sousa 400,000 The dishes of Angola Offshore blocks 51

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OVERVIEW READER’S LETTERS

Winning spirit Dear Sir Congratulations on your article about the Olympic rower Fortunato Pacavira. His story is sensational. We Angolans may be poor but we are rich in spirit and health, and full of desire to win for the country. How is it possible when this kid Pacavira just eats fish and the others eat caviar? Thanks to everyone at Universo. Alex Bellos João Ntyamba Olympic athlete (pictured below)

Letter from the editor André Vieira Gateway to opportunity received a grant from the US State Dear Sir Department to attend the Georgetown As one of the participants in the BP-spon- University Senior Leadership Seminar, its Emerging together sored postgraduate Master of Law degree most prestigious programme for senior (LL.M) in oil and gas law at Agostinho Neto business executives. University, I read the recent Universo feature This seminar gave me the opportunity Laying Down the Law with great interest. to meet influential US policymakers in eturning from the G8 Summit in return for oil, is helping with the coun- seabed in Angolan waters. While the article focused on one of the Washington DC and to interact with other Japan this summer, Brazilian try’s reconstruction by sending over In this issue, we look at how Angola more innovative aspects of the Masters participants with similar academic inter- RPresident Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvas thousands of skilled labourers. South is leading the world in implementing the degree, the mock arbitration (pictured), ests who hailed from all corners of the made an impromptu stop off in Luanda. Africa, as the most economically-power- latest technology to maximise efficiency there probably was not enough space to globe. Such an opportunity almost cer- On this occasion he did not leave the ful African nation, is an important trading and production from deepwater fields. devote to other benefits that the programme tainly would not have arisen were it not for plane, but his Foreign Minister Celso partner and political ally. And then there The Pazflor project in Total’s Block 17 will has generated. For instance, directly as a the Angolan LL.M programme. Amorim met with Angola’s Prime Minister is Brazil, the emerging giant of South be the world’s largest subsea separation result of my participation in a public LL.M- In a more general sense, the pro- Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos. It America. network, in which gas and liquid are sep- sponsored Business Ethics Roundtable, I gramme has created a tight-knit network

is the third time that Lula has been in In this issue, we have a special report arated in giant vessels on the seabed. Carlos Villalon among the participants who come from Angola since he became president and on the relationship between Angola and Angola’s political stability, which has various segments of the industry, private shows the strengthening of links between Brazil – the two most populous allowed international companies to work law practice and government. The result the two countries. Portuguese-speaking nations. Lula with Sonangol in exploration and produc- China syndrome come home from Beijing with medals or has been enhanced communication, co- It also illustrates a wider point. Brazil emerged from the anti-dictatorship union tion, has had an unintended result – the Dear Sir not, I think all Angolans can be proud to operation and camaraderie among is not a member of the G8, which is the movement of the 1970s. At that time, country this year became the largest oil Thank you be represented by such hardworking com- mid-level legal practitioners in these vari- group of the world’s richest industrialised Angola’s future president José Eduardo producer in Africa. Nigeria, which was for the petitors. ous institutions. countries. But Brazil was given a special dos Santos was himself involved in the top producer, is beset with a difficult colourful and Angolans might consider themselves In short, the LL.M programme has invite to the summit as one of the major struggle against the Portuguese colonial guerrilla insurgency which has caused oil informative to have strengths only in football and bas- given a large group of lawyers and other emerging economies together with India, masters. In power, both men have production levels to plummet. For the articles in ketball, but these articles show our sports industry participants the opportunity to China, Mexico and . No become less ideological leaders and, foreseeable future, it is expected that your summer scene is wide and diverse. I hope future receive the type of post-graduate legal longer can the G8 ignore these nations – rather than old-style comrades, they are Angola will keep its place as the number edition about stars find inspiration in these stories. education from highly-qualified professors the speed of their growth is helping now practical politicians. As our report one oil supplier on the continent. Angola’s Jaime Morais and practitioners that in the past was only reshape the world order. shows, the links between the countries Sonangol’s success is embodied in its Olympic Luanda available overseas and at a prohibitive Like most of the underdeveloped and are not just cultural and historical – new Luanda headquarters, which recently hopefuls. cost. Thank you for bringing public atten-

developing world, Angola has had to rely Angola and Brazil are partners in busi- had a red-carpet gala opening attended André Vieira The stories of tion to this beneficial programme through on the “developed” nations for finance ness, industry and finance. by President dos Santos and an entourage José Sayovo (right), João Ntyamba and your informative and timely article. and expertise. Western know-how has Brazil has recently become the most of government politicians. The building is Fortunato Pacavira (above) are truly Susana Ramos been invaluable in the oil sector, and it is exciting area for oil exploration in the shiny and modern – a local landmark and inspiring and a reminder to all about BP Angola the rich nations who buy most of the oil world after a massive pre-salt discovery a powerful symbol of Sonangol’s pride the wonder of the Olympic Games. and diamonds that the country produces. was announced last year. Since Angolan and self-confidence. A big building for a Well done Universo for highlight- We welcome your opinions. If you would like But this is changing. China, South offshore geology is similar to Brazil’s, this country with big hopes. ing the efforts and toils of these to have a letter published, please email Africa and Brazil are now of crucial has meant that even more attention has amazing sportsmen. Whether they [email protected]. Letters may André Vieira importance to Angola’s future. China, in been turned to what may lie under the [email protected] be edited for length.

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Angola news briefing Entente cordiale 16.2 % Expected growth in GDP for 2008, French President Nicolas according to a report by the Episcopal Sarkozy visited Angola in May Commission on Justice and Peace. where he met President dos Cuba libre Santos and pledged to improve ties between France and Angola. Angola is helping Cuba with economic lib- In the visit lasting a few hours, Philippe Wojazer/Reuters chiefs in Lunda Norte eralisation in the light of President Fidel President Sarkozy said that province have been Castro’s resignation in February, according French development and loan agencies would be returning to Angola and that given motorcycles by to news reports in Luanda. Politicians and France would build a new embassy in Luanda. The two leaders signed four co- the government to bureaucrats in the Caribbean island have operation and development accords in the area of health, sanitation, higher make it easier for them been studying the legal framework adopted education and instruction. Sarkozy also invited dos Santos to to get around their in Angola’s transition from Marxist state to visit France next year. rural areas. capitalist economy. Since Cuba came to Angola’s aid during the civil war, there is a 9 feeling that Angola should return the favour now that Cuba needs it, said the Novo Flying high Jornal. Higino Carneiro, Angola’s Minister of Public Works, is acting as the emissary of The Angolan Government is Donation the World President José Eduardo dos Santos. Cuba investing more than $400 mil- $4m Environment Fund needs help in learning how to create private lion in the rehabilitation of the will give to finance the rehabilitation and joint public-private businesses that will country’s airports. The project of Angola’s national parks and natural lead the island from its isolation and state- will include the airports in reserves. controlled financial system. Angola’s Huambo, Benguela, Cabinda, booming economy could provide several Lubango, Luena, Kuíto, Saurimo examples of how this can be achieved with- and Dundo. The government

out causing chaos. istockphoto.com/Andrew F Kazmierski will also invest in air-navigation equipment. Number of shops that Linking up the Nosso Super super- market chain hopes to More than 70,000 telephone lines are being 31 have open by the end of installed in Luanda in a partnership project the year, in all 18 provinces. with Angola Telecom, Nokia and Siemens. The lines are part of an expanded fibre-optics net- work whose services will include basic communications, broadband internet and connections between service providers. istockphoto.com/David Joyner istockphoto.com/Cristina Almeida 3.4% Year on year inflation in Luanda. Dam nation Biggest bank German wheels Angola’s electricity needs will be Banco Africano de Investimentos achieved by the building of five new Carmaker Volkswagen intends to set up a (BAI) has become the largest hydroelectric dams and the modernisa- factory in Angola, said members of bank in Angola, in terms of tion of three others, according to a plan Germany’s parliament during a visit to assets, growing 58 per cent in 2007 and now having $3.7 announced by the Ministry of Energy Luanda. The German government also $774m billion of liquid assets. BAI was the first bank in Angola and Water. The total cost is estimated at plans to open a trade office in Angola. Value of investments made by the with primarily Angolan capital. Already involved in part- $8.4 billion. The lion’s share, $7.3 billion, istockphoto.com/Shaun Lowe Parliamentarian Kurt Rossmanith said European Union in Angola. About $330 nerships in Brazil and São Tomé and Príncipe, it is expected will be spent on projects on the River that Germany was also interested in investing in the agricultural, construction million has been made available for to open offices in Cape Verde and this year. Kwanza, with the rest on dams on the and services sectors. future undertakings. rivers and Cunene. istockphoto.com

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Friendly fixture: a woman wearing a Brazil football SPECIAL REPORT: top shops at Luanda’s Roque Santeiro market, ANGOLA AND BRAZIL which is named after a Brazilian telenovela Picture by André Vieira

shared past, Ashared future Angola and Brazil’s histories are deeply entwined. In the following pages we look at how these cultural ties have led to strong business partnerships and co-opera- tion between the two coun- tries – and now a venture in the search for oil. By Alex Bellos

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BRAZIL IN ANGOLA

Top table: Presidents dos colonised by Portugal and during the Santos and Lula slave era many Angolans were shipped together in 2005 Brazil is increasingly off to work on plantations in Brazil. Estimates put it that more than two mil- a partner of Angola. lion Angolans were exported as slaves. So and Angola is many Africans arrived in Brazil that it is now the country with the largest black increasingly a population in the world after Nigeria. Portuguese colonial history differs “partner of Brazil.” greatly from the colonial history of Afonso Cardoso, Brazilian Britain and France – where the colonisers ambassador in Luanda remained powerful global players. Brazil declared independence from Portugal in the 19th century, and in the 20th century REUTERS/Jamil Bittar it became the dominant country in the razil and Angola have a lot in com- areas,” says Afonso Cardoso, the -speaking world. While the mon. They are the two most ambassador to Angola. “In fact, I am sur- Portuguese kept political control of Bpopulous Portuguese-speaking prised every day by discovering new Angola until just three decades ago, Brazil countries. They share a common history instances of co-operation. You see and Angola had a lot more in common of colonisation and slavery. Many Brazilian companies everywhere here. culturally. Brazil was the first country to Brazilians have Angolan heritage. And Brazil is increasingly a partner of Angola, recognise the independence of Angola in both nations are addicted to the same and Angola is increasingly a partner of 1975. The influence of Brazilian music television station, Brazil’s TV Globo. Brazil.” and TV is very obvious here; the market There is another, frequently over- Brazil and Angola’s histories are Roque Santeiro, for example, is named looked link: offshore geology. Millions of deeply entwined. Both countries were after a famous Brazilian telenovela.  years ago, Brazil and Angola were joined, before continental drift pulled them apart and the Atlantic appeared between them. This has left them with related rock Felipe Dylong We take Miss Angola very seriously. The current formations and deposits under the sea Aged: 52 holder of the title now lives in a flat by the office, so along their coastlines. It is no surprise, Job: Organiser of Miss Angola we can make sure she has the best help. We teach therefore, that oil has been found off- her manners and etiquette, and she has total support shore in both Brazilian and Angolan from Ana Paula dos Santos, the First Lady. We want waters. ’m from Rio to show Angolan society that being Miss Angola is In recent years, the ties between and when I an excellent opportunity. Angola and Brazil have been strength- Iwas Angola is now doing better in international beauty ened. This is because there have been younger I was a profes- pageants than it ever has before. Last year, Miss changes on both sides. No longer at war, sional surfer. I then started Angola was runner-up in . This year, we Angola has been able to enter the inter- a surf-clothes label and took part in Miss Tourism Queen International, which national community and strengthen launched a microbrewery. I is the third pageant in importance after Miss World bipartisan links with other countries. came to Angola ten years and . We sent the third-placed candi- Brazil, under President Luiz Inácio Lula ago to see if I could start a date from Miss Angola and she came sixth overall, da Silva, has made links with Africa a microbrewery here, but it didn’t work out. We and won Miss Tourism Queen Africa. major priority of its foreign policy. wanted to be part of the launch of a new neigh- We have a plan to bring Miss Universe to Luanda The world’s economic and political bourhood, Luanda Sul. There was nothing there. But in 2011. I am already doing the lobbying for this centres of gravity are slowly shifting too. to have a brewery, what you need more than any- with the organisers. It will really put Angola on the The rise of China, India – and Brazil – has thing else is water and this“ was difficult. world map. meant that the developing world no I am also an events organiser. I used to bring the It is important to get Angolans involved and I am longer looks exclusively to the West for big telenovela stars and singers over from Brazil to putting an Angolan in charge of the day-to-day run- technological, financial and cultural lead- take part in the Miss Angola event. But then, two ning of the committee. ership. The new relationship between years ago, the woman who ran it suddenly died, so I like the Angolan people. They are friendly and Brazil and Angola is a perfect example of High voltage: my company ended up taking over the organisation receptive, principally to Brazilians. I even have my the new world order. the Capanda dam was of the Miss Angola Committee and I moved over surfboards here and try to go surfing as much as I Brazilian company “Today, there is co-operation Odebrecht’s first project here to live. can. The waves are amazing. I’m in Angola to stay.” between Angola and Brazil in almost all in Angola André Vieira

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BRAZIL IN ANGOLA

Fatima Evangelista Aged: 43 Job: Fitness trainer

Luxury life: The Riviera condominium and (below) the Belas Shopping mall are two icons of Luanda Sul André Vieira

Ambassador Cardoso says: “Brazil needs to see Angola as what it is – another neighbour. But instead of being was working as a personal trainer and fitness instructor in next door, there is a small river between Brasilia, but the pay wasn’t very good there. I visited a cousin us. We have 500 years of common history. Iwho was living in Luanda and it was after that trip that I decided We are very close to each other.” to leave Brazil and come to live here. I moved in 1995 and now Since President Lula was inaugu- have residency, so I suppose I’m almost Angolan. rated in 2003, he has made two official Here I can earn more money than I could back home. There is plenty of work for trips to Angola and the Brazilian embassy me. Lots of women come here with their husbands who are working and they want to in Luanda is committed to doubling its for domestic projects. Angola decided to attend fitness classes and have training sessions. I teach classes and I do one-to-one staff. “Angola and Africa are priorities for set up one too, the BDA, which was personal training as well. I think on average that I do about 25 hours of classes and Brazil. We are both developing countries. inspired by the Brazilian model, and it training a week. We see the world in similar ways. It is a was specialists from the BNDES who I really like my job because you get to meet so many people from many different message of mutual trust. We are looking came over to help set it up. Brazil may places. My clients are from all over the world; the UK, the US, Italy, France, Lebanon, forward to a rich co-operation with have the reputation as a Third World South Africa, everywhere. I suppose I should speak lots of languages by now, but I Angola,” Cardoso says. country, but it has world-class financial tend to stick to Portuguese and English. It is estimated that there are 20,000 experts, scientists, academics and indus- Luanda is a very international city and very diverse, and I being a part of it. I . This community is trialists. have a British boyfriend who is working here for a tour company. There are a lot of made up essentially of highly-qualified Odebrecht is one of the world’s

Brazilians in Angola, I suppose because of the language, but a lot are working in con- professionals – teachers, consultants, largest construction groups. It was also André Vieira struction and other industries because Brazilian companies have contracts here. It engineers, executives and business peo- one of the first Brazilian companies to means I feel quite at home here because there are other Brazilians to meet and spend ple. The most obvious way being work in Angola. It has had a stronger crucial piece of national infrastructure. supplies electricity to Malanje and time with, and there are always parties being organised and things going on. Brazilian helps in Angola is the common hand in helping the reconstruction of the The Capanda dam, in Malanje, was a Luanda. “Obviously Brazil is my home and I think I will go back there one day, but right now language. Yet there are other advantages. country than any other private company. giant project. The dam is 110m high and For the 1980s, Odebrecht’s only pres- I’m enjoying myself too much. I do miss my mother’s cheese , but there are Brazil and Angola share similar expe- Odebrecht arrived in Angola in 1984 almost a mile wide. Building it was ence was at Capanda. In the 1990s, plenty of Brazilian restaurants here so I don’t do too badly.” riences. For example, Brazil set up a to build the first dam and hydroelectrical fraught with problems because of the however, it expanded into other activities special development bank, the BNDES, power station on the Kwanza River – a war, but it is now up and running and in planning, house building, urban 

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BRAZIL IN ANGOLA

of oil, and gas. The Tupi field was the Angola. “Ninety per cent of Petrobras Manoel Pires Separated at birth world’s largest discovery for several years reserves in Brazil are in deepwaters, so we Aged: 26 and could turn Brazil into one of the have put a lot of effort into developing world’s largest oil producers. It was the end of technology to produce hydrocarbons Job: English teacher and owner This has had a knock-on effect on from these depths,” says da Silva. of language school in Huambo attitudes to Angola. The Tupi field is the world. Now The recent pre-salt discoveries were South Africa below the salt layer. Because the geology a double piece of good fortune. “When America off the coast of Brazil is very similar to the you have an we decided to go for the [Angolan] geology off the coast of Angola, this has blocks, there were no tangible pre-salt increased excitement that there could be explosion of the results from Brazil. But now this pre-salt more oil than was previously thought population here. data exists, we are now revisiting Angola y parents underneath the salt layer in Angolan “ for data on deeper waters.” The world is are waters too. In a few years, really taking Angola seriously, he adds. Marchitects The continents of Africa and South America used to be connected before This comes at a time when Petrobras “There is a huge interest in Sonangol. and they came to they drifted apart over the last 200 million years is expanding globally, especially in Africa. there will be Maybe the motive of this is the pre-salt Angola before “Either we are in a country to be a big results.” me. I first came out to see them four player, or we do not go in at all,” says 300,000 peo- Petrobras is investing massively in years ago. I’m really interested in lan- development, agriculture and mining. president Emílio Odebrecht said, after an Hercules da Silva, president of Petrobras gearing its Brazilian fields into produc- guages and I saw that there weren’t Odebrecht now employs more than audience with President José Eduardo in Angola. ple living here.” tion. “Our problem now is human any dedicated language schools here 25,000 people (of whom 23,000 are dos Santos, that the company had Petrobras has been involved in resources,” says da Silva. “We have 40 at the time like there“ were back in Angolan), making it probably the largest invested $600 million in Angola. Angola since the 1970s, when it had a Humberto Rangel, Odebrecht’s drilling rigs in construction – that is half Brazil. So I had the idea to contact private employer in Angola. It also paved A new initiative Odebrecht is work- small investment in Block 2. In the 1980s, business development director of all the deepwater drilling rigs in pro- Fisk, which is one of Brazil’s biggest the way for many more Brazilian con- ing on, in partnership with Sonangol, is it was an investor in Block 4, and in 2001 duction in the world.” The Angolan language school chains, and ask for struction companies to come to Angola. to develop biofuels. Already they have a it invested in Block 34. It was only in the blocks are still at the stage of interpreting the franchise. One very visible feature of nursery where they have planted different 2006 licensing round that it made a mas- metres of land at the Sonils base in the seismic data, although Petrobras is In 2006, I opened the school in Odebrecht’s work in Angola is Luanda types of sugar cane to work out which sive push to enter Angola as an operator. Luanda, which is expected to be ready at expecting to make the first tests on the Huambo. I decided on the city Sul, the new suburb of the capital which one grows best in the local climate and It won the licence to operate three blocks the end of the year. It is also scheduled to wells at the end of this year. because, as well as it being the for- has new condos and a shopping mall. soil. The project will be tested on a – 18/06, 6/06 and 26 – putting it in the big start drilling its first operated block in Brazil and Angola have a shared past. mer student and university capital, it Odebrecht has its head office here, too. 30,000-hectare plot of arable land in league. “It achieved our strategic goals,” Nigeria later this year. They will have a very close, shared future was also the most affected by the war. “When I arrived here in 2004, the whole Malanje. says da Silva. Petrobras is currently build- Petrobras’s expertise is in deepwater, too. The house we chose for the school place was a building site,” says Humberto Humberto Rangel says that the cul- ing an enormous base on 38,000 square which puts it in a good position in had been abandoned for 30 years. Rangel, Odebrecht’s business develop- tural ties that bind Brazil and Angola give It has gone really well. So far, ment director. “It was the end of the Brazilian companies an advantage. more than 600 students have come world. Now you have an explosion of the “Brazil has always had a strong link with here, and we have almost 250 study- population here. In a few years, there will Angola. Brazil is seen as an elder cousin.” ing at the moment. We are planning be 300,000 people living here.” The Brazilian and Angolan govern- to open our second school in Luanda Luanda Sul is symbolic of the type of ments are co-operating in agriculture and Is it a dance? Is it a martial art? next January. We want to expand all place that Angola aims to be and an environmental protection, and there is over Angola. example of how foreign companies are even a new joint venture about managing At Fisk we just teach English. Many co-operating to help them get there. cultural heritage. There are Brazilian Well, both... Angolans really need to learn English Odebrecht gave the Angolan government restaurants, and Ivete Sangalo, one of to help them get better jobs. I’m the the technical know-how to make Luanda Brazil’s top pop singers, recently flew in Capoeira – which features on the cover of this issue of Universo – is one only non-Angolan at my school. The Sul possible. In the early 1990s, there was to perform a concert at the national sta- of Brazil’s best known inventions. It is practiced by two people and the other four teachers are all Angolans just open space. Odebrecht helped divide dium. Interclube, which won the aim is not to touch your opponent but instead interplay feints, punches and who learnt English when living up the area, sell parts of it to private football championship last year, was kicks that narrowly miss and to create a beautiful, rhythmic spectacle. abroad, in , South Africa and developers and maintain an overall plan. managed by Carlos Mozer, a Brazilian. Capoeira originated in the slave houses in colonial Brazil, probably as a Britain. Today, it has the best accommodation in Football, of , is what Brazil is modification of dances already performed in Africa. While no one is I think that Brazilians are very well Luanda. Condominiums such as Riviera most famous for: the nation has won the absolutely sure as to the origin, it is likely that it came from Angolan received here because Angolans look like they could be in Europe or the World Cup more times than anyone else. slaves. In Brazil, the most traditional form is called Capoeira Angola. really like Brazilian culture. I feel like United States. Yet Brazil has been making the headlines Capoeira in recent years has become popular all around the world, espe- a pioneer. Angola is a place full of Odebrecht is also building many recently for something else – oil and gas. cially as a way to keep fit and flexible. In the picture are the Angolans opportunities. There are many chal- roads, installing water-treatment facilities Last November, Brazil’s state hydro- João Sebastião Antônio, nicknamed Baiano, and local capoeira teacher lenges but it is worth it. I really like it in Luanda and the provinces, and plan- carbons company Petrobras announced Manuel Mário Andrade, nicknamed Bola 8. here. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t stay. ning neighbourhoods of social housing. that it had discovered an oil field that

” André Vieira When visiting Luanda in June, company held between five to eight billion barrels

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tion rates are sometimes as high as one in to Brazil but kept in touch three of the adult population. with Angolan colleagues. In Aids in Sub-Saharan Africa Angola is considered to have the low- 2002, a delegation from the est infection rate in the region. A survey Angolan Health Ministry Percentage of 15 to 49-year-olds who are HIV Winning the of pregnant women in 2007 showed that visited Brazil on a fact-find- positive (with world ranking) just 3.1 per cent were HIV positive. The ing mission about Aids reasons for this low level are directly prevention and treatment, 1. Swaziland 33.4 related to the civil war, when the move- and Dr Moraes Filho 2. Botswana 24.1 ment of people was restricted and so the explained to them the 3. Lesotho 23.2 4. 20.1 virus could not spread as easily as in Brazilian experience. war on Aids 5. Namibia 19.6 other countries. “Sharing the same lan- 6. South Africa 18.8 Another explanation for the smaller guage was an advantage, but 7. Zambia 17.0 scale of the epidemic is that the authori- more than this Brazil has looked at . urse Maria Joaquina Lopes stands Fewer than one in 60 babies born to HIV-positive ties have been more progressive in the problem for a long time. And we . in the yard of the Augusto mothers in Angola are likely to have the virus – dealing with the crisis. The National are both third world countries, with 20. Angola 3.7 NNgangula Maternity Unit in cen- thanks to a programme of treatment pioneered by a Institute for the Fight Against Aids, for precarious public-health systems, so tral Luanda and calls out a name to the example, is applying its resources so suc- there were other similarities,” he says. Source: UNAIDS 2005 By Alex Bellos crowd of pregnant women waiting. Brazilian team of medical workers. cessfully that the Global Fund For Aids Dr Moraes Filho moved back to A mum-to-be identifies herself and is has suggested that it will double the Angola to consult for the National led into a small surgery. The nurse asks amount of money Angola receives. Institute for the Fight Against Aids. He anti- the woman to lie on a bed and conducts For historic reasons, Cuba is the elaborated the programme at Augusto retrovirals some tests to make sure the pregnancy is country which has had most involvement Ngangula and, with a team of seven other intravenously to diminish the progressing well. It is not unlike any pre- in Angola’s public-health infrastructure. Brazilians, began training Angolans. Since virus in their bodies. For the first six natal check-up anywhere else in the There were also strong links between 2003, when the programme started, more weeks after the birth, the baby gets the world. medics in Angola and the Soviet Union than 1,600 health professionals, including antiretroviral AZT in syrup. The difference here is that the and Portugal. doctors, nurses and lab technicians, have “The chances of the baby having the woman is HIV positive. You wouldn’t Yet when it came to Aids, the one been trained. virus are reduced to 1.6 per cent. This is know it though. No one mentions the country which has been able to help Dr Moraes Filho is keen to stress that even better than Brazil, where the chance words HIV or Aids. There is no sign on the more than any other has been Brazil. he did not implement a Brazilian plan in is 3 per cent,” says Dr Moraes Filho. wall that says “HIV patients” and even the Brazil has been the most radical Angola. Everything was adapted so it The Angolan government provides woman’s medical card makes no mention country in combating its own HIV/Aids suited the local conditions and culture. all the medicines for free. Dr Moraes of the virus. issues. It was the first country in the “You cannot import a programme. You Filho proudly shows a cabinet full of bot- There is a stigma attached to women world to offer free antiretroviral medi- have to develop one here,” he says. tles and boxes: “Before, all these would in Angolan society who have Aids. One of Listening to locals: cines to people with HIV, and it was an “Our first objective was to become have disappeared and then reappeared at the Brazilian method was the practices of the HIV programme here to adapt the programme aggressive campaigner in producing part of the hospital. We have to become Roque Santeiro market. Now they stay is to protect those who are infected, so to Angolan needs cheaper generic medicines that forced part of the process or else we are nothing. here.” He takes this as the measure of that they are not afraid to attend the the international pharmaceutical com- We never said that we can do anything respect that the staff and patients have clinic. panies to lower their prices. better than them. We have to work for the HIV project. Another difference with the treat- “We are a developing coun- together.” The programme does not just run in ment at Augusto Ngangula is that it try, and we did something that For example, when a pregnant Luanda. “When we started, there were produces quite remarkable results for the developed world said was woman comes to the maternity just four Aids diagnostic and treatment Sub-Saharan Africa. If the infected impossible – which was to clinic she will be offered an HIV centres. Now there are 59. There used to mother follows the entire programme have universal and free treat- test. Almost all accept. The test that be just three testing centres. Now there though pregnancy and birth, the chance ment for HIV. We showed that is used gives a result in 15 minutes. are 168,” he says. of her child also being HIV positive is less it was possible to do it,” In other parts of the world, where As the work becomes more estab- than one in 60. says Dr Enadio Moraes there is better energy supply and lished, the influence of the Brazilians is Aids is possibly Africa’s biggest crisis. Filho (right), a Brazilian more chemicals available, lessening. Although Brazilians still make More than 20 million Africans are who was in charge of another type of test is used. up the largest share of foreigners at the believed to be infected with HIV. The setting up the HIV Pregnant women National Institute for the Fight Against problem is compounded by the failure of programme at who are HIV positive Aids, the overwhelming majority of work- some governments to support and pro- Augusto Ngangula. will start to be given ers are now Angolans. “The only way of mote proper prevention and treatment Aged 53, he came medicines in the guaranteeing sustainability is by making projects. The situation in Angola, how- to Angola in 1986 while 14th week of preg- sure the work is done by Angolans,” says ever, is different from its neighbours in working as a doctor for nancy. From the 28th Dr Moraes Filho. Central and Southern Africa, where infec- Odebrecht. He went back week they will be given All pictures by André Vieira

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ANGOLA IN BRAZIL Roads to Rio: Angelo Monteiro in front of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, below, and Abel Duerê, centre left, flanked by two Angolan musicians t was 1976 and with the civil war rag- eastern capital city, which was one of the and raised in the Luanda suburb of ing in , a small coastal biggest destinations for slaves brought in and arrived in Brazil in 1999 Icity 250km from Luanda, 15-year-old from Angola during the Portuguese colo- with his Angolan wife and son. Angelo Monteiro packed his bags and nial rule. “I heard the music and I Today, Dias lives in the Complexo da prepared for a new life. thought: ‘That’s the music of my land’. It Maré and is currently preparing to fea- “We left because it was becoming gave me a huge desire to show the ture in the first Angolan telenovela, partly too dangerous,” he remembers of the Brazilians our music, our culture, and I shot in Rio. A partnership between conflict that was then tearing through his started to dedicate myself to music.” Televisão Pública de Angola (TPA) and homeland. “My father said to us: ‘I don’t Duerê describes himself as a “cul- the Brazilian TV Record network, the want to lose my kids’.” tural ambassador” for Angola. He runs a soap is being written by Margareth Boury, Several weeks later, young Angelo regular Angolan music night called a renowned Brazilian screenplay writer. It about Brazil woke up thousands of miles away on the Kizomba in the city’s cultural centre, tells the story of an Angolan boy who, Nutsbut other side of the Atlantic Ocean in Lapa, and splits what remains of his time having fled the war in his own country longing for home Botucatu, a small, practically unheard of between a chic bathroom fittings show- and moved to Brazil, is faced with the town located in the interior of the room in the Western neighbourhood of dilemma of returning to help rebuild Brazilian state of São Paulo, where his Barra da Tijuca and his career as a singer- Angola or staying put in South America. father found work as a forest warden. songwriter. He recently signed a record The telenovela, a clear sign of grow- Thirty years on and Monteiro, now deal with the Som Livre label and fre- ing cultural ties between the two 48, who today works as a musician in Rio quently performs in Brazil and back in countries, is due to be broadcast in 2009. de Janeiro singing songs from Angola, Angola alongside musicians such as “The problem where I live is security, but Cape Verde and Brazil, still calls South Waldemar Bastos. I have things that many people with America home. much more education don’t have in “People say I’m the most Angola,” says Dias. Brazilian Angolan they’ve ever Both Duerê and Dias agree that, seen,” beams Monteiro, who is despite the end of Angola’s civil war better known in Brazil by his in 2002, many Brazil-based Angolans nickname Angelo Angolano. “But remain reluctant to return. The long- then again, I have been here 32 ings, however, remain. Surrounded years – a whole life.” by dozens of designer hand basins in Monteiro is one member of his shop, Duerê becomes misty-eyed a small but vibrant expat as he tries to locate the street where Angolan community in South he was raised in Benguela on Google America’s largest country. Exact Earth. figures are hard to come by but “This is the football pitch where All pictures by Douglas Engle most Angolans suggest there are I used to play and this is my house,” between 5,000 and 10,000 Angolans living Like Duerê, the majority of Angolan he says, pinpointing his childhood home. in Brazil. expats chose Rio de Janeiro as their Monteiro, meanwhile, says he The last 40 years have seen an home, although others can be found in intends to return home to try and estab- almost constant influx of Angolans to cities such as São Paulo, Belo Horizonte lish a cultural exchange programme Brazil for all manner of reasons – from and Salvador. The single largest Angolan between Brazil and Angola. “I think that fleeing the civil war to looking for a uni- community of around 2,000 people is Brazil – where 70 per cent of the slaves Ever since the slave trade versity education, plastic-surgery found in the sprawling Complexo da came from Angola – should get to know treatment or finding work in the tourism Maré shantytown, near Rio’s international our country more,” he says. Brazil has had ties with Angola. industry. airport, where the sound of Kimbundu “Here people listen to a lot of Today, up to 10,000 Angolans “Brazil was always a dream for us can be heard echoing through the back- American music and English music, but have settled there. Many fled because of the football, the music, the streets day and night. the music that is the root of samba is the civil war and brought with climate, the geographical similarities Despite the violent reputation of Angolan and people don’t know it.” them the music and culture and, of course, the language,” says Abel Rio’s slums, the Angolans here say better Despite his ties to Brazil, Monteiro Duerê, a 49-year-old businessman from work opportunities and living standards says he still pines for the sleepy fishing of their homeland. Benguela who spent his childhood listen- mean Brazil has treated them well. “I town where he was born and where his Tom Phillips reports ing to Brazilian singers such as Nelson know big businessmen back home who brother still works as a fisherman. “I think Ned and Roberto Carlos and arrived in made themselves in Brazil. They would a lot about ending my days in Angola,” he Brazil in the early 1970s. come here and buy a box of 100 Brazilian admits. “I think about going back home “I went to Salvador and I rediscov- flip-flops for $100 and then sell them in to show ordinary Angolans that, just like ered Angola there,” says Duerê, who is Angola for $500,” says Jose de Jesus Dias, me, they can do anything that they put now married to a singer from the north- a 36-year-old office boy who was born their minds to.”

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BIG SOBA

24children,

71grandchildren, great 21 grandchildren, great great grandchildren

3 ...and still with a twinkle in his eye

The Soba Grande of the Ilha explains why tradition still has a role to play in the new Angola. By Alex Bellos

20 SONANGOL UNIVERSO All pictures by André Vieira SU_19:Layout 1 1/9/08 10:25 Page 22

BIG SOBA

I have a divine How are your judgments binding? What language do you speak when you n Angola, the title “Soba” is given to the traditional com- talent for it. It is The people always accept what the Soba do your job? munity leaders. Sebastião Manuel Napoleão is the “Soba says. If I am reprimanding some young Mostly I speak to people in Kimbundu, IGrande” of the Ilha do Cabo in Luanda, the Big Soba, something secret men, I have to say things in a way that but sometimes it is in Portuguese. meaning he is the top man of his neighbourhood. The Ilha is they get afraid. I will say that if they don’t one of the most recognisable features of the city – a mile-long that the person accept the Soba’s decision, then a big The Ilha is well known by the expat com- strip of land that juts out into Luanda Bay, historically inhab- wave will come and wash over their munity for its bars, clubs and ited by fishermen. A local saying is that Angola starts with the has“ inside. I think I house and take everything away with it. restaurants. How do you view these Ilha. Grande Soba Napoleão is one of the most recognised It’s a way of making them scared. establishments? faces in Ilha. He invited Universo to his home, where he was was always When the bars and restaurants open, they dressed in his traditional robes of a turban, top and sarong in destined to be Why do people trust you? always ask me to go there to pray and red, yellow and blue check. It is our heritage, from our forefathers. bless the venue. I need to make an offer- Soba. I have And there are some secrets, some things I ing to the Kianda, the mermaid. I offer Universo: How old are you? cannot tell you. everything that the white man , Sebastião Manuel Napoleão: Officially, I was born on the always been the and throw it into the sea. It is to pacify 14th of August 1924 at 2am on the part of the Ilha known as Doing the rounds Do you also judge serious crimes? the sea. This is a traditional blessing and I Lelo. In fact, I was actually born in 1922, but I was not regis- sort of person that No, if people come to me having commit- always get invited to do it. I get on well tered until 1924. At the office ted a serious crime, I will send them to with the businesspeople here. other people come the police straight away. With the help of So you are 86 this year. When did you become Soba Grande? to for advice.” the law everything is resolved. There are also lots of young people who In 1997, when I was 75. The Soba can’t be young because if he come to the Ilha for the nightlife. How is too young he won’t be respected. I am a good age for being Sebastião Manuel Napoleão Why did you want to become the Soba? do you get on with them? the Soba. I have a divine talent for it. It is some- Young people respect me. When I go go out for a bit. Sometimes I walk from thing secret that the person has inside. I walking at night, sometimes I pretend How did you become the Soba? house to house. Sometimes I walk along think I was always destined to be the that I don’t see them. But they come up There was an open-air assembly of more than 200 people the street and the beach. I have a car that Soba. I have always been the sort of per- to me and say “Soba, Soba”. We have good from the Ilha. Gradually, after discussions, the people chose was given to me by President José son that other people come to for advice. conversations. Sometimes I go into the who they wanted to be the Soba. The number ended up at a Eduardo dos Santos, and sometimes I Whenever people have a reason to speak nightclubs. Sometimes the women want shortlist of four, including me. The government then chose drive around. Then I am back at 5am. I to someone, they come here. to come and dance with me since it is an one of these to be the Soba Grande. It chose me. So I am not will doze, read, doze, read until the day honour to dance with the Soba. a Soba by ancestry, I am the Soba by the wishes of my com- begins. I look at my diary to see what I How has the role of the Soba changed in munity and by appointment. have to do. Usually I have lots of things the last century? How do these traditional beliefs sit with prepared. I have to meet people. People Before, to be a Soba you didn’t need to be your Catholicism? How many children do you have? come here. Today you are lucky that no able to read. You were just the distin- There is no contradiction between the Let’s do the maths! I am the father of 24 children. There were one is here. Every day there are people guished, important man in the church and traditional beliefs. 25 but one son died aged 61. I have 71 grandchildren, 21 great showing up. When I get back in the community. Now it’s different. There is grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Well, this evening, sometimes I am so tired. I don’t such a lot of paperwork [he points to a What is the secret of such a long life? is what I had in 2000. Since then, there have been some more have a set hour to go to bed, but well desk full of documents, faxes, identity People are always asking – what do you but when people ask I don’t say. before midnight I am asleep. cards, printed paper and a briefcase]. I eat? But it is a professional secret, I can- need all of that. Since I am old, I can get not say. How old is your youngest child? So what do you do as the Soba? quite forgetful. Eight years old. On the street In the garden In all of Angola’s provinces there is this How will the next Soba Grande be traditional leadership. Some people see How do you earn money? elected? Are you married? me as a traditional doctor, so people I get a salary from the government and You are the Soba until you die. Just before My last wife died 15 years ago. But you make friends with come here to seek cures. Sometimes the from the provincial government of you die, you need to call the family women and then...just the name of Soba gets you a lot of police send people here. Just say there is Luanda. I need to have guidance from the around, to prepare the successor. This interest and attention. a fight between two people. They say that provincial government. person is a secret. He has to watch the the first port of call is always the Soba. death just with the maternal side of the What did you do before becoming the Soba? There are many incidents that the police How has the Ilha changed? family. When he becomes the Soba he has I was a teacher and Catholic preacher. Then, thanks to the will not deal with. For this there is the When I was born, the houses were made to go eight days without having any sex- encouragement of my community and the government, I Soba. At the Soba’s place, everything can of grass, and then they were made of ual relations. I already know who my decided to go further to become the Soba. be sorted out. I give advice to young girls straw, then mud, then wood and now successor will be. It will be one of my who get pregnant and have problems brick. My house is small, but the presi- grandchildren, but I won’t say more than Can you tell me how you spend your day? with their parents. I go and speak to the dent wants to make improvements, build that. There are 71 of them – there has got I wake up at 2am. I pray. I ask God how the day will be. Then I parents. me another floor, so it will be a palace. to be one!

22 SONANGOL UNIVERSO AUTUMN 2008 23 SU_19:Layout 1 1/9/08 10:25 Page 24 Animal magic

It takes two: how newly introduced wildlife saved a national park

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KISSAMA

Vervet monkeys hey darted across our path – light, quick and definitely “Not only were they trying to feed the local armies, but mischievous. We stopped our vehicle, our eyes search- truckloads of meat were being shipped into Luanda and pos- Ting for them through the thick bush in the direction of sibly other countries,” says Roland Goetz, the park director. their escape. Finally, one of the park rangers spotted them, “Some of the small antelope such as blue and gray duiker, sitting in the trees above our heads, obviously just as curious bushbuck and reedbuck were able to survive in small num- about us. bers, but were still heavily hunted during the war. The It shouldn’t seem strange to see two Vervet monkeys warring factions had chased away all the field rangers, so scurrying across the road, especially in Africa. But in there was no control in the park. It was just open to exploita- Kissama National Park, where just a few short years ago tion.” entire herds of animals were being slaughtered, animal But even before the last shot was fired in the 25-year sightings such as these are a treat, and a sign that life is once civil war, a group of Angolans – including President José again returning to what used to be one of Angola’s greatest Eduardo dos Santos, some governmental ministers and mili- parks. tary officers – expressed concern about the condition of this Kissama is one of Angola’s six national parks. Once a once great park. hunting reserve until proclaimed a national park in 1957, it They began looking for organizations and patrons that istockphoto.com/Graeme Purdy spans one million hectares or 10,000 square kilometres. would assist them in rehabilitating the park and its wildlife. After the wartime slaughter of Before the war, Kissama not only boasted the highest con- The man they found was Dr Wouter van Hoven, a professor centration of Pacussa buffalo of any park, but also supported of wildlife management at South Africa’s University of wildlife in Kissama National large populations of elephant, lion, cheetah and wild dog. Pretoria. Park, a remarkable project is With stunning grasslands, 130 kilometres of breathtak- “I was approached in 1994,” Dr van Hoven remembers. bringing the nature reserve ing Atlantic coastline, extensive mangroves and a huge “They wanted me to take a look at the park and see how it back to life. By Ramona wetland area, this park has the potential to be a magnet for could be restored to its original glory.” Siddoway researchers and tourists alike – and, with a little planning What Dr van Hoven discovered was that it had enor- and creativity, it can be. mous potential for rehabilitation. The area was relatively free The long years of war took their toll not only on the from landmines and the original habitat was in excellent people, but on the animals – nearly all of the major wildlife condition – essentially it had a good foundation to work in Angola’s parks was killed. Helicopters would fly over, sol- from. Says Roland Goetz: “Animals you can reintroduce. diers decimating entire herds with machine guns. Plants and vegetation are much, much harder.” After evaluating the park and available resources, Dr van Hoven felt it was best to form a foundation with donors and patrons, so in 1996 the Kissama Foundation was created with Dr van Hoven as its first president and director. Many of the government ministers and original collaborators served on the executive board as well. A great deal of the donations and funding was, and still is, being provided by Sonongal and various petro-companies. “Sonongal should be praised for its efforts and farsight- edness in helping to provide resources for Kissama National Park,” says Goetz. “With its help, Kissama has the potential of being one of the great national parks of Africa.” After organizing the Kissama Foundation, coupled with organizations such as the Wild Foundation, Dr van Hoven began a daring and ambitious undertaking. In 2000, capital- ising on the elephant overpopulation in Botswana and South Africa, Dr van Hoven arranged with the Angolan Air Force 

Elands Bush buck istockphoto.com/Pam Dolby istockphoto.com/Chris Fourie André Vieira

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KISSAMA

to carry out what was to be the first who is more dedicated to the task than option was to barricade himself in his attempted project of its kind – to airlift Roland. He has such a loyalty to the staff house. “I put mattresses up against the and relocate entire elephant family and to the park,” he says. windows, loaded my AK47 and waited.” groups. In the six years Goetz has lived and By Sunday, most of the villagers had Using Russian cargo planes, the proj- worked at the park, his passion has defi- become bored and left. When in frustra- ect was dubbed Operation Noah’s Ark nitely been put to the test on more than tion the men tried breaking down the and, to the surprise of even Dr van Hoven one occasion. To prove his point, he door, he yelled: “If you push that door and Goetz, who are wildlife management walked me to a large storage unit. As the open, as soon as you walk in you are experts, the endeavour was more suc- doors swung open, the afternoon light dead!” They left. cessful than they ever anticipated. revealed two tables, end to end, covered Besides poachers and disgruntled “Against all of my experience with ele- with a mass array of weapons. A smaller employees, the park is still facing a num- phants, they started breeding!” says table held guns confiscated from poach- ber of challenges. The biggest threats are Goetz. ers, mostly AK47s. The next table, the non-sustainable use of resources by He explains: “It was much too diffi- however, was covered with twice as many the local population, development of cult to bring over any bulls. They are too and a much wider selection of arms. unforeseen (and illegal) tourism, impact big to airlift and too big for our contain- These belonged to the rangers. from commercial agriculture, mining ers, so we ended up bringing only the “All the poachers we come up against activities that are not properly planned, matriarchs, sons and daughters. Five of are now armed as a result of the war,” and a threat of overuse within the special André Vieira the females were pregnant, but I was says Goetz. “We’ve already had one conservation area. worried about those young males without shooting contact, but normally we go But despite all of this, the future Clockwise from top left: the vital role of the patriarch training with PK machine guns or grenade looks bright. There are plans to widen the them in the courtship rituals.” launchers. When they see us heavily fence around the conservation area in Zebras; an elephant hides in Kissama’s shrubbery; ostriches order to bring in have doubled their population in more animals. the park; Roland Goetz, the ranger Currently, the who has lived at Kissama for six area is 10,000 years; guns he has confiscated The romancing of the elephants isn’t from poachers hectares, roughly the only thing that has the park officials excited. only 1 per cent of the entire park. The kudu, zebra, ostrich, and giraffe have The animals are not the only at least doubled in herd size. benefactors. A German non- governmental istockphoto.com/Dirk Freder organisation istockphoto.com/Peter Zurek But to everyone’s surprise and armed and they just have AK47s, they known as GTZ Angola is working to set up delight, a miracle occurred. Even without usually think twice about taking us on, so a training centre within the park to pro- the dominant male and the appropriate generally they run away or we catch vide skills training and job opportunities training, the females allowed the teenage them.” for ex-soldiers. HOW TO VISIT males to breed with them. In just eight But his greatest test came not from “The goal is to use hands-on training short years the elephant population rose poachers but a handful of his own with the soldiers,” says Dr van Hoven. Kissama National Park, located just 70km south of from the original thirty to now over fifty. rangers. He caught them stealing fencing “Many already have field and weapon- Luanda, is open all year round to visitors. However, The romancing of the elephants isn’t material and promptly sacked them. handling skills, so the switchover from the best time to visit is in the cooler months of May to the only thing that has the park officials Outraged at their dismissal, they being a good soldier to a good wildlife October. Kurika Safari Park offers lodging, guided excited. The kudu, zebra, ostrich and demanded six months’ salary in compen- conservator is not a very difficult one.” safaris and a restaurant in the grounds. Bungalows at giraffe have at least doubled in herd size. sation. When Goetz refused, they decided This skilled labourforce can then be the park are equipped with mosquito-netted beds, But the eland has grown the most. The to emphasise their point by showing up used as a nucleus of field-ranger forces in toilets, showers and air conditioning. eight they began with now number well one Friday morning on his doorstep . . . other national parks, with Kissama as the For reservations or more information email over 100. with hand grenades and half of the local model. [email protected] or phone Elsa With the success of Operation Noah’s village! There is a great deal of optimism Morgado +244912942027 or Ark, Dr van Hoven knew he needed The onlookers — most of whom concerning Kissama National Park. With +244925314949. someone with the knowledge and experi- were children –- came in excitement to the right momentum, planning and pas- ence to oversee the park and its see the showdown with the estrangeiro, or sion we can expect to be reading one day maintenance. He found such a man in foreigner. Goetz could not shoot for fear about the greatest National Park – not Roland Goetz. “I have yet to meet a man of hitting the children, so his next best just for Angola, but in all of Africa.

28 SONANGOL UNIVERSO André Vieira André Vieira istockphoto.com/Vera Bogaerts SU_19:Layout 1 1/9/08 10:25 Page 30

dream machine Me and my

Angolan racing driver Ricardo Teixeira’s ambition is not only to become a Formula 1 star but also their son up in Oporto as an inspiration to young kids back a proud Angolan. His father Jorge repre- home. By Ben Lyttleton expectations but are always resetting sented Angola as an eight-time national them higher than they should be, he judo champion and Ricardo’s car races icardo Teixeira is perfectly at ease in says.” with the Angolan flag on it. Teixeira the Ultimate Motorsport team This, I learn, after spending a day at showed talent in two years spent racing Rworkshop in the heart of England’s the team headquarters, is the Ultimate go-karts in his late teens but it was only motor-racing region in Northamptonshire way. It is the team’s second year in racing when he moved to England, where he where Silverstone’s mythical racetrack, the – they won the prestigious Team of the studied for a Mechanical Engineering home of the first British Grand Prix, is just Year award in their debut season – and degree, that he was able to pursue his a quick acceleration away. their dynamism, spirit and willingness to passion for racing. The young driver chats to the two embrace new ideas dovetail perfectly “I approached Sonangol and they mechanics working to improve his with Teixeira’s approach. gave me the opportunity to move into Formula 3 car and listens carefully as his The 25-year-old has waited a long Formula 3, and I am incredibly grateful team manager Andy Richardson revises time for this chance. His parents left for that,” he says. Formula 3 is tradition-  targets. “We have given Ricardo realistic Angola for Portugal in 1975 but brought ally a training ground for Formula 1 All pictures by James Bearne

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RACING

feel I was delivering. By then, Teixeira had shown enough talent to attract the attention of Ultimate owner Barry Walsh, who had no hesita- tion in signing him up. “I was shocked and disgusted at how Ricardo was treated,” says Walsh, “but I could see he had a raw talent. He has already improved enormously this year.” Ultimate is the Walsh has also embraced the perfect breeding Sonangol partnership that Teixeira brought with him to Ultimate. The com- ground for young drivers, as the cars feature similar techni- pany has become Ultimate’s title sponsor, cal specifications. World champions and their logo is evident throughout their drivers, as they Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and HQ: on jackets, team trucks and, most can learn their Nelson Piquet were all Formula 3 cham- prominently, on the racing-cars’ engine “ pions, while recent graduates include covers. More significantly, the relation- Jenson Button and Nelson Piquet Jnr. ship with Sonangol has allowed Ultimate skills in the go- Last season, thanks to Sonangol’s to develop an academy for talented rac- karting team, and sponsorship, Teixeira drove for the ing fanatics – not just drivers, but also Swedish-owned Performance team, but a mechanics and engineers – to progress improve them as lack of stability made results hard to through all the racing disciplines. There come by. The team moved workshop six are also plans to open an academy in they graduate times in four months, and new mechan- Luanda to give Angolan youngsters the ics were a matter of course. “You need to same opportunity. through the have trust in the car and your team, and On the other side of the Ultimate the constant changes meant it was diffi- workshop, a team of mechanics are work- categories.” cult to get the best out of the car,” ing on two bigger racing cars. These race Ricardo Teixeira

Teixeira explains. “I felt bad for Sonangol in the World Series by Renault category, a Ultimate goal:Teixeira because they had backed me and I didn’t more powerful version of Formula 3 wants to be Angola’s first Formula 1 driver

(thanks to a 3.5 litre V engine), and seen Mygale shows that we can take on the Teixeira has already forced THE ACADEMY as the perfect step up before the holy established teams,” says Walsh. Richardson, the team manager, to adjust grail of Formula 1. The words “Angolan Ultimate have yet to win a race, but his expectations of him: “We started the arry Walsh was racing in Palmer Audi “The academy is essential to our business and become a Formula 1 driver, then that’s it, Academy” also appear on the World they achieved four fourth-places last year. season saying a top-15 place would be cars in October 2006 when he walked plans and Sonangol are the right partners to but then what’s the point? Sonangol have Series cars. The two podium finishes in their first good, but he has done that and now we allow those plans to move forward,” says Bthrough a Formula 3 race paddock helped me get to where I am and it just “Ultimate is the perfect breeding four races of this season suggest that a want him to get a top-five place,” he says. Walsh. “There is a circuit in Luanda and we where his brother Mark turned to him and wouldn’t make sense for me to stop there. I ground for young drivers, as they can first chequered flag is not far away. Teixeira, who shrugs off his gruelling said: “You can do better than this.” And so plan to make the facilities more usable and run want to help with the academy so other learn their skills in the go-karting team, Walsh, a property tycoon, long-time four-hour daily gym regime as a neces- began the formation of Ultimate Motorsport: it as a race academy so kids from Angola can Angolans can have the chance to work in and improve them as they graduate racing fanatic and a former driver him- sary part of the job, is clearly excited team members were racing six months later get involved in racing from an early age. The motor racing. There are so many children and now, in their second year of competing, next step will then be to bring the best talent to who have this dream, and with Sonangol and through the categories,” says Teixeira. self, is confident that his dream of about the future at Ultimate. are assiduously planning for the future. Ultimate in England, and the dream would be to Ultimate it might come true.” No other Formula 3 team has such a turning Ultimate into a Formula 1 team “I have the same desire as Barry, to The academy is crucial to these plans, as find another Angolan driver who can partner This dedication to grass-roots development future-facing infrastructure, but then will become a reality within two years. keep moving and growing with the team,” Ultimate plan to create a one-stop shop for Ricardo in Formula 1.” is unique among Formula 3 teams and again, Walsh did not set up Ultimate to be “That was always the vision, but before he says. “My dream is to become a young drivers and potential engineers and Teixeira is convinced that the dual academy another example of Ultimate’s long-term com- just another team. Their biggest decision anything we had to implement the struc- Formula 1 driver and I believe I can do mechanics to give them an education in all will produce stars of the future, and he is excited mitment to racing. This year, they invested in last year was to choose a chassis con- ture to make that happen,” he says. “With that if I stay here. But I also want to give driving disciplines, starting with go-karting at the prospect of young Angolans having a mobile home that is the envy of the pad- structed by France-based Mygale rather the academy, and the three racing teams hope to Angolan youngsters who dream opportunities he never had. “I had to learn in from age ten onwards. After all, McLaren dock. Walsh is an impressive figurehead and than the more popular Dallara. “It would [go-karts, World Series by Renault and of working with a racing car. The country two years of go-karting [in Portugal] what can boss Ron Dennis signed up Lewis Hamilton his team members is already making waves in have been the easier route [to go with Formula 3], we now have that structure, has paid so many sacrifices for its past, when he was just 12 years old, and he pro- take some drivers ten years to learn,” he says. the racing fraternity around Northampton and Dallara] as everyone else has, but we and we have the financial stability to take but now we can all look forward to its gressed through their ranks to become a “Barry is devoted to making this academy beyond. Next stop – the world. want to be different to the other teams, the next step. Thanks to the relationship future. And this is a way of giving some- Formula 1 star. work, and I am the same. If I do fulfil my dream and the fact that we had success with the with Sonangol, we can make it happen.” thing great to the country.”

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Igor Cusack Pearls of the palate

Angolan is distinctive, varied – and delicious

n the introduction to one of the first Angolan cookery books, Cozinha Tradicional de Angola, Ana da Costa Cabral writes that I“Angola is a land of fascination, colour and happiness; a vibrant nature, an affable people and beautiful landscapes. But amongst her greatest riches we encounter some real pearls for the palate. Angolan is delicious and varied.” The preparation of food and cuisine plays a significant part in defining our collective identities: we become who we are as we sit around the table eating together. As part of the ideology of nationalism, every country is sup- posed to have its own distinctive cuisine which all its citizens can enjoy together, but it is only in recent years that African countries have started defining their own national cuisine and national dishes. In those countries which were part of the former Portuguese empire, such as Angola, cuisine has become an important part of the national culture. Before examining in a little more detail, it is Fish, my favourite dish: mufete of cachucho, with a side of useful to briefly recall the role played by the Portuguese in introduc- beans cooked in palm oil

ing new foodstuffs to Africa. Many of the common now eaten All pictures by André Vieira in Africa, for example manioc (), maize, peppers, peanuts, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, beans and tomatoes, originated in the fish or meat. The dish then moved on to São Tomé and Americas and spread around the globe after Christopher Columbus Princípe, so that now a chicken and okra dish called kalulu de discovered the New World in 1492. galinha is a of the islands. Thanks to the Compared with many African nations, Cherie Hamilton in her book of Portuguese Encounters Portuguese, the okra has moved in a full circle, being adopted gives a wonderful example of the Portuguese contribution in spread- by several countries on the way. Angola does have a number of ing food culture. She follows the progress of dishes based on okra, a Cookery books are important in helping to define a native to West Africa which the Portuguese first brought to national cuisine. One of the first books on Angolan cuisine widely – accepted national dishes: muamba Brazil. was Alimentação Regional Angolana, written by the Angolan There it resembled a local plant which was called by the novelist and ethnographer Óscar Ribas in 1965, some ten native Tupi-Guarani Indians, and an Afro-Brazilian and okra years prior to independence. de galinha, calulú and mufete.” dish was concocted and named caruru. Interestingly, this was published by the Centro de This dish was then brought back to Africa to become part of Informaçõe e Turismo de Angola, showing an early link Angolan cuisine – the delicious calulu with okra cooked with either between tourism and the promotion of a national cuisine.  34 SONANGOL UNIVERSO “ SU_19:Layout 1 1/9/08 10:26 Page 36

ANGOLANFlour power: a plate of FOOD paus, a type of mackerel that are often up roasted peanuts and chilli pepper. eaten with toasted manioc . Later, he moves on to a delicious The ocean along the western coast of caldeirada de cabrito, a goat-meat . Angola provides a rich and abundant This is a dish often cooked to celebrate variety of fish and shellfish so that dishes the anniversary of Angolan independence such as mariscos cozidos com gindungo on November 11 each year. can be enjoyed: this consists of , Thus, compared with many other , oysters and clams, best cooked African nations, Angola does have a num- in seawater, and served in a red hot-pep- ber of widely-accepted national dishes: per . muamba de galinha, calulú and mufete, Away from the coast in the central perhaps served with toasted manioc Doing : highlands, a traditional dish is grilled meal. making funge is a labour-intensive job wild boar and antelope steaks usually Today, Portugal remains fascinated rubbed with butter and red hot peppers. by the cuisine of its former empire and Angolan tend to be simple food there are a number of websites on such as baked bananas or sweet potatoes Lusophone gastronomy, including the cooked in the oven with butter and sugar Roteiro Gastrónomico de Portugal which or a cake made from cashew nuts, bolo de is sponsored by winemakers, restaurants castanhas de cajú. and food producers. This is a good place A number of Angolan novelists bring to look for recipes of many of these Angolan dishes into their works. One of dishes. José Luandino Vieira’s stories in Luuanda, As we have seen, Angolan cui- tells of the hungry Zeca watching his sine is indeed distinctive and varied and friend eating a mouthwatering stew of an important part of Angolan culture. beans, a scented yellow quitanda.In Visitors to Angola should certainly try Pepetela’s Jaime Bunda e a morte do some of these exciting dishes. Americano, food and are never far away. When the detective Jaime Bunda arrives in Benguela to investigate the death of an American, he is told that the in the hotel are splen- did and starts eating with some quitaba, an Angolan Spuds-u-like: snack, a mixture of ground- sweet potatoes istockphoto.com/Richard Hobson

Ribas describes many Angolan foods large courgette in this instance. Another many of the city’s restaurants lie. and vegetable while muamba de Dr Igor Cusack is a special lecturer in the department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin and dishes, and also many intoxicating example is quizaca (manioc plant leaves) It is not surprising, therefore, that galinha, variants of which are common to American Studies at the University of Bristol. His current research is about national cuisines ethnic spirits such as Capatica made where spinach can be used instead. Angolan cuisine is proclaimed on the much of South West Africa, consists of in Africa. from bananas from Kwanza Norte, These recipes, like the 15 Angolan Angolan embassy web pages as an impor- chicken cooked in palm oil, , chilli, Caporoto from Malanje made from dishes set out in Maria de Lourdes tant part of the country’s culture. A list of and okra. This might be claimed as Cookery books and further reading: maize and Caxipembe made from sweet Chantre’s book 111 Receitas de Cozinha dishes is provided under the heading the national dish of Angola and will cer- ● Cabral; Ana da Costa, 2004, Conzinha Tradicional de Angola potatoes. Africana (111 African recipes), are not Cuisine of Angola including palm oil tainly be found in Angolan restaurants in ● Chantre; Maria de Lourdes, 1981, 111 Receitas de Cozinha Africana Cabral’s recent Cozinha Tradicional just for the Western but use beans, fish and dried meat calulu, corn Lisbon and elsewhere. ● Cusack; Igor, 2000, ‘African cuisines: recipes for nation-building?’ de Angola is a more comprehensive cook- Angolan ingredients such as palm oil. funge, farofa (a manioc flour mixed Another typical dish is the Angolan Journal of African Cultural Studies, 13/2:207-225 ery book and has recipes containing In 1996, the Portuguese embassy in with olive oil and ), mufete de version of the Brazilian cooked ● Hamilton; Cherie Y, 2001, Cuisines of Portuguese Encounters ingredients that are found in Angola, Luanda helped publish Ana de Sousa cacuso () and muamba de galinha with palm oil (demdém), which produces ● Ribas; Óscar, 1965, Alimentação Regional Angolana such as dinhungo (pumpkin or bottle Santos’s Alimentaçao do Muxiluanda (chicken muamba). the yellow colour of the yellow bean stew. ● Santos; Ana de Sousa, 1995, Alimentação do Muxiluanda gourd), but with suggestions as to substi- which includes recipes for many dishes Funge is a type of porridge made of Mufete is also a typical dish consisting of tutes that might be used in Europe – a based around the island of Luanda where corn or manioc which is eaten with meat grilled small fish such as sardines or cara-

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Sonangol news briefing NEWS

ngola achieved an historic feat this year: Expansion A it overtook Nigeria to Go east become the number one oil- The oil unloading terminal and producing nation in Africa. In quay at the Sonils base in Luanda Sonangol is intending to has been inaugurated by President enter the running to take April, Angola was producing José Eduardo dos Santos. The $65 part in ’s first 1.873 million barrels per day, million quay is 750m long and has oil exploration licensing 30 mooring posts with a total round. Angola’s fellow which was 55,000 bpd more mooring capacity of 42,000 dwt. Portuguese-speaking than Nigeria. The facility was built to speed up nation is hoping to Nigeria’s drop in produc- unloading time. With the quay and become an oil producer in unloading terminal, the Sonils the next few years. tion was as a result of base now has a zone 1,252m long, Sonangol will be compet- disruptions linked to civil covering a total area of 1 million ing against many other sq m. international oil and gas

unrest, an issue with no istockphoto.com/Marat Hasanov companies. A mission from imminent solution. Sonangol flew to Maputo, Angola aims to maintain the capital of Mozambique, to have dis- its position as continent cussions with the Energy leader and its production is Ministry and the National Hydrocarbons Company. set to hit 2 million bpd. Vilanculos, Mozambique istockphoto.com/Philip Van Niekerk Petroleum Minister told the World Petroleum Congress: Hands to the pump “Exploration activity has Chevron is to invest $3 billion increased in the last few years in the development of the as never before, especially in Tombua Lândana project in Block 14. Tombua Lândana is deepwater, and we expect to expected to pump nearly raise production from 1.9 mil- 125,000 bpd during its initial lion bpd to 2 million bpd [this phase. The five-year invest- ment plan surpasses the year].” company’s 2003-2008 plan by 30 per cent. The news came as istockphoto.com istockphoto.com/Omar Ariff Sonangol opened its new Injection office in central Luanda. Result! Roc on Total has given Italian oil services company Saipem a con- Universo was present and our tract for setting up a new injection platform for gas that portfolio of images of the gala Italian oil company ENI has confirmed deepwater project. The probe inter- Roc Oil has made a discovery of oil on its Coco-1 onshore will be exported from Block 17 to two oil-depleted reser- opening is presented in the that it has made an “important” oil cepted a 127m gross oil column. block. “It’s the first flow from for 39 years,” voirs in Block 2. Saipem’s scope of work includes discovery in Block 15/06. Exploration “During production tests the well pro- said a spokesman for the Australian company. Roc is making engineering, procurement, fabrication, transportation and following pages. results from a probe at a water depth duced excellent quality oil – 29 API further tests to see if the find has commercial potential. The installation of an injection platform weighing 1,500 tons to of 1,349m and a total depth of 3,343m degrees – in greater quantities than news came shortly before the sad announcement on June 27 be installed in a water depth of 38m in the Block 2 area. were better than anticipated and expected,” said ENI. that Dr John Doran, Roc’s founder and chief executive officer, The marine activities will be carried out by its Saipem 3000 could mean a move towards a new had passed away after a short illness. vessel in the second half of 2009. istockphoto.com/Sebastian Meckelmann

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NEW HQ

Sonangol at last has a new home – spacious offices which tower above Luanda. By Louise Redvers

onangol’s new state-of-the-art head- quarters was finally inaugurated at a Sgala ceremony attended by President José Eduardo dos Santos. Towering above downtown Luanda, the 95-meter-high building was inspired by the shape of an oil platform and has two gyms, a restaurant and a library, as well as office space. The landmark building means that Sonangol staff can move out of the cramped offices in the old headquarters across the road and into the most mod- ern office block in Angola. Sonangol chief executive said: “Today is a very special day because finally we have our own head- quarters belonging to us. Before that, we were in buildings belonging to other peo- ple. There is no doubt it is a beautiful building, with modern technology and all the facilities. We are all very proud.” President dos Santos was given a red- carpet reception at the building, where a Building large crowd of onlookers had gathered. He was joined by government ministers and representatives from the major com- panies working in Angola. After cutting the ribbon, the presi- dent was escorted through the marble or the entrance hall for a tour of Sonangol’s new home, starting in the fifth-floor audito- rium with an address from Mr Vicente. A video was shown detailing some of the skyscraper’s impressive design and safety features, and this was followed by a visit to various floors to see at firsthand the Housewarming party: Petroleum finished item. Minister Desidério Costa, President The product of a consortium of José Eduardo dos Santos and Sonangol CEO Manuel Vicente architects and construction companies from Angola, Portugal, the United  uture All pictures by André Vieira f AUTUMN 2008 41 SU_19:Layout 1 1/9/08 10:27 Page 42

NEW HQ

1 Sonangol’s new building is metres away engineering department (centre), and 12 Kingdom, South Korea and South Africa, Veloso said: “This is a very proud from the old HQ, and towers above it Foreign Minister João Miranda the 22-floor tower block is the first build- moment. It has been more than five years President dos ing in Angola to have an intelligent since we started working on this. We have 2 Manuel Vicente (centre) shakes hands 8 João Rosa Santos, director of commu- Santos was given with Prime Minister Fernando “Nandó” nication, Sonangol (left), and Noémio building system which uses the latest achieved everything we wanted to with Dias dos Santos Júnior of the engineering department technology to preserve energy, control the building and it is something truly a red-carpet temperature and carbon dioxide output unique.” 3 The arrival of Francisca do Espírito 9 Fernando Roberto, Sonangol board and protect against fire. José Carlos Paiva, managing director reception at the Santo, Governor of member and chairman of Sonangol Distribuidora, and João Rosa Santos Inside, the architects have created a of Sonangol Ltd, said: “It’s fantastic, it’s 4 A red carpet was laid for the gala open- spacious-feeling interior with marble modern and it’s different in terms of light building, where a ing 10 José Paiva, managing director of floors, flashes of steel and large windows and space – especially the open space Sonangol UK, on the left, and to allow in as much natural light as possi- because normally in Angola buildings are large crowd of 5 A cake in the shape of an oil rig was part colleagues of the hospitality 12 The building lights up at night ble. Costing approximately $4,100 per very enclosed, so this is very different. onlookers had 11 General Kopelipa, the military square metre, the building covers an area “To have all these facilities, the gyms, 6 The crowd gathered outside the building chief-of-staff (left), greets Orlando of 48,000 cubic metres. More than 10,000 the restaurant… it’s fabulous. It’s a real gathered to watch the spectacle Veloso in front of Manuel Vicente tonnes of cement and 100 tonnes of steel landmark here and it reflects Sonangol’s 7 Orlando Veloso, director of Sonangol’s 12 The building lights up at night were used in its construction. role in Angola and goes with the image of Sonangol’s chief engineer Orlando the company.” .”

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SUBSEA

Making waves on the ocean floor

The world’s largest subsea separation system will soon be installed in Angolan waters, using brand new technology that is both cheaper and more efficient. Alex Bellos reports

Underwater city: an artist's impression of the network that will be installed in Pazflor. The three subsea separation stations are the tall structures that look like vertical cigars, each supported by a steel frame.

AUTUMN 2008 45

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SUBSEA “ the bottom. The gas will escape If the separation technology is so through a pipe at the top, and the oil- old, and the benefits of subsea separa- In terms of new subsea technology, Pazflor is water mix will be pumped out the tion so great, why is it only now that the bottom. industry is moving in this direction? Of course, what actually happens Gruehagen says that introducing new currently Total’s number one project in the world is not that simple. The whole mixture technology to the oil business is a long Gilles Barnay, Total needs some extra help for the separa- process because the consequences of tion process to happen more failure are enormous and the oil might efficiently. As soon as the gas-liquid not be produced. If things are working mix enters the unit, for example, an fine topside, then there is little motiva- ubsea is the new topside. In other inlet device helps to channel the gas tion to go subsea –even though it could words, the oil and gas industry is one way and the liquid the other. save money in the long run. The change pushing to install parts of the pro- The separation technology here has been prompted by the market. Oil is S gas out duction process underwater that until has been used for decades on topside now at record prices, so it is more realis- now only happened on the surface. to surface installations, while the inlet devices see tic to make the investment. And since Nowhere is this trend more clearly oil + gas + water continuous development by FMC sub- subsea separation results in more oil, demonstrated than in Angola’s Pazflor sidiary CDS. The main difference with this is obviously a great advantage in a field, which is developing the world’s the subsea hardware is that it must be world where there is increased sensitiv- One Angolan is working in Norway on the biggest subsea gas-liquid separation sys- able to withstand the incredible pres- ity about dwindling hydrocarbons Pazflor subsea separation project. Isabel tem. sure of being about a kilometre resources. Saveia Ribeiro, who is a Sonangol The idea behind the plan is very sim- underwater. The casing must be much There is another reason why subsea employee, has been assigned to work with Subsea ple. When you drill into a reservoir of oil, separation more robust. The steel walls will be separation is only at its infancy. It is only Total for a two-year period. you do not just get what you came for. You unit about 10cm thick. now that the accompanying subsea Isabel will be with the project for the also get sand and water. Conventionally In fact, it is not just the outside technology – such as pumps, separators following steps: engineering, qualification, this mixture of the desirable and undesir- pressure that is a challenge. The pres- and instrumentation – has achieved procurement, fabrication and commission- able is pumped out of the well, out of the sure inside can in some cases be enough operational experience to make ing. Her job includes performing process sea and the constituents separated either higher. The separator needs to be col- giant projects like Pazflor operationally and flow-assurance reviews, following up PUMP on a floating platform or on land. lapse-proof, but also explode-proof. feasible. It takes a long time for technol- on the many tests and providing assistance “FMC Technologies in Norway is One of the major challenges is how ogy to be qualified for operation at the to the subsea separation leader. She has a developing units that will do this on the to install the whole system at such seabed. Subsea pumps, and the accom- degree in chemical engineering from ocean bed. The units will separate the gas incredible depths, and how to make it panying high-voltage power Agostinho Neto University in Luanda, and RESERVOIR oil and water out from the oil-water mix on the sea floor. such that each piece can be removed if transmission, are now more reliable and worked for Chevron for six years before This has two major benefits: first, it makes necessary. Even though the separator is have been developed for deeper and moving in 2004 to work for Sonangol as a the whole process more efficient. The gas made in a way that should mean that it deeper waters. production engineer. Step 1: Mixture of everything comes up from the well. Step 2: Gas is separated from will flow freely up to the surface because can work for 20 years without any The Pazflor project will be realised Isabel, aged 42, moved to Norway in the oil and the water in the unit. Step 3: Gas rises directly to the surface. Oil and water it is so light and the oil-water mix can be pumped out together. maintenance, there needs to be a con- using a hybrid pump that has been spe- April with her four children, who are aged pumped out using much less energy than tingency plan for repairs. cially developed for the job. Because 17, 13, 10 and 7. She lives in Stabekk, if it had gas with it. Secondly, the unit low- The system will be installed in most of Pazflor’s oil is very viscous, not and works in nearby Asker. Her husband ers the pressure at the seafloor, creating a lion contract with FMC Technologies this finalising the details based on Pazflor’s three stages. First, the foundations will all of the gas will be removed from it in stayed in Angola but will fly to Norway to greater difference in pressure with the year for the subsea production system – specifications. If the project is carried out go down, which have suction piles that the separator, so the pumps need to be visit her. reservoir below, which means that more which made it the most expensive subsea according to schedule, the field will go into the mushy seabed. Then the gas tolerant. “I think this is a very exciting project,” oil can be extracted. So not only is it easier engineering, procurement, fabrication come online in the second half on 2011, rest of the station is put into place. FMC are pioneers in subsea separa- she says. “I am used to working with liquid to get the oil out – but more oil can be and supply (EPFS) project at that time. making it the fourth field in the block Finally, the separator is descended tion. So far they have only built and and gas separation, but only topside. I extracted too. “In terms of new technology within after Girassol, Dalia and Rosa. Production from a ship above. implemented one project, at the consider that to do it on the seabed is a “The technology used at Pazflor low- the subsea processing area, Pazflor is cur- of Pazflor, which will have 49 wells, is To ensure high system availability Norwegian Tordis field, which was big challenge. We are introducing new ers the total investment for the operators, rently Total’s number one project in the estimated at 200,000 barrels per day. This each of six pumps will be regularly installed at the end of last year. Instead technology to Angola. while making them able to significantly world,” says Gilles Barnay, Total’s man- will push total production in Block 17 to retrieved, typically every third year, for of separating gas and liquid, the Tordis “The project is good for me, good for increase the production,” says Henning ager of the subsea part of the project. “It over 700,000 bpd. preventive maintenance, so there will project separated water and sand from Sonangol and good for Angola in gen- Gruehagen, Subsea Process Systems mar- is a world technology first for subsea sep- The science of the subsea separation be maintenance work going on every the oil. According to Henning eral,” she adds. ket manager at FMC. “You actually get aration applied to such a large scale unit is simple. “It is basically gravity,” says year. Since two spare pump modules Gruehagen, the Tordis subsea separa- more for less!” development.” Gruehagen. Gas is lighter than liquid, so are supplied and a pump can be tion and boosting system, together with Pazflor is in Angola’s Block 17. Total, Currently, the project is at the engi- when you put them in a vessel the gas replaced in 24 hours, this will not slow topside modifications, will result in the the operator of the block, signed a $1 bil- neering stage. Engineers in Norway are will rise to the top and the liquid sink to down production. production of an extra 35 million 

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SUBSEA Separation issues: the separator module for the Tordis field in Norway, delivered by FMC to StatoilHydro

Gruehagen believes that Pazflor will intoduce new technology for many other fields around the world, where a separation unit is seen as the best solution for making low pressure reservoirs productive

barrels from the field. tests are being conducted in Solaize, Pazflor is FMC’s biggest project. It France, with real crude. will build three of the yellow cigar- Gruehagen believes that Pazflor will shaped separation units, which will each intoduce new technology for many other be about 25m high and have a capacity to fields around the world, where a separa- separate 110,000 barrels per day. The sep- tion unit is seen as the best solution for arators will eventually be built in Arles, making low pressure reservoirs produc- France, the subsea pumps in Bergen, tive. He also sees an increasing need for Norway, the umbilical in the US. The Tordis-type solutions, where the water is whole system will be assembled in separated form the oil in units on the Norway and tested before being sailed to seabed. Angola. “There are an enormous amount of One of Pazflor’s distinctive features is fields that are producing so much water that in three of its four reservoirs the oil they simply cannot separate and treat it is heavy and viscous, and the pressure is topside,” he says. “There is so much low. This means that without some help it water that the water-production facilities would be almost impossible to extract are at the limit of their capacities, and the oil. The separation unit will lower the thereby limits the oil production. If you pressure at the wellhead so that the pres- remove the water subsea, you will be able sure difference with the reservoir is to produce a lot more oil. It is likely in the sufficient for the oil to flow up. And since future that many more fields will use sub- the gas is being separated from the liq- sea separation systems since they uid, less energy is needed to pump it all increase the total oil recovery.” out. FMC is currently bidding for other The pressure of the system is con- projects based on similar technology at trolled by a Christmas tree at the well- other fields around the world: “The basic head, and by the gas flow pipe coming driver is to produce more oil and produce out of the separator. Water will be it more efficiently,” says Gruehagen injected into the reservoir to maintain Gilles Barnay of Total adds that the the pressure there. Pazflor project has been extremely chal- “Every field has its own challenge, so lenging: “A lot of work has gone on in the we need to tailor the system to the field,” preparation, from conceptual studies to says Gruehagen. So far FMC has made a the qualification of equipment. We have model of the separator and tested it at done lots of testing.” low pressure and with model oil chosen Total are very excited about the tech- to be as close as possible to Pazflor’s nology’s potential: “It opens new crude. It has also been tested for sand- possibilities in our portfolio to develop handling, to ensure that sand does not such difficult reservoirs,” he adds. accumulate in the system. High pressure

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OIL - PRODUCING Sonangol BLOCKS IN ANGOLA CONGO

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DNEG SONANGOL UK Negotiations José Paiva, managing director 18 Carlos Saturnino, director Mereval House, Brompton Place, +244 226 632191 London SW3 1QE +44 207 838 4600 +44 207 589 9454 (fax) SONANGOL LOGÍSTICA • Luanda Logistics Filomena Rosa, chairwoman SONANGOL USA +244 226 681130/681131 Batista Sumbe, president 1177 Enclave Parkway, Second Floor, Houston TX 77077 SONANGOL +1 281 920 7600 DISTRIBUIDORA +1 281 920 7666 (fax) Distribution Fernando Roberto, chairman SONANGOL ASIA Sonangol: Chevron: BP: +244 226 632711/632701 Ruth David, president Total: 3 Temasek Avenue 31-04 Centennial Operator of Block 2/85, Onshore Operator of Block 17 Operator of Block 0, Block 14 Operator of Block 18 Tower Singapore 039190 Congo Basin. Also is producing Also is producing from devel- +65 64163583 from development areas in Block 3 opment areas in Block 3 Esso: +65 64163582 (fax) (Canuku, Block 3/05) (Block 3/85-91) Operator of Block 15 Photolibrary

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