DELIVERED Esso's TLP Arrives Luanda Destined for Block 15 DYNAMIC

Home , Ambriz, Bula Atumba, Cola, Kizomba, Malanje Province

ANGOLA | OIL | BUSINESS | CULTURE

Universo ISSUE 6 SUMMER 2005

■ DELIVERED Esso’s TLP arrives Luanda destined for Block 15 ■ DYNAMIC Sonangol’s years of corporate progress ■ DISCOVERED Angola’s legendary giant sable is thriving in Malanje Province

ISSUE 6 SUMMER 2005 INSIDE SONANGOL S

T Another spectacular image that captures the aspira- Defining Moment ANGOLA | OIL | BUSINESS | CULTURE Universo tions of modern Angola was the arrival in Luanda Bay of yet As 2005 gets into its stride, there

N another super-structure destined for the offshore oilfields. seem to be many positive indicators for Now in position on Block 15, significant sections of this E Angola – not least the keen interest being state-of-the-art tension leg platform were manufactured by shown in the shape of applications for Sonamet in Lobito. T inward investment. Sonangol itself is in buoyant shape, as demonstrated But perhaps the most dramatic is the by chairman and CEO, Manuel Vicente in his address to N emergence from obscurity of the fabled giant staff on the company’s 29th anniversary, in which he attests sable. This majestic member of the antelope to the manner by which the national oil company has con- family is unique to Angola, but has not been O solidated its position in Africa and throughout the world. seen by human eye for more than 20 years and was thought to Selling oil in the current high-price climate may have brought an be extinct – a victim of the recent hostilities. unexpected windfall, but still calls for very special skills. In the first C But like the people of this nation, palanca negra has of a series on Sonangol’s trading offices we spend the day with proved to be a true survivor, living in serene contentment in the young team in the Commercial Operations Department in 824 Malanje Province. Our first glimpses are inevitably tentative, but Luanda, which supports a worldwide sales network. Universo will be following developments. -- The Editor

INSIDE ANGOLA 8. Two of a Kind Sonangol Esso Angola’s now familiar “design one, build two” strategy will Rua 1° Congresso do MPLA, become reality when the first oil is pumped from Kizomba B early 36 N.º 8-16 Caixa Postal 1316, Luanda in the third quarter of 2005 República de Angola Tel: +244 2 391 182 Fax: +244 2 391 782 12. Address by Manuel Vicente Telex: 2089 SONANG AN 40 [email protected] Chairman Manuel Vicente recalls the early days of Sonangol and how the success and prestige of Angola’s premier corporate body Sonangol USA (Sonusa) has been won through determination and teamwork 40. Symbol of Survival 1177 Enclave Parkway Second Floor Prominent on national banknotes, but once feared extinct, Houston,TX 77077 14 the majestic giant sable has achieved almost mythical status USA 14. Local Heroes for the people of Angola Tel: +1 281 920 7600 32 Fax: +1 281 920 7666 Set to spend billions of dollars over the next decade, stakeholders [email protected] in Angola’s oil industry are working on an ambitious project to 32. A Day in the Country 44. Carnival Sonangol UK source products and services from local enterprises 20 Merevale House For Luandans wishing to escape the bustle While inspiration and months of hard work go into winning Brompton Place and pressures of the capital, Bengo Province has so Angola’s carnival prize, the annual parade along Luanda’s London SW3 1QE 20. Sales Aid Marginal is a colourful celebration for the whole city United Kingdom much more to offer than mere pastoral pleasures Tel: +44 207 838 4600 Thanks to its regional sales offices across the world, Sonangol Fax: +44 207 589 9454 offers a 24-hour service to customers, backed by an experienced Telex: 893212 SONANG team in Luanda to ensure that product is delivered on time 36. Inside Track 50. Growing Success Sonangol Asia These days Angola is seen as one of southern Africa’s invest- An imaginative venture is under way which is training young 3 Temasek Avenue 24. Mission Completed ment hotspots. ANIP smoothes the path for entrepreneurs Angolans to develop their county’s fertile lands for the pro- 31-04 Centennial Tower who are eager to have a slice of the action duction of locally-grown fruit and vegetables Singapore 039190 As the Fugro Airborne team make their final surveys of Angola, Tel: : +65 64 16 3583 Fax: +65 64 16 3582 Universo joins them in an atmosphere that seems distinctly remi- Sonangol Department for Communication & Image –– Director: João Rosa Santos; Public & Press Relations Assistant: Cristina de Novaes niscent of a vintage war movie This magazine is produced for Sonangol by Impact Media Global Ltd, 53 Chandos Place, London WC2N 4HS, UK, Tel: +44 20 7812 6400~ Fax: +44 20 7812 6413 Publisher: John Charles Gasser; Vice President: Sheila O’Callaghan; Editor: Peter Moeller; Sub-editor: Ron Gribble; Art Director: Lisa Pampillonia; Advertising Design: Bernd Wojtczack; Circulation Manager: Tony Adkins; Contributors: Bruce McMichael Cover Photo: Esso Angola’s TLP prepares to leave for Block 15 / PMP Global

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4 SONANGOL UNIVERSO news in brief

First oil from ExxonMobil’s C O R

off Angola is B Great Expectations Sanha-tized Burning Issue I

Kizomba B project S expected months ahead of schedule in the third quarter of 2005. Oil Anticipation of further oil discover- The first barrels of condensate, a valuable Angola is one of the world’s leading par- production from sister project, ies is building around the future of two light oil have flowed from the ChevronTexaco- ticipants seeking effective ways of utilising flared Kizomba A, the largest deepwater of Angola’s ultra-deep offshore blocks, operated Sanha field lying in Block 0, offshore gas produced as a by-product of oil production. development offshore West Africa, 31 and 32. Malongo, Cabinda Province. The issue of flared gas across the world’s major started in mid-2004. Kizomba B will The increasingly prolific Block 31 Commenting on first production, Jim hydrocarbon areas is being tackled voluntarily develop the Kissanje and Dikanza has already provided Sonangol and Blackwell, managing director of ChevronTexaco’s through environmentally-based legislation. discoveries. Planning and design operator BP with six new field discover- Southern Africa Strategic Business Unit, says: “The Preliminary front-end engineering design work is underway for the proposed ies, the latest being named Ceres-1. The Sanha project alone will eliminate routine flaring in studies for the Soyo-based Angola LNG proj- Kizomba C project. [see Page 8] well is the sixth discovery BP has drilled Area B (one of three designated zones in the ect, the joint venture between Sonangol and in the block, and follows Plutaão, block), reducing overall gas flaring on the entire ChevronTexaco, have begun following agree- Saturno, Marte, Venus and Palas. block by some 50 per cent. ment over a wide range of complex issues Angola’s new Oil Activity Ceres-1 was drilled 32kms south “The project will help produce and conserve including gas supply and a working corporate Tax, which aims to harmonise the country’s complex mixture of taxa- east of the Plutaão discovery and 31kms gas for the future, and we think it will set the stan- structure. Gas exports are expected to start in tion regimes, has come into force. north east of the Palas discovery announced earlier in 2005. Spudded by the semi-submersible Leiv dard for environmental conservation efforts by 2007. The facility will take gas that was previ- The new regime creates a single tax Eiriksson, in 1,633m water depth some 360kms north west of Luanda, the discovery well reached a total energy companies in Angola.” ously flared from offshore blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 15, to simplify processes enabling depth of 4,334m below sea level and tested at 5,844 bpd. Production from Sanha, which includes crude 16, 17, and 18. national and international compa- Both blocks are currently the focus of intense field development planning as the partners seek the oil from the nearby Bomboco field, is expected to Angola LNG is planned as an integrated nies to develop the country’s best way to bring the fields to production. Engineering and design studies are ongoing and are likely to reach its average yearly peak of 100,000 bpd of gas utilisation project combining modern off- energy sector. A wide range of eco- last into 2006. oil, condensate and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shore and onshore operations to nomic issues, including production US company Marathon holds an interest in both blocks and estimates that together they hold more by 2007. LPG production is scheduled to com- commercialise gas resources by reducing the sharing contracts, have now been than 1.2 billion barrels of oil. Other partners include Exxon (25 per cent), Statoil (13.3 per cent) and mence in mid-2005 when a unique 32,000 bpd gas flaring from several offshore blocks. simplified. Total (5 per cent). LPG FPSO becomes operational. Commenting on the agreement, Sonangol ChevronTexaco and its partners in Block 0, chairman, Manuel Vicente, says: “The LNG Angola has recently taken the including Sonangol and Total, are planning to Project is critical to Angola’s objectives of chairmanship of the prestigious invest nearly $4 billion in the block over the next expanding the petroleum sector.” China Syndrome few years. African Petroleum Producing Association. The 14-country mem-

Relations between Angola and P .

bership will next meet in Luanda in A M I

China, the world’s fastest growing econo- L T O

February 2006. The association’s N / I

my, have taken a significant step forward M Angola is No. 2 A

interest lies in promoting undevel- G E S .

with the signing of nine co-operation C O

oped and under-developed reserves, M agreements covering a range of govern- Angola’s desire to increase crude oil production has resulted in out- on-going and planned production ment and state put quadrupling over the past two decades, while its known oil reserves capacity projects, new licensing sector initiatives. have tripled in the past seven years. The country has now consolidated rounds and issues of joint develop- Top of the agenda is a joint oil its position as sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producer after ment among its membership. exploration project spread across a num- Nigeria. ber of Angola’s offshore fields and a Crude oil production averaged 902,000 bpd in 2003, and production Exploration specialist, proposal to construct a new oil refinery. In this latest collaboration between the two countries, is predicted to reach two million bpd by 2008 when new deep-water pro- has completed a WesternGeco Sonangol and Sinopec will evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of Block 3 and will approve plans for a duction sites are expected to operate at higher output levels. Block Zero 4,250sq kms 3D seismic sweep of long-term programme to ship crude oil directly to China. (Areas A, B, and C), located offshore Cabinda, accounts for more than half of

the BP-operated deepwater and the M Angola’s 550,000 bpd crude oil production. O .C Angola is already China’s second largest trading partner in Africa. In 2004, bilateral trade totalled ES AG /IM increasingly prolific Block 31. Part of ST Angola is hoping to boost oil output to 1.4 - 1.5 million bpd by the end of HA $4.9 billion, representing a 113 per cent increase on 2003. In addition to being a major energy import NG ILLI the Schlumberger oil services group, D.T market, China is an increasingly important development centre for oil and gas technology. 2006, and hopes to reach 2 million bpd by the end of 2008, according to Angolan oil WesternGeco has also started mar- This paves the way for Angola’s ministries of Petroleum, Geology and Mining, and China’s National minister Desiderio Costa, speaking in March. The vast bulk of Angolan oil is medium to light crude keting a 94,758sq kms 2D survey Commission for Development and Reform to co-operate on subjects of mutual interest. Other areas of (30 - 40° API) with a low sulphur content (0.12 - 0.14 per cent). covering Angola’s coastline and out interest include infrastructure development, an economic and technical package and agreement to Sonangol and its international partners are predicted to contribute $23 billion in foreign direct to its ultra-deep offshore waters. develop telephone networks. investment expected in the five years leading to 2008.

6 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 7 exploration two kindof a Esso Angola’s now familiar “design one, build two” strategy will become reality when the first oil is pumped from Kizomba B early in the third quarter of 2005

hen Kizomba A came on stream in August 2004, the Wbuilding of its (almost) identical twin was already well advanced at the DSME and Hyundai shipyards on the other side of the world in Okpo and Ulsan South Korea. The Kizomba B TLP (Tension Leg Platform), destined to develop the potential of the highly-prospective Kissanje offshore field, arrived in Luanda Bay in January 2005 – having narrowly missed contact with the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami. Meanwhile, the second major component of the Kizomba B project, its FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility), was nearing completion before commencing its 90-day voyage from Korea. The third component of the project, the satellite subsea production system that will be used to develop in order to allow the TLP to be floated off. Dikanza reservoirs, which lie at a depth of the Dikanza oil field and pipe its production back to the FPSO, Profile This delicate operation was successfully around 1,000m beneath the ocean bed – itself will be completed by the end of July. of a Giant completed, and after final commissioning pro- 1,000m below the surface. Kissanje’s heavy ExxonMobil’s “design one, build two” concept has worked cedures, the giant rig – more than twice the well – so much so that Esso Angola managing director Terry The 133m structure that dominated sweet crude is expected to start flowing height of the BPC Tower which looks out McPhail anticipates that production will commence months Luanda Bay for some two weeks in February months ahead of schedule – eventually reach- over downtown Luanda – was carefully towed before the planned start date of early 2006. 2005 is a key component of the $3.4 million for positioning at its working location on ing a volume of 250,000 bpd. Kizomba B development on Block 15, offshore The world-class Kizomba B project Most of the key parts of the $3.4 billion Kizomba B project Block 15, some 350 kms north west of the Angola. strongly benefits from the engineering design are almost in place, with the extraction of nearly 2.5 billion bar- capital, where it will soon be joined by its Weighing in at 30,000 tonnes, the tension used for Kizomba A, which came on stream in rels of recoverable reserves from Kizomba A, B and C as the A

FPSO. L leg platform arrived from the Hyundai yard at August 2004. In addition to the drilling facili- O ultimate goal. The investment for the three fields is approxi- G N A

Drilling operations have now begun to

Okpo, South Korea aboard a special heavy-lift ties, the TLP can accommodate around 100 N mately $10 billion, and the reserves are expected to last for at O I T vessel, which is designed to partially submerge tap the riches of the high quality Kissanje and workers. A R least 20 years. O L P X E

O S S

E SUMMER 2005 9 E S S O

E X P L O R A T

There have been benefits in other areas strong safety focus and bringing the project I O N

too. “By applying the lessons learnt on on smoothly and within the original timetable N G O L Kizomba A we have been able to achieve an is just good project management. A estimated $400 million in cost savings during Kizomba B alone has recoverable hydro- the design and construction stages of carbon resources of approximately one billion Kizomba B,” says Mr McPhail. “People execut- barrels of oil equivalent, with a target producing the project have benefited from the tion of 250,000 bpd. experience they gained with the first con- In line with government policy to boost structs, whether it is the welders, pipefitters local content of construction and service or the well-drillers,” he adds. expertise, subcontracts were awarded to Living Quarters / Helideck Almost immediately after coming on Angolan companies to provide locally- identical stream, Kizomba A was delivering 150,000 sourced fabrication work, logistics and other bpd (barrels per day) – an output that has services – which have generated substantial Topsides Facilities / Deck Drilling Modules now risen to around 250,000 bpd. By the end educational, training and development Kizomba B revisions identical of 2005 this could hit 500,000 bpd thanks to opportunities for Angolans. - based on Kizomba A topsides layout the added contribution of Kizomba B. This is a point emphasised by Afonso - new manifold design (wag) “Once we get both pieces secured on N’zoanene, Sonangol’s Petroleum Concession - deck structure weight reductions + 60 ksi steel their locations, hooked up and ready to start Administrator and Block 15 chairman. + reduced deck plating up, we’re going to be able to bring Kizomba B “Angolans have been undergoing intensive - piping changes for higher pressure on stream at a high rate,” reports Mr McPhail. training with Esso Exploration Angola for - execution changes (6 vs 2 modules) “Notwithstanding its current high levels, the more than four years,” he says. “Some of them price of oil is not a motivator to deviate from are now ready to take over.” Hull Structure and Systems Risers our original project plan.” He points out that Block 15 is a world-class development with a Kizomba B revisions identical the company recognises that maintaining a projected potential of 4.5 billion barrels. Once - draft increased to 30.5 m (+ 0.5 m) - north pontoon extension ballast tanks - minor structural modifications for draft change and six modules Tendons identical Piles ABB LG - Houston DSME - Okpo,Korea identical Engineering Project Management Tendon Engineering Hull Fabrication Riser Engineering Topsides Fabrication Global Jigsaw Heerema - Holland Topsides Integration T&I Support The resources and expertise TLP Float-on

required to build complex structures DnV - Houston Classification ABB Vetco-Gray- such as the Kizomba B tension leg Broussard, LA platform are drawn from many parts Riser Fabrication Kizomba B is brought on stream, the next Design One, Build Two of the world. Around 11 major con- challenge will come in the form of Kizomba tractors from the United States, C. However, this will not follow the same The advantage of the much talked about ExxonMobil “design one, Europe, Malaysia and Korea were Heerema - AB-15 Pride - Houston Dry Tow design route as the first two, with their single build two” project is that the No 2 version can benefit from the experi- involved in the building of specific Drill Rig GMF - Corpus Christi Installation large FPSOs and TLPs. ence gained in building No 1 – as well as significant cost savings. In the Engineering Tendon Fabrication components, which were assembled “Kizomba C is going to be different, with case of the Kizomba B tension leg platform, these savings amounted to an at Hyundai’s Okpo yard. A key local all wells sub-sea,” explains Mr McPhail. “The Shin Han, Ulsan, Korea estimated $400 million. MSE - Johor, supplier was Sonamet, based at Manifold Fabrication fields we are trying to develop are farther Bahru, Malaysia The TLP concept was created for working in waters such as those Quarters Fabrication apart, so we plan to use a smaller vessel as Lobito, Angola. Drill Rig Fabrication found offshore Angola, where current exploration technology is probing the basis of our design one, build two for- When all were in place, the down to 1,000m below the seabed – in water depths of around 1,000m mula.” platform was towed some and more. Esso Exploration Sonamet - Lobito, Angola ExxonMobil is working with Sonangol 16,000kms via the Pacific and Indian Tendon Piles on this massive development – and with the The tension leg platform is so called because the topside structure is oceans and round the Cape of Angola (Block 15) Boat Landings Wellhead Access Platforms projected doubling of Angola’s annual oil constructed on a base of submerged chambers, held in place by “ten- Good Hope to Luanda – narrowly Limited Riser Cassettes output to more than 2 million barrels by dons” which secure it under tension to giant anchorage piles precisely missing the deadly tsunami off DSME - TLP Execution Basis Block 15 Proprietary 2008, the contribution of the fields in Block located on the ocean floor. Indonesia. 15 is vital. ❖

10 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 11 from the chairman

epicentre translates the concerns of a nation contribute with their knowledge, dedication that looks to its people and its resources for and honesty, towards consolidating this great ADDRESS BY the mainspring of its sovereign existence. objective. With every day that passes, the challenges As we mark Sonangol’s 29th anniversary, it life holds in store for us become greater. As we is also time to recall our duties and obligations commemorate yet another anniversary of our towards the company and to society. On anuel icente company, it is imperative that each one of us, countless occasions we have demanded more M V in our own work place, should reflect seriously and better, but without however reciprocating On February 25, 2005 on the past and the present, and that we on the same scale and to the same degree. Chairman and CEO should seek to rekindle our energy, since only The board of directors has wherever possi- by redoubling our efforts will we be able to ble tried to do its best to solve employees’ Manuel Vicente sent this continue on the path of success. most critical problems by means of salary message to all Sonangol We are living in different times, times of increases, professional training and improve- staff recalling how the change, innovation and modernisation, times ment in working conditions. The acceleration when the valiant men and women of Sonangol of all these actions depends to a great extent success and prestige of are called upon to play an ever more active on the performance of each one of us, since Angola’s premier and relevant and, above all, more honourable unless we are able to make our company per- corporate body have and dignified role. manently profitable, it will not be humanly It is with this in mind that we solemnly possible to dream of significant improvements been won through intend to present to our workers, to the in salaries and wages. determination and Angolan nation, to Africa and the world a new Therefore, we must continue to work image, more youthful and consistent – one hard, to exercise the best management prac- teamwork. that confers on the Sonangol brand a more tices, to encourage learning throughout the convivial and modern air, with a strong integrated slant, capable of creating empathy and boosting the potentialities of a company with “Sonangol has succeeded in overcoming the most varied Dear Colleagues, a promising future. The 25th of February 1976 is indeli- In upgrading the Sonangol brand, we are adversities, and has consolidated itself both in Africa and bly stamped as a mandatory reference seeking only to improve the image of the com- throughout the world, achieving the prestige and date in the glorious pages of the history pany, making it more contemporary, dynamic of the oil industry. Sonangol was estab- and flexible, to reflect the new reality of the renown of which all upstanding Angolans are proud.” lished during the full fervour of Angola’s organisation and the consolidation of a com- independence. Today, 29 years on, our petitive position in the globalised market. I company is still on its feet, marching for- believe that the New Corporate Visual Identity organisation, to extol confidence and determi- ward with firm and decisive steps on the manual will make it easier to regulate the use nation, and to believe that we are capable of path of knowledge and service to all, giv- of the Sonangol brand within the framework of building a more radiant future for us all. ing of its best to the economic and social a development project that is aligned with On the occasion of this anniversary, I am development of the Angolan nation. vision, values and corporate attributes. This in taking the opportunity to reiterate our firm Over the last 29 years, in good times itself marks the beginning of a new era in the intention of making responsibility our byword, and bad, Sonangol has succeeded in life of the Sonangol Group. just as we will continue to reward those who overcoming the most varied adversities, However, the good news is not limited distinguish themselves. Those who do not and has consolidated itself both in Africa merely to the new corporate visual identity. conform, those who do little or almost noth- and throughout the world, achieving the Together with the consolidation of the New ing, will be penalised. This procedure extends prestige and renown of which all Business Culture, special attention is being to all levels of the organisation. In other words, upstanding Angolans are proud. Without dedicated to the four key points of work satis- we will act fairly and transparently from the the shadow of a doubt, the determina- faction: the QSHE. We want more quality in top to the bottom. tion, spirit of sacrifice, teamwork and every sense and at every level of our company, Therefore, it is necessary for each one of dedication of all our workers constitute more safety in all areas of our organisation, us to be aware of our real responsibilities and the main driving force of our entire better health for all of Sonangol’s employees obligations, to be able to carry out with zeal action, which is renewed constantly with and an increasingly healthy environment for and dedication the tasks assigned to us, and all S E

H the aim of doing ever more and better. all Angolans. together, to be able to make Sonangol the G U H -

E Sonangol has grown unmistakably These are, among others, some of the pride of the Angolan nation. Z O I L

K and steadily. From a small business unit most pressing challenges that face us, and It is time to talk less and work more. I wish

A I C R

A we have become a major corporation which can certainly achieve a positive out- all the workers of Sonangol and their families M with multi-faceted businesses, whose come, provided that everyone is willing to happy working and good health.❖

12 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 13 development

Set to spend billions of dollars over the next decade, stakeholders in Angola’s oil industry are working on an ambitious project to source products and services localfrom local enterprises. eroes s Angola’s oil industry has grown into sub-Saharan Africa’s second biggest H producer, the quays and warehouses of A its seaports have become some of the busiest areas of the country. Each year has seen the arrival of increasing tonnages of equipment and materials to serve the needs for exploration, extraction and processing of the country’s offshore riches. This has been matched by the steady procession of technicians and specialists employed by the companies that are developing this precious resource. But the truth is that many of these requirements can – and increasingly are being met from within Angola, given the right planning and investment. This is leading to huge savings in costs, boosting jobs and the local economy to provide the beginnings of a broadly based industrial infrastructure. Indeed, if the country is to reap the full rewards of its oil wealth, then the rebuilding and expansion of its service, transportation and manufacturing capability must be near

B the top of the list. In many cases these R I A N

resources do exist – but they have languished S T A U F F E R SUMMER 2005 15 Esso Exploration Angola BP Angola during the years of civil strife and are now left training, joint venture partnerships and ade- with outdated technology. quate funding. The development of an infrastructure that As the big international players are can primarily serve the needs of the oil indus- already seeking ways to source their needs on Furthering Co-operation between organisations try – which is responsible for around 80 per a local basis, the mission of PDPN is to give Cost competitiveness and local content cent of Angola’s annual revenue – is in every- impetus and structure to the process in order one’s interest. that the value of “local content” can increase Esso was selected by Sonangol to chair the sub-group responsible for analysing BP’s PDPN role is to lead the sub-group tasked with identifying opportu- The oil majors and support services would the industry’s production efficiency and pro- the feasibility of establishing an Angola petroleum association, to be made up of be able to source their requirements locally – vide training, skills and livelihoods for nities and the means for improving sustainable industrial development in Angola companies that own an equity interest in an offshore block. One goal of the associa- and more cheaply – and the money they spend Angolan nationals. in terms of support for the oil and gas industry, and at the same time identify- tion, among many activities planned for it, will be to seek ways to increase the local remains in the country as earnings for busi- While its principal goal is to substitute ing specific solutions to reduce costs over the short and long term – which will content of goods and services supplied to Angolan petroleum operations, in accor- ness, the workforce and government. An added foreign labour in favour of a trained and dance with their existing contracts. result in important cost competitiveness through local participation. bonus would be the building of a trained skilled local workforce, a longer term benefit Esso views the development of Angola’s industrial and service sectors as The sub group has carried out studies to look at market availability and professional class and the opportunity to sell is seen as the development of enterprises that important to the country’s overall economic development, and believes that if this estimates of what the oil sector needs to purchase over the next ten years – these skills and know-how on the international will serve Angola’s economy in a myriad of project can help identify ways to make local industry competitive and create jobs, it an estimated spend of up to $35 billion – and then to identify the capability market. ways. gaps, and put forward proposals as to how these can be filled This was the theme of a workshop that But local content is not about employing will provide practical benefits for all parties. One proposal is for an enterprise development centre on the lines of one took place at Lubango in southern Angola’s Angolans, charging taxes, royalties, bonuses In accordance with PDPN, Esso has significantly increased the amount of goods established by BP in Azerbaijan – which proved to be a highly successful solu- Huíla province in 2002, to which the major and other forms of payment as part of the and services contracted with Angolan companies and foreign companies associated tion in a region where industrial capability and development has similar stakeholders in the national oil industry were price of doing business in Angola. Its guiding with Angola, as these entities are able to offer quality goods and services on a glob- characteristics to Angola. invited. Their deliberations resulted in the cre- principle is to do with developing the country ally-competitive basis, as required by the oil industry and the terms of their ation of the Projecto de Desenvolvemento de as a manufacturing and fabrication base for At present Angola’s industry is afforded some degree of protection by contracts. Participação Nacional (PDPN) – an ambitious after-sales service and support for oil opera- government rules and legal restrictions, but the survey looks to the longer These efforts by Esso support the direct and indirect development of Angolan $30 million scheme to maximise the employ- tions, thus maximising the provision of goods term, at ways in which costs and quality can become competitive with other companies and national workers and should enable local companies to become ment of local resources, both human and and services through local businesses. even more competitive suppliers over time. parts of the world. However, it can never be expected that Angola could be material, to serve the Angolan oil industry. To this end, four sub-groups, made up of Esso will continue to look for Angolan businesses capable of providing goods competitive in every field. For example, the building of FPSOs and platforms Following the Huíla meeting, the Angolan representatives from the steering committee and services that meet industry standards and that are in keeping with the procure- are still very much the province of Korea and China. But one area in which the Content Steering Committee (ACSC) was members and each one chaired by one of the ment requirements of its existing contracts with the Angolan government. country could carve a niche is in deepwater technology. formed, which included Sonangol, the Ministry four operating companies, have been set up Decades ago, the first offshore operations began in the relatively tranquil of Petroleum and representatives of the leading to consider and present recommendations on The company has people with extensive international experience who are waters of the Gulf of Mexico.When oil and gas exploration moved across the offshore operating companies: BP Angola, Esso four defined topics. Their reports were recent- helping to find ways to maximise the benefits of the PDPN programme, to con- Atlantic to the more hostile environment of the North Sea, the hitherto non- Exploration Angola, ChevronTexaco, Total E&P ly delivered to the steering committee for tribute to the balanced growth of the Angolan economy. existent British oil engineering industry developed through joint ventures and Angola, as well as Schlumberger and Norske detailed consideration. Esso is justifiably proud of its operational accomplishments in Angola and looks buyouts. Now the ultradeeps of West Africa are ratcheting up this leading-edge Hydro. But however positive these studies are, forward to working with Sonangol, the Ministry of Petroleum and other govern- The ACSC’s role is to commission the nec- the key requirement is that any Angolan com- technology a further notch – and Angola is in a strong position to exploit the ment agencies to continue to contribute to the country’s economic development essary studies and approve recommendations pany intending to work with the oil majors opportunity. through implementation of the PDPN initiative. to implement this operation, to determine must equate with industry standards of oper- In a more developed industrial context (for example the United States) if guidelines and sanction the portfolio of proj- ation and practice – and here it is accepted a supplier is unsuited to produce a component, the customer moves on. Here ects. It is also responsible for administering the that there is a “capability gap” in areas such as in Angola the choice is considerably more limited so it makes sense to put in PDPN, including performance indicators, knowledge of the tendering process, health, place mechanisms to assist local industry to reach the position where it can budgets and workgroups. safety and environment systems, quality deliver. More importantly, the ACSC is charged assurance and marketing. So in the short term the goal is help local companies to compete for with establishing development strategies to In addition, many Angolan companies work in the oil industry and thus increase local employment while helping to ensure that Angola’s industrial and service sec- need financial transparency, and may have develop an industrial infrastructure in Angola that can support a solid future. tor will be able to compete with foreign undefined organisational structures or lack of The development of an infrastructure that can primarily providers in the supply of goods and services to planning expertise. They often work with out- serve the needs of the oil industry is in everyone’s the oil industry. dated technical knowledge, poor quality Central to the success of PDPN is the control and may not even be on the Internet. interest. Central to the success of PDPN is the development of the necessary skills among But on the positive side there are many Angolans, from management to workshop requirements for goods and services involving development of the necessary skills among Angolans, level, which will involve investigating these relatively low risk and low technology – for from management to workshop level. requirements and providing for them through

16 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 17 ChevronTexaco Total E&P Angola The Angolan government, working through the Petroleum Investment Fund Ministry of Petroleum and Developing technical and professional training

ChevronTexaco chaired the Angolan Local Content Initiative (ALCI) sub- Sonangol, has a The Total E&P Angola sub-group is responsible for the analysis of professional training group in charge of a feasibility study for the creation of the Petroleum fundamental commitment and educational needs of the petroleum industry to build up a qualified technical workforce Investment Fund (PIF). The purpose of the PIF will be to assist in the financing of PDPN, through to PDPN, which is seen as and provide engineers to fill posts at management levels. the provision of financial instruments such as equity financing and mezzanine a positive means to bring The latter requires graduates in top-level petroleum disciplines such as geosciences, debt finance, as well as services (training and capacity building) for capitalization reservoir technologies, production and well drilling, while on a lower level there is the need of the small and medium enterprises (SME). In addition it will address deficien- tangible wealth to the for sound professional training in skills such as welding, specialist machinery operation, fabrica- cies of local suppliers for the provision of manufactured goods and services to country through money tion and other mechanical fields. the oil and gas sector. Training and education currently available in Angola does not produce candidates of the Primarily this means closing the capability gap of local Angolan companies, earned by local enterprise level required by the industry, which means financing for further training. micro-businesses and small and medium sized enterprises to enable them to rather than oil revenues. An important part of the group’s brief was to define the structure to provide for these meet the standards necessary to compete for business of the major operating oil-related training requirements within Angola’s secondary and higher education framework companies and the international service providers involved with Angola’s oil and thereby, in the long term, build up a base of local expertise and scholarship available to industry. the industry at an economic cost. The major costs are seen as those associated with the upgrading of infra- In view of the time constraints to produce this report,Total E&P commissioned a full structure and technology to comply with world oil industry standards, the survey by the prestigious Ecole Nationale Supériure du Pétrole et Moteurs (ENSPM) – training programmes to build a core of qualified technical staff and engineers France’s specialised academy for the oil industry. and putting in place a management system that complies with client quality example, catering, ENSPM worked closely with this group to examine all aspects of providing for appropri- standards. painting, onshore con- Another area that will require major investment is in restructuring Angola’s struction, maintenance ate levels of training in ways that could be integrated with Angola’s own institutions, notably national secondary and higher educational system to produce engineers and and the supply of office the Institute Nacional de Petroleos (INP), which is involved with specialist further education, qualified technical staff, of which there is a significant shortage. In principle, and materials, chemicals and the Institutes Medios Industrial (IMI), which are based in leading centres such as Luanda, according to the PIF study, the size of the fund will be around $30 million. and materials for on Benguela and Cabinda. Between them, these institutions will build a core of technicians to suit and offshore opera- ChevronTexaco has already a strong record in the area of developing local the individual needs of the industry. tions. business, and for buying goods and services from local companies wherever pos- Beyond this, it is envisaged that the INP will eventually become Angola’s “petroleum sible. In 2003 the company spent some $137 million on local content – which The Angolan government, working school of reference” and run courses aimed at producing wide technical and trade training to increased to $259 million spent with 243 Angolan-owned businesses in 2004. While its principal through the Ministry of create a pool of standard and super-skilled technicians to match industry needs, with courses The company also has a tradition of promoting start-up businesses and Petroleum and that alternate between campus and work experience. goal is to substitute joint ventures so that they can grow to provide services to ChevronTexaco and Sonangol, has a funda- Training and education is a strong tradition within Total E&P – and one of the immediate foreign labour in the oil industry as a whole. One example is a long-term supplier of pumping mental commitment to results of involvement with the PDPN project has been the implementation of the post-grad- machinery, the Houston-based S&N Pump International, in a joint-venture with a PDPN, which is seen as favour of a trained uate programme in which all the oil majors participate. Cabinda-based enterprise, Industria Ibinda, to form S&N Pump Africa Lda, which a positive means to and skilled local services submersible pumps for the oil industry locally. bring tangible wealth to This commenced in the 2002/2003 scholastic year at the Engineering Faculty of the Another classic example is the Cabinda Agribusiness Development Alliance the country through money earned by local Agostinho Neto University, and is reinforced by strong collaboration with the ENSPM. workforce, a longer (CADA), in partnership with USAid. CADA aims to support local farmers enterprise rather than oil revenues. The programme, on which Total sponsors five students, is now in its second year, involv- term benefit of through the creation of market linkages for the production of fresh vegetables But the bonus will come in the shape of ing a total annual cost of around $80,000. Candidates are carefully selected for their ability to real skills and real experience in working with and tropical fruits to serve ChevronTexaco’s Molongo base catering needs, measure up to international standards – and they face the same rigours and demands as PDPN is seen as world-class organisations from which know- thereby enabling the development of the local industry. those from other parts of the world. how and solid achievement will foster a the development of The project has so far created 315 direct jobs and indirectly employed growing confidence to operate on the interna- Following their acceptance, students join an oil company training scheme, and as and some 600 farmers through a cash-sales seed programme. In 2005 it is expected enterprises that will tional stage. when they meet the requisite levels of knowledge, they are employed in real jobs, thereby to deliver more than 100 tonnes of food, and by the third year is projected to To judge from the commitment shown by contributing to the whole Angolanization process. serve the national provide for around 50 per cent of the company’s fresh produce catering needs, the oil majors in their comprehensive proposals At the same time, efforts are being made to minimize costs, which it is hoped will allow economy in a which had traditionally been imported from overseas.This is an enterprise that presented to the PDPN steering committee, the for training degrees for local teachers to be included in future programmes. offers exciting scope for development. very real benefits of tapping into local talent are myriad of ways. by no means lost on them either. ❖

18 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 19 trading

onangol’s offices in London, Houston and Singapore are the driving force of the company’s international sales oper- Sation, but all of them rely on the expertise of the Cabinete de Operações de Comercialização back in Luanda to ensure that the contracts they negotiate are smoothly ales id expedited. “We are in reality one team,” says A Sonangol’s director of commercial operations, S Anabela de Brito da Fonseca, with a lively Thanks to its smile. “By relieving the sales teams of the regional sales administrative work, this structure allows them to get on with the job they have to do.” offices across Ms Fonseca could also be describing her own department, which is responsible for the the world, intricate task of working out the fine detail of Sonangol offers contracts, payment and credit arrangements P M

and then overseeing the logistics of delivery of P

G L O

product on time. B

a 24-hour A In fact, this is only one aspect of the L service to Commercial Operations Department, which customers, occupies a large part of the fourth floor of Sonangol’s headquarters in Luanda. Its other backed by an responsibility is every bit as vital: to ensure could be better sourced in the regions that Angola’s own internal petroleum needs are Anabela de Brito concerned, but by now her experience in experienced efficiently catered for. da Fonseca marketing had fitted Ms Fonseca to take team in Luanda “The department is in two parts, each working under a manager who reports to me,” Director of Commercial over the role that has evolved into her to ensure that explains Ms Fonseca. “The crude products areA present position. is managed by Mr Gabriel Miguel and the Operations, Sonangol “I had always sought a hands-on job, product is refined products area is run by Mr Policarpo “Working in a refinery was what I had and looking back I can see that working in Pinto.” delivered on in mind when I finished at university,” says a refinery could have ended up just han- The department evolved out of the dling paper,” she says. “Now I am more time. Direção de Comercialização Externa which had Sonangol’s youthful director of commercial been set up in 1976, shortly after the establish- operations, “but there were no openings in than happy with the challenges of my ment of Sonangol the previous year. “In those Angola’s sole facility, in Luanda.” So as an present role. It is never routine, and togeth- days everything was handled from Luanda,” alternative, the newly-graduated chemical er with my team here in Luanda we have says Ms Fonseca. “But with the strong devel- engineer accepted a post at the Ministry of many important responsibilities – and you opment of Angola’s oil exports, the need for Petroleum, on the refinery side. definitely have to know what you are change became imperative if we were not There Anabela de Brito da Fonseca going to lose out on opportunities to optimise doing!” was spotted in 1996 by Baptista Sumbe – the value of our crude,” she adds. After nearly ten years in the top eche- now president and CEO of Sonangol USA, The solution was initially to establish three lons of Angola’s oil community, Ms but at that time the head of the Direção international sales offices. In 1983 the curtain Fonseca has certainly acquired consider- rose on Sonangol Limited in London, and in de Comercialização Externa, the forerunner able knowledge of the industry, on both 1997 Sonangol USA opened its doors in of the company’s international sales opera- the technical and corporate side. This well Houston. The third link in the chain which now tion. He considered that she embodied just straddles the world came with the setting up of the talents he was looking for to fill the qualifies her for her place on the special Sonangol Asia in Singapore in 2003. post of manager of political analysis for the committee responsible for guiding the Between them, these offices mean that N international petroleum market. design and construction of the country’s I P

O Sonangol’s marketing operations can be “open G With the subsequent creation of the new refinery project which is due to come E R S /

I for business” 24 hours a day – free to focus on M

A international sales offices, this information on stream in 2009. G E

S sales, while the commercial operations depart- . C O M ment in Luanda acts as “back office” to handle

20 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 21 “My staff are all experts. All aspects of the job the paperwork and logistics. life is never easy,” she adds. “For a variety of present exciting challenges and every day we are “All the four offices are equal, reporting reasons, it is often necessary to make special directly to the CEO and the Sonangol board,” purchases to meet unforeseen demand: there able to witness the benefits of our work to the says Ms Fonseca. “Every quarter we have a could be an unexpected problem at the country as a whole.” meeting with the Ministry of Petroleum, when Luanda refinery or the late arrival of a sched- we present details of sales during the preced- uled delivery.” Anabela de Brito da Fonseca ing period – and make our forecast for the next Such short-notice requirements usually one. In that sense, we are all one office, split require “top-up” purchases, which may have Director of Commercial Operations, Sonangol into different locations.” to be made on the spot market or, preferably, This highly efficient structure combines through existing contract suppliers. the ease of being able to meet with customers “Whatever route we decide to take requires – as well as having a finger on the local pulse expert negotiating experience,” says Ms and an ear to the ground for feedback of Fonseca. “While the annual purchasing essential sales intelligence. “These short lines round can be conducted at comparative P M P

G of communication mean that whatever trades leisure, with the spot purchases the position L O B A

L or decisions are made by individual offices we is reversed – often with only a few weeks to can be immediately involved,” explains Ms meet delivery deadlines. That is when we Fonseca. “In other words, once the price, show our mettal.” terms of payment and delivery are agreed, the Having selected the supplier, once again rest of the work can be handled and scruti- the department goes on to handle the varied nised here in Luanda, where we work closely with the customs and other business institutions.” As Ms Fonseca points out, trading Angola’s Its offices in Houston, varied grades of oil – there are six different London and Singapore mean P

ones whose properties depend upon the field M P

G L

from which they come – is a matter of seasonal O

that Sonangol’s marketing B A requirement as well as the specifics of local L demand. For example, Cabinda 32ºAPI, which operations can be open for is good for refining into heating and fuel oil, is business 24 hours a day – to easier to sell in the northern hemisphere in the first and fourth quarter (the winter months). focus on sales, while the Meeting the Challenge These are among the factors which local offices are well placed to exploit, while the Commercial Operations “What I most like about my job is the challenge – every day there is some new quarterly meetings in Luanda facilitate the set- Department in Luanda acts situation,” says a smiling Rossana Laurestinho. “Negotiating the annual import con- ting of the oil reference price, as well as Attention to Detail tracts is not so bad because there is time, but trading on the spot market can be a little demonstrating the transparency under which as back office to handle the bit scary, especially when it is tight,” she explains in her excellent English. Verissimo Teca (above right) is one of Sonangol’s crude oil cargo inspectors, Sonangol operates. paperwork and logistics. Rossana has been in the Commercial Operations Department for around six years, based in the Department of Commercial Operations in Luanda. This pivotal role is just part of the Luanda office’s activities. Equally important for where she works in the refined products area. After being sponsored at university by “Although this is often a routine job, which involves meeting the vessel to check Angolan residents is the refined products area, Sonangol, she studied in the UK before returning to Luanda. on the cargo and documents, one always has to have an eye for detail in order to be which is responsible for keeping their fuel contractual and logistical arrangements. With a self assurance that shows she is on top of her job, Rossana explains that aware of discrepancies,” he explains as his colleague Luzonzo Massala looks on. tanks full, as well as ensuring an adequate Anabela de Brito da Fonseca and her 20-plus sometimes she and her colleagues have less than a week to strike a deal, bearing in Verissimo is the youngest of five brothers. After his childhood in Malanje, the family supply of gasoline, jet A1 and diesel. staff have a never-ceasing responsibility to mind such factors as payment arrangements and the logistics of getting a cargo from moved to Luanda where Verissimo joined Sonangol on leaving school. After a nine- The actual distribution is the job of ensure that the crude flowing from an overseas supplier to its Angola terminal. month spell with Sonangol USA in Houston, he has returned to join the commercial Sonangol Distribuidora, which at the end of Sonangol’s wells finds its way smoothly to Rossana came originally from Brazil, but now lives in Luanda. She is the youngest operations team where, along with his colleagues, he plays his full part in the depart- every year forecasts requirements for the com- customers all over the world, at the best pos- in a family of ten children and has four brothers and five sisters. While she lives in ment’s complex activities. ing 12 months – currently in the region of sible price and, at the same time servicing accommodation provided by Sonangol, every Sunday she goes home to take her place Although it is now a memory, Verissimo very much enjoyed the time spent training some 700,000 tonnes of refined products. Angola’s own petroleum product needs with at that pillar of Angolan family life: lunch cooked by her mother. in Texas. “I had the chance to travel quite a lot,” he says. “I visited Dallas, Louisiana, “Generally, we approach known and trusted equal reliability. Oklahoma City and Boston.” suppliers or refineries and decide on the best “My department are all experts,” con- option in the light of the overall terms and cludes Ms Fonseca. “Every aspect of the job conditions,” explains Ms Fonseca. presents exciting challenges and every day “Perhaps the ‘easy’ part of the job is nego- we are able to witness the benefits of our tiating these annual contracts for supply. But work for the country as a whole.” ❖

22 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 23 exploration P M P G L O B A L

This the first stage of this Sonangol exploration project is designed to detect promising areas for further investigation of the underlying ancient sedimentary basins. To reach that goal, two airborne geophysics technologies are being undertaken simultaneously: magnetic and gravimetric. “Both are known as ‘passive geophysical methods,’” explains Dr Laurent Ameglio, Fugro’s chief geophysicist in charge of the operation. “That is to P M P G

say, each detects information that already emanates from the earth.” Both – L O B A

particularly gravity – require very sensitive alignment between the aircraft L apparatus and ground apparatus at reference points. This is why the data acquisition is done at night when the cooler air provides for more stable flying conditions. Both methods provide data that reveals the nature of the rock and other matter at and beneath the surface of the ground, to depths as far down as 15kms – the gravitmetric survey determining their density, and the magnetic survey, their magnetic susceptibility. Sedimentary material, which has the potential to hold oil and gas, shows up against its basement rocks. “The ultimate object of the survey is to determine the thickness of the sedimentary basins,” says Dr Ameglio. “Following analysis of the data selected, we can pinpoint areas for further exploration. This can again be performed by air, on a tighter line spacing, or on the ground using the so-

Back to the Future MissionAs the Fugro The comprehensive aerial survey commissioned by Airborne Surveys Sonangol in July 2004 is designed to peel back ancient team prepare for geological strata and reveal the potential of Angola’s completed vast interior sedimentary basins. one of their final “Sonangol has a fundamental role in finding new petroleum regions But he believes the value of this project can go far beyond the rev- flights over Angola, within Angola – and we have undertaken many previous surveys to this elation of oil or gas deposits. “The survey is expected to offer a Universo joined n he gathering dusk, as the Fugro flight crew sit down at their base camp end,” states Mateus Morais de Brito, director of Sonangol’s exploration scientific understanding of the intracratonic basins of southern Africa, for a meal that will have to carry them through the night, senior pilot division. “We are always open to the possibility of further data acquisi- their tectonic evolution, the evolution of the upper crust, mantle and Érard Keyter checks that all is in order for the sortie. The weather forecast them in an I tion that will stimulate exploration activity and hopefully, by the end of the epochs of mineralisation and sedimentary basin formation.” is good, in spite of some unsettled weather to the south, and all ground sys- 2005, we will be able to present this new study package to the industry. When full interpretation of the data acquired by the Fugro survey atmosphere that tems are go. “The total area covered by the current project amounts to some team is completed in December 2005, the detailed study results will be For him, his No 2 Sean Callender, and on-board systems operator Peter seemed distinctly Barker, ahead lie seven hours of highly accurate flying along predetermined 811,000sq kms – around 70 per cent of the land area of Angola. This offered for purchase by the oil industry. survey lines at a height of just 450m above ground level. They are the flight underlies the ancient sedimentary basins, but excludes the pre-Cambrian “Interpretation is still in progress,” says Mr de Brito, “so it is still too reminiscent of a crew for Fugro Airborne Surveys Central Region, which has already covered terrain, which is not of petroleum interest, and the Atlantic onshore early to have any indications for promising areas, but as and when we vintage war movie. almost 70 per cent of the land surface of Angola to acquire data for basins, some of which have already been covered,” he adds. do, we may consider running special seismic and drilling tests. The sur- Sonangol’s major survey of the country. Even though current attention and investment is focused offshore, vey results will be available to interested parties for purchase, not tied The field operation has involved flying some 100,811 line kms, each the primary objective of this $10 million survey is to assess the value of to bidding for acreage,” he adds. flown 12kms apart, with tie lines at right angles every 60kms. Altogether, the the intracratonic basins of Angola as a future petroleum province. With the completion of the field operation for data acquisition, survey has covered some 811,000sq kms of Angolan territory. The data col- “The onshore basins such as Kwanza were covered in 1998, while Sonangol is well satisfied with progress. The aerial survey programme lected is regularly sent to Fugro Airborne Surveys Central Region other areas, for example Lower Congo, Cabinda and Namibe, will was completed some three weeks ahead of schedule. The Ministry of headquarters in Johannesburg where it is analysed by Fugro experts with the receive attention under future projects.” explains Mr de Brito. “The area Petroleum is supportive and, as a bonus, public interest groups have aid of sophisticated computer program to produce detailed geophysical covered is to identify the extent and thickness of the interior basins of a shown a positive reaction to the possibility that the interior regions of maps of the terrain, as well as 3-D diagrams which will help to resolve geo- different age.” Angola may one day become a petroleum producing area. logical problems.

24 SONANGOL UNIVERSO called ‘active’ geophysical methods which Finally the flight crew climb aboard for their formance and fuel, can also be automatically P M

P include seismic and test drilling.” seven-hour stint, after which some 5-6 hours transmitted back to Furgo headquarters in G L O B

A In order to obtain optimum data capture of computer data should be in the can. Every Johannesburg. L to meet the specifications of the Sonangol sur- moment of the flight is monitored by the sys- Tonight the survey area is over reasonably vey, the over-flight was designed to be at a tem operator, to check that the instruments flat terrain, but the all-important requirement height of no more than 450m (just over 1,300ft) are doing their job. If there is any glitch, that to keep to the 450m altitude can present prob- above ground level, which in darkness calls for sector of the line has to be flown again. lems over hilly ground because, in order to a high calibre of flying skill. “In daytime flying Central to the operation are the mag- clear high points, the pilot must anticipate the conditions which allow for lower ground clear- nometer and gravimeter. The former is a need to climb and to descend. The problem is ance (up to 80m), a third passive technique, cylinder installed in a long arm that projects solved by a computer program called FAS radiometric surveying, can also be deployed,” beyond the plane’s tail, and the latter, a metal Drape, which sees the route as if a giant table- explains Dr Ameglio. “This measures the rod suspended in a vacuum to record the pull cloth has been placed over the terrain. This ground radiation given off by uranium, thori- of gravity as the aircraft passes over the ground sets a predictable flight path, which respects um and potassium. But as it requires flying at below. Safety is another important factor, and the technical specifications of the aircraft and no more than 200m to obtain the best data as a founding member of ISGSA – the quality, it is not practical for nighttime runs.” International Airborne Graphics Association – While the data allows for the identification Fugro has an excellent record in this depart- of different types of rock and indicates faults ment. “Airborne surveying is an option which is often which could harbour oil or gas reservoirs, as A check call is made to the base station neglected by oil companies but its ability to discount Masters of Acquisition yet there is no method which can indicate the every hour, with a defined procedure in place actual presence of oil, particularly at great in case of emergency. As a further umbrella, non-productive areas can save time and money.” depth and with no ground evidence. each of the company’s aircraft – at times as When Sonangol embarked on its ambitious project to The value of the airborne survey as an ini- many as 30 – is monitored by satellite wherev- Dr. Laurent Ameglio, geologically map the greater part of the Angola’s land surface it tial stage of an exploration programme for oil er it is in operation anywhere in the world. Chief Geophysicist turned to the world’s leading aerial survey company. and gas is the comparative ease with which Real-time information, including engine per- Fugro Airborne Surveys Ltd large areas can be covered in a short period of

time, and at low cost compared to equivalent P Fugro Airborne Surveys is part of Fugro NV, established in the Netherlands M P G L

ground investigation (the data capture cover- O B

more than 40 years ago. The company offers a unique combination of expertise A ing 70 per cent of Angola has taken just 43 L and state-of-the-art equipment to undertake geotechnical surveys and geoscience weeks including breaks and delays). “Airborne services worldwide. surveying is an option which is often neglected From its inception it has been Fugro policy to acquire the best that the by oil companies,” reflects Dr Ameglio. industry has to offer, either by merger or takeover of individual exponents in par- “However, the ability to quickly discount obvi- ticular disciplines. ously non-productive areas can save a lot of Accordingly, the company has amassed an enviable portfolio of experience in time and money.” construction, precise positioning, topographic, hydrographic and geological map- With everything in order, the crew prepare ping – as well as the gathering of geophysical data to provide quantitative and to leave for the airfield, accompanied by data qualitative estimates of oil, gas and mineral resources. processor Lawrence Guta, who will stay behind It is this latter service that Sonangol has tapped into through Fugro Airborne after take off, on duty during the night for the Surveys based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company was formed in 2000 routine progress reporting between the aircraft and ground operations base. As the 4X4 bumps through the merger of six leading airborne geophysical companies from Canada, over the gravel road, away to the south the last Australia and South Africa. A further four organisations joined the family the fol- rays of the sun catch the tops of the towering lowing year, and with a staff of more than 400, Fugro Airborne Surveys now cumulus, from which a dark curtain of rain operates from some 12 offices worldwide. empties onto the savannah. The Fugro team designs systems tailored to specific needs, and employs cut- At the airfield there are more preparations, ting-edge technology to acquire electromagnetic, magnetic, radiometric, VLF and the main one being to carefully calibrate the gravity data using fixed-wing and helicopter platforms. The company has perfected aircraft and instruments with the ground gravi- field systems for capturing one or more of these types of data simultaneously. ty reference point over which it has been Thus, as specialists in low-level remote sensing technologies with resources carefully parked after the last run. This takes to process and interpret airborne geophysical data related to the earth’s subsur- about 20 minutes. Lawrence tours the runway face and seabed, Fugro Airborne was ideal for Sonangol’s requirements. for wildlife and other obstructions, and switch- es on the runway lights which have been temporarily installed by Fugro because the runway does not have night flying facilities.

26 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 27 safety procedures. By arrangement with Fugro, two members Nonetheless, survey flying remains a high- of Sonangol will spend time in Johannesburg PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE: ly skilled operation, for which new Fugro pilots for the data processing phase and then travel Crew Leader Lawrence Guta (left) undergo intensive instruction at the company First Pilot Érard Keyter (below) to Fugro’s office in Houston, Texas, for the P

flight training school and on assignments. H O T

interpretation period, both of which last some O

On return to base, there is still work to be S :

P M P done before a well-earned breakfast, including six weeks. Two other Sonangol employees have G L O B A

refuelling the aircraft and a second check of already spent time with the flying team during L the calibrations to make sure nothing has drift- the data acquisition period, thereby gaining ed during flight. But while the crew can look useful knowledge of the technique. forward to a day of rest, Lawrence does back “We expect to complete the whole opera- ups and carefully checks the disks, carrying records of the night’s work for quality and any tion around two months ahead of schedule,” flaws that may have corrupted the data. Such says Dr Ameglio confidently. errors and omissions could mean re-flying the For its part, Sonangol is also well pleased. sector or a line. As Mateus Morais de Brito, director of With the data acquisition part of the sur- Sonangol’s exploration division, puts it: “We vey complete, attention has now turned to chose Fugro because they are leaders in the Johannesburg where the detailed analysis is taking place and, as with most projects for field with prior experience of Angola. Their Sonangol, the company misses no chance to operation has been excellent and we are more acquire a bit of knowledge for its own staff. than satisfied to work with them.” ❖

TEAM FUGRO (from left): High Fliers Chief Geophysicist Laurent Ameglio, First Pilot Érard Keyter, To fly precisely at low level over difficult terrain for hours at a time Second Pilot Sean Callender, requires special skills – just as it does to undertake scientific Survey Facts & Figures Systems Operator Peter Barker final stages of data acquisition in March, 2005. and the opportunity to travel in widely differing procedures outside the controlled laboratory environment. First pilot Érard Keyter, 26, is based in and Crew Leader Lawrence Guta. environments. Survey area: 811,147.94sq.kms Johannesburg, but hails from Potchefstrom in Systems operator, Peter Barker, 28, is a geo- Approx Angola land area P M

P 70 per cent G South Africa’s North West Province. Érard, who covered: L

O physics technician from Cape Town. As the third

B Depending on the range, scope and A First pass (lines @ 12km L has wanted to be a pilot since his first flight at the place of the project, Fugro Airborne member of the crew, he has the responsibility of interval): 82,370km age of 12, joined Fugro Airborne Surveys because Surveys deploys field teams of varying monitoring the on-board survey systems, and Infill survey (‘H’ lines @ 6km he particularly enjoys the special challenges of interval):18,511km sizes. Typically, a single-unit team, such as when necessary to fix any malfunctions. survey flying. Total line distance flown: the one that carried out the Sonangol 100,811kms “Accurate low-level flying requires extreme Lawrence Guta, is the data processor and aerial survey, is built around one aircraft crew leader. Aged 40, he has been a geophysicist Flight elevation above ground: concentration,” he explains. “Often we can’t use 450m – comprising two pilots, an on-board with Fugro Airborne Surveys for eight years. His the conventional flight aids because they interfere Sampling interval systems operator, and a ground-based with the sensitive scientific instruments. home is Harare, Zimbabwe, where he lives with (gravity): 45m data processor who is responsible for “Being part of a small field team, often far his young family – though he enjoys the world Sampling interval checking the data acquired on each sor- (magnetic): 7.5m from civilised infrastructure, creates other travel that fieldwork involves, having worked in tie as well as managing local logistics and Survey depth (interpretation): demands,” continues Érard. “For example, the Down to 15kms administration for the team. When a many parts of Africa as well as Europe. airstrip at Rundu is no longer used, so I had to Technologies: Airborne magnetic second aircraft is deployed, in addition Lawrence is responsible for collating all the and gravity organise runway lighting and the mowing of the to the two teams there is a field project data from survey flights, checking it for quality and Survey aircraft type: Cessna Gran grass along the runway.” Caravan 208 manager to oversee the operation. backing it up for future analysis. “It is my job to Sean Callender, 32, Érard’s No 2. is also Total project crew: Five Here we introduce the principal verify that the data falls within the required from Johannesburg, having previously been Survey start date: July 9, 2004 team involved in Sonangol’s survey at involved with extensive charter work in Rwanda parameters,” he explains. “If there are any errors Projected data delivery date: their field base in Rundu, Namibia, from December 2005 and Uganda prior to joining Fugro Airborne or discrepancies, then we have to re-fly the par- which they successfully completed the Production schedule: 52 weeks Surveys. For Sean, this job offers independence ticular line or lines over again.” Total cost of survey: $10million

28 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 29 INSIDEANGOLA as inwar easy reach ofthecapital. by jewelslikethegreenery ofBengoProvince within is amongtherichestinsouther bygone ageinurbansettings,whilethecountryside there isanotherpicture too. offshore matchedbyhardship across theland.but perhaps oneofoilandstrife,orhightechnology the beautifulgiantsable–uniquetocountr he orshecanfailtobecaptivatedbythecharisma of time,anymoreand sheerhedonismofcarnival than and stimulatingtheenvironment tocreate newjobs. vigorous thanithasever been,bringingfresh skills a symbolforthenation. Efforts tostimulateagriculturalactivities abound, It isnotdifficult tofind graceful architecture ofa The imageofAngolaformuchtheworldis But noAngolancanr d investmentinever esist theseductiver y ar n Africa–exemplified ea gr ows mor hythms e y

, and

L A B O L G P M P regional focus

fter a short drive along the dusty, con- hammering them with sky-high taxes. gested road past Luanda’s port and The locals, fed up with such unfair treat- a Abustling Roque Santeiro market, the ment, cast a spell to conjure up a crocodile traffic starts to thin out and it is not long which then swaggered over to the provincial before patches of green fields and trees appear government, armed with dollars to pay the on the horizon. levy. “He wanted to know why the animals To cast off the hubbub of the Angolan shouldn’t have to cough up too, when the Day capital and ease into the lushness of Bengo human residents of Bengo had to pay so Province – especially during the rainy season – much,” Jamba says. “He scared the administra- is a real breath of fresh air. tor half out of his wits,” he laughs. The story is There are no obvious road signs marking still triggering a chuckle after all these years. the entry to this rural province of, which hugs Past the crocodile statue and Caxito’s cen- in the Luanda and cushions the capital from the rest tre, the pot-holed road to the coastal town of of the country. But the sight of the famous – or Ambriz leads to Bengo’s other famous son: oil. rather infamous – crocodile monument, cou- While Cabinda and Soyo are far better known Country pled with a “Welcome to Caxito” banner, today as Angola’s oil hubs, few people realise

For Luandans wishing to escape the bustle and pressures of the capital, Bengo Province has so much more to offer than mere pastoral pleasures.

leaves the visitor in no doubt that he has that Bengo is actually the place where it all arrived in Bengo’s capital. began in the late 1700s. Legend has it that the crocodile, repre- “What focused the industry’s attention on sented by an almost comical metallic statue of Bengo Province were the oil seeps at the a massive reptile with a bag full of dollars Libongos, located near the Lifune River about clasped in its jaws, created quite a furore dur- 30kms north of Caxito,” explains Tako Koning, ing colonial times. “He is our biggest historical a Canadian petroleum geologist and long-time figure,” says one local, Pedro Jamba. resident of Angola who has led many fieldtrips “There are almost as many versions of his to the area. “This was the big clue, the indica- story as there are residents in all of Caxito,” he tion more than 200 years ago, of the potential says. But the common theme running through of Angola’s oil deposits,” he says. all the ‘Croc-tales’ is of Bengo’s stand against A geologist’s idea of heaven, this is one of Portuguese colonial rule. the few places where you can – to this day – One of the many now-mythical stories actually see, touch and feel crude oil in one of claims that a local Portuguese administrator its natural onshore habitats. In a large, moon- was not only forcing Angolans to work under like crater, oil seeps from the ground and appalling slave-like conditions, but was also trickles down the rocks like thick, black treacle.

32 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 33 and expand. I’m sure I’ll be able to make my But for many locals, the best Bengo has to business grow in the coming years,” he adds. offer is its coastal town of Ambriz where there Libongos, located Indeed, the food industry could provide is, so far, only one hotel. But most agree that near the Lifune River rich pickings for Bengo in the future, with its Ambriz has a lot of potential. “It’s very beauti- fertile fields complemented by fresh water and ful, there’s a good infrastructure and it has is a geologist’s idea coastal fishing. Locals also hope that the virgin beaches,” says Jamba. “Most people of heaven. It is one industrial sector will start to grow. there make a living from fishing, but I’m sure a Atmospheric sugar cane and palm oil fac- lot of them will be living off tourism soon.” of the few places tories on the outskirts of Caxito remain Other coastal attractions include surfing disused after shutting their doors in 1992 dur- at the Praia de Pambala and stunning views where you can ing the height of the conflict. Surrounded by a from the Bara de Dande, though Jamba’s actually see, touch picturesque compound for workers, complete favourite is the sleepy town of Bula-Atumba, with a chapel, the area is now home to local around 200kms north of Caxito. and feel crude oil in families and health workers from the newly- “Its only drawback is that it doesn’t have one of its natural rehabilitated local hospital. the sea. But it has a beautiful European cli- But there are definite signs that other big mate, very few mosquitoes and a good onshore habitats. businesses are returning to the province, with infrastructure,” Jamba comments. drinks giant Coca-Cola and oil services com- Blessed with two coastal stretches, north pany Technip among those taking the lead. and south of Luanda, as well as several rivers There has been limited activity since. “Bengo has much to offer in the way of including the Kwanza, the Bengo (also known Then about two years ago, a Luanda-based natural wealth. We’re only 70kms from Luanda, as the Dande) and the Loge, there is no doubt company began a small scale quarrying opera- there’s a good road connection, so there’s no that water forms the character of this lush tion. “The asphalt is run through a small doubt more entrepreneurs will start to see the province. crushing mill to be made into pellets and is value of setting up their industries here,” The dam, the sea, the fish and the water- then upgraded into pure asphalt. This is being explains local journalist Augusto Pedro over a falls are its future. For what keeps people used to improve the local roads which are in hearty lunch at a cafe in the grounds of the old coming back – if you very poor condition after many years of neg- sugar plant. believe yet another of lect,” Koning says. However, most of Bengo’s hopes are Bengo’s fables – is that just The quarrying operation also provides pinned on the reconstruction of a massive one sip of the water from some much-needed employment for people hydro-electric dam, which used to serve both the River Bengo will make living nearby, such as 16-year-old Manos who Bengo and Luanda, but was forced to close sure any visitor to Angola works as a labourer and security guard at the down in the early 1990s. “When the dam is will stay for ever. ❖ asphalt plant, which he calls the Buraco (hole). working again, we will see a lot of new invest- “I’m using my salary to slowly build my ments in the industrial sector,” Pedro says. own house, but I’m also trying to save some Aside from its array of natural resources, At some points, it is practically bubbling up money to continue my education,” says Bengo is also an attractive location for day- through the surface. Manos, who lives in the appropriately-named trippers from the capital wanting to enjoy its “The oil that you can see is not pollution,” Bairro Asphalt (Asphalt neighbourhood). serene and peaceful atmosphere. To the north says Koning, a renowned expert and enthusi- “I help my parents who are farmers. They grow of Luanda, quaint Caxito with its pretty ast. “It is oil that was deposited here by nature. mainly manioca and corn. When they get churches and neat, freshly-painted houses Over the millennia, the oil has been gradually older, I want to take over their plot of land,” makes for an interesting walkabout. transformed by natural biodegradation into he says. The Sudi waterfalls on the outskirts of asphalt,” he adds as he stirs the contents of Indeed, subsistence farming provides food town provide the perfect spot for a picnic, with one of the seeps. and work for most of Bengo’s 500,000-strong spectacular views of the gushing river, the Not only can you see evidence of oil, but population. In addition to corn and manioca, cooling shade of the towering trees and, if you you can feel its heat radiating through the bananas and sweet potatoes are also in plenti- are lucky, even a rainbow. “I love it here at the ground. “It’s not uncommon for people I bring ful supply and the fertile soil could potentially falls,” says 13-year-old Neli Katy, a local resi- here to feel uncomfortable because it really is grow an abundance of other produce. dent. “It’s such a nice, calm place, especially to very hot,” Koning says, clearly in his element. In Catete, another Bengo town to the east come and study,” he adds. Only one of eight wells drilled between of Luanda, farmers are already growing fruit Further afield, and also a favourite among 1914 and 1925 actually produced oil, but with and vegetables for sale and consumption in Angolans and foreigners alike, is Bengo’s a flow of just six barrels per day – compared to the Angolan capital. “As the roads are slowly Kissama National Park, whose comfortable 200,000-plus barrels that come from some of being rebuilt, we are managing to get more rondavals offer a restful night’s sleep after a today’s major offshore fields – it was not and more of our produce into town,” says one day out hiking and admiring the park’s flora deemed commercially viable. farmer. “I have big plans to build a warehouse and fauna.

34 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 35 investment

These days Angola is seen as one of southern Africa’s investment hotspots. ANIP smoothes the way for entrepreneurs who are eager to have a slice of the action Stimulating growth

o achieve an appointment with the head Tof ANIP (Agência Nacional para o Investimento Privado), Angola’s private investment agency, you have to get up very early. Ari de Carvalho is a busy man these days, with an average of 12 prospective business delegations passing through his ninth-floor office in downtown Luanda each week. “It’s been all go here since we opened ANIP in 2003 and it seems to be getting busier every week,” a chirpy Mr de Carvalho says over a breakfast interview. For any businessman planning to enter the Angolan market, ANIP should be an obvious first port of call. And indeed, getting the green light from what Mr de Carvalho fondly describes as “a one-stop- shop for all investors” is actually a legal B R

I requirement. A N

T ANIP has the power to grant approval to A U F F

E all investments up to $5 million and reviews R

SUMMER 2005 37 those that are any bigger “In Africa, Angola is comed, and is key to the country’s ongoing before sending them on probably the second or development, Mr de Carvalho stresses that Angola will certainly look favourably on investors to the council of minis- third biggest opportuni- only the right kind of investor with the right ters for final approval. ty,” Mr de Carvalho says. ideas and, more importantly, the right attitude, with sound business plans and, indeed, offers The agency also dispens- “We’ve been blessed with will enjoy long-term success. es invaluable advice to natural resources such as ANIP’s job is to scrutinise the proposals, highly competitive incentives for projects in local and foreign entre- diamonds and oil, which checking everything from the background of specific sectors or regions, or with proposals to preneurs from across a will help Angola to con- the investor, to whether the project fits in with wide segment of busi- tinue to grow. But there the country’s laws. But it is much more than a develop local labour, industry and infrastructure. ness activities. are also tremendous rubber-stamping office. “We see people opportunities in areas Doing business in Angola has its own par- wanting to invest in agri- like agriculture, infra- ticularities and requires a lot more than just a culture, fishing, construction and the service structure, and light industry such as food business plan and a bank account. Mr de industries – the interest really covers all areas,” processing plants and small manufacturing Carvalho urges would-be investors to come Mr de Carvalho admits that running a Mr de Carvalho says, sipping his first espresso factories,” he adds. armed with an open mind and a sackful of business here is not all plain sailing, with of the morning. “There’s a renewed sense of The country’s recent war has left Angola patience. investors complaining about heavy bureaucra- confidence in the country and that’s reflected with many gaps to fill, paradoxically creating a “There’s still a lack of knowledge about cy, a poor transport network and expensive in the much increased interest from the raft of opportunities for those with sufficient how to do business in Angola and investors, office space. investment community, both Angolan and for- funds and business acumen. “Because of the particularly from abroad, are often extremely “They have some concerns about the gen- eign,” he adds. war, Angola is still seen as a developing coun- gung-ho. They have not taken the time to eral infrastructure and these are problems that In 2004 alone, a total of 271 proposals try, but this shortage of goods, services and understand the local culture or to grasp the the authorities are well aware of and are doing passed through Mr de Carvalho’s office, with infrastructure is music to the ears of investors cost of doing business,” he says. their best to tackle,” he says. But he urges ANIP approving 264 investment plans, equiva- viewing Angola in the long-term. These are the “There is a tendency to rush into things, investors to consider how far the country has opportunities,” Mr de Carvalho says. to see them in the short term. But when you come. “Angola is entering its fourth year of So far, the most popular areas of invest- are in search of a quick buck, you can easily peace after its devastating 27-year civil war ment have been the oil services sector, which run into difficulties. You can make mistakes and is slowly getting to grips with a free mar- “It’s been all go here since we opened also falls under ANIP’s mandate, as well as that maybe you would not make if you were ket spirit after decades of centralised rule,” construction and farming. But as far as Mr de more careful,” he adds, admitting to having he adds. ANIP in 2003 and it seems to be Carvalho is concerned, the number one priori- seen a few over-zealous businessmen going “Investors have to understand that Angola getting busier every week.” ty sector – not only in terms of investment home having burned their fingers. is going through a transition process. As with potential but also in response to a vital inter- Angola will certainly look favourably on any entity, there are growing pains. Those nal need – is agriculture. investors with sound business plans and, investors have to be prepared to go through Ari de Carvalho Administrator, ANIP “I would like to see more investment in indeed, offers highly competitive incentives these growing pains, because they will go agriculture because one of our goals as a for projects in specific sectors or regions, or away,” Mr de Carvalho says. country is to feed our own people,” he says. “If with proposals to develop local labour, indus- While he is unflinching in his procedures, lent to a total of $364 million – a staggering you look historically at what Angola is known try and infrastructure. Mr de Carvalho will also share a few friendly increase compared to the previous year. for pretty much since 1975, 80 per cent of the “We have a very competitive package in words of advice based on his years of experi- Angolans were the source of 22 per cent of population has been dependent on agricul- terms of incentives,” Mr de Carvalho says. “We ence with the business community. “My that total, Portugal made up 25 per cent and ture. We have such fertile soil where we can look at what part of the country investors want number-one piece of advice is that your best the rest included other countries such as the grow grain, fruit and vegetables – we used to to invest in and what sector, friend should be a good Angolan United Kingdom, South Africa and France. The be called the breadbasket of Africa,” he says and then analyse whether lawyer,” he says. “The second thing growing interest from both national and for- passionately about his homeland, despite hav- they are eligible for those. We is don’t rush. You have to under- eign entrepreneurs reflects a growing spirit of ing lived abroad for many years. don’t differentiate on the stand Angolans and the way we optimism and stability within the country. It is “If we feed ourselves then we spend less nationality of the investor – think. also recognition of the potentially lucrative foreign exchange importing goods and, at the just the origin of the capital. “Come and do business with opportunities here. same time, give a means of sustenance to local All investors can receive these us as partners, as a potential mar- It is probably true to say that Angola is people.” Looking even further into the future, incentives.” ket for products, services and now regarded as one of Africa’s investment Mr de Carvalho can see a day when Angola will Ranging from tax holi- investments. But don’t look at hotspots, with a multitude of openings includ- once again be in a position to export some of days to import duty Angola as a quick way to make a ing, but by no means limited to, its prolific oil the fruits of its soil. exemption, the incentives are buck.” With Mr de Carvalho’s wise and mineral reserves. With approval for oil and “Angola used to export coffee, grain and designed to motivate both words in mind, and ANIP’s solid mining exploration activities resting with the fruit to Europe. Although they are not yet locals as well as foreigners, support behind them, any potential respective ministries, the meteoric growth in finalised, we are already looking at a couple of and have already helped investor will find a strong partner investments witnessed by ANIP is proof that agricultural export projects,” he says. While many businesses get off the on their road to success in Angola’s the country has a lot more on offer. this growing interest from investors is wel- ground in Angola. current climate. ❖

38 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 39 preservation

he rare giant sable, a striking antelope, the distinct palanca negra’s image appears unique to Angola and once thought to on the kwanza banknote, forms the logo of tbe extinct, has been rediscovered. Like the country’s airline TAAG and is the symbol the country itself, the giant sable has proved for the massive Angola LNG – as well as that it is a supreme survivor. being mascot of the national football team. t After more than two years of arduous TAAG and the LNG project, along with searching in the remote bush of the coun- the United Nations Development try’s northern Malanje Province, Programme sponsor efforts to track down Symbol conservationists have finally come up with the amazing beast, well aware that it has proof that the giant beast is alive and well. long been close to local people’s hearts. This majestic creature, (hippotragus niger Mr Vaz Pinto says: “The giant sable is variani), is known locally as the palanca mystical. It is so rare, and so remote, and so negra, and is revered by wildlife lovers, many stories were created around it. All of hunters and the Angolan population at large. this made it unique. We are really talking of At home the giant sable has achieved about an extraordinary animal.” Prominent on Survival almost legendary status, propelled by a deep Indeed he believes the elevated national banknotes, fear that almost 30 years of war could have standing enjoyed by this elegant wiped out the species altogether. Worldwide but demure mammal is partly to but once feared it is famous for its distinctive curved horns thank for its very survival. and its exclusivity. While not specifically target- extinct, the But in April this year, the government of ed, many animals sadly perished majestic giant sable Malanje announced that it had successfully during the conflict. Ironically, photographed a herd of the notoriously shy peace has also brought its own dan- has achieachievedved animals, grazing happily in their natural gers. Poachers and re-settlers, habitat in the Kangandala National Park. indiscriminately hunting for bush meat almost mythical For Pedro Vaz Pinto, who led the project for commercial or survival purposes, are the status for the on behalf of the Catholic University’s Centre biggest threat to the palanca negra, but local for Scientific Studies and Investigation, the communities have often steered them off the people of Angola. photographs were the culmination of years scent. “Most locals really worship the giant of perseverance peppered with moments of sable. It would not have survived if that was- frustration. “The last confirmed sighting was n’t the case. People really protect it, it is a in 1982. Since then, lots of people have said sacred animal,” says Mr Vaz Pinto, who is ‘Yeah, I saw the giant sable,’ but none of totally enamoured by the beast himself. those claims were ever backed by hard evi- The giant sable’s appeal is truly global. dence,” he says. The regal adult male, with its incredible “If they survived “We have been seeing its droppings and curved horns stretching to more than 60 tracks for around two years, but that wasn’t inches, is widely considered the most hand- 30 years of war good enough either. We needed proof. This is some. “In terms of aesthetic beauty, you the first definitive sighting backed by con- cannot get better than this. Almost unani- under those crete evidence in more than 20 years,” mously it is considered the most beautiful he adds. antelope in the world,” says Mr Vaz Pinto. difficult While there was never any doubt in Mr “The giant sable is the biggest trophy for Vaz Pinto’s mind that the naturally skittish hunters. It’s their holy grail. That’s why circumstances, creature still existed, many others were wary everyone goes crazy about it,” he adds. of backing him, fearing he could be wasting For Mr Vaz Pinto, discovering that all his I am sure they his time. “A lot of people were really interest- years of searching were not in vain is the ed in this animal and willing to sponsor our biggest prize of all. This almost obsessive can continue to V O L

K project, but they wanted proof before invest- nature-lover has managed to juggle his per- M A R

W ing money,” he explains. “Now we have these sonal quest to track down the animal with thrive.” E N T

Z pictures, plus we tested the dung we found, his day job as conservation director at the E L / N

A and we have DNA evidence that this really is Kissama Foundation, which runs the T Pedro Vaz Pinto I O N

A the giant sable.” Kissama National Park, an hour’s drive south L

G Conservation Director, the E O

G News of the discovery was greeted with of Luanda. R

A Kissama Foundation P

H great excitement, not least in Angola where From lengthy expeditions on foot, to I C

40 SONANGOL UNIVERSO and at night. The clearest image shows several habitat is in pretty good condition, but the cows (females) and some young bulls – all of amount of charcoal produced in Malanje is In Angola the giant them with the typical white facial markings increasing at an alarming rate. The damage which distinguish the giant sable from the still hasn’t reached the national park, but in the sable has achieved more common antelope. next few years it certainly will,” he says. almost legendary “This photo shows both young males and Maybe it is too early to judge. Angola’s females, two of which are pregnant. This old national treasure has already come through a status, propelled by female here is really pregnant. She’s the one in traumatic period for the country’s wildlife and a deep fear that which you can really see the typical giant sable Mr Vaz Pinto believes there is no reason why markings,” he says, pointing at the shot. “This the species should not prosper if a comprehen- almost 30 years of is obviously a breeding herd – if there are preg- sive national protection programme is war could have nant females, the bull will be there somewhere. implemented soon. A picture of that will come next,” he adds, opti- “If they survived 30 years of war under wiped out the mistically. those difficult circumstances, I am sure they species altogether. Asked how he felt when he first saw the can continue to thrive,” he says. He wants to slides, Mr Vaz Pinto is almost lost for words. “I combine the efforts of the Angolan authorities went crazy, I was very excited,” he says. “I feel and international conservation organisations fantastic about it and very honoured. I’m and believes that with the proper protection happy because for two years, since we started the palanca negra could play an important role thinking about this, we have taken it one step in the entire country’s development. at a time and every step we have accomplished “This is a unique situation in which you something.” have something really special. It doesn’t matter Mr Vaz Pinto’s unflagging enthusiasm is how difficult it is to get here, people will come. tempered only by the fact that success could Nature lovers will come running to Angola. possibly come at a price. The challenge now is This can really help local development,” says how to safeguard the prized antelope and its Mr Vaz Pinto environment. “First we need protection. That is Describing the palanca negra’s survival as PEDRO VAZ PINTO the number one priority. After that, we need a “almost a miracle”, he hopes Angola’s national comprehensive survey. We need to know exact- emblem is now here to stay. “The worst has more ambitious projects to scour the dense says, clearly thrilled as he recounts the tense ly how many giant sable we have left,” he says. past for the giant sable. Now we need to secure GRAZING: forest using almost silent microlight aircraft, moments waiting for the film to be developed “I am convinced we still have a few herds its future.” ❖ Giant sable cows Mr Vaz Pinto and his team of intrepid sable in Portugal. left. We are still seeing tracks and spoor, but in Kangandala fans tried every trick to pin down this scion of Mr Vaz Pinto even enlisted the help of his they have diminished and if these animals are National Park the antelope kingdom. But it was a simple pho- mother in Lisbon – not a wildlife expert – to get left unprotected, their situation can only get tographic technique that finally provided the results as quickly as possible. “I had to ask worse,” he warns. The last thing Mr Vaz Pinto evidence that the creature was more than just a my mother to go and pick up the slides. When I wants if for the giant sable to become a victim PROOF: distant memory. rang to find out what was on them, she just of its own legend. “Yes, this is good, this is fan- Droppings provide Last October, Mr Vaz Pinto set up six hid- said there were pictures of some brown ani- tastic, but what happens next?” he asks crucial DNA den cameras in the national park, strategically mals,” he laughs. “It wasn’t until I saw them for rhetorically. evidence positioned around natural salt deposits that myself that I knew we had found the real Apart from the fear that trophy hunters attract the herbivores which need the sodium thing.” will be unable to resist the temptation to ven- to aid their digestion. The cameras were trig- He flicks through a series of photographs ture into sable country, there is a real risk that gered when an animal crossed an infra-red depicting herds of giant sable during the day unscrupulous breeders will come looking for beam, catching the elusive beasts on film. “We the bull in a bid to rear their own herds by went up to Malanje every month to check the interbreeding with the common sable. film, but we kept getting pictures of other ani- “It would be worth a lot of money for a mals such as bushbuck and duikers,” says the breeder to get the semen and start breeding Luanda-based conservation director. giant sable with the ordinary sable. This is a big With the “fantastic support” from the danger because if you mix the semen of a giant provincial government in Malanje, coupled sable with a common antelope you will lose with around 20 locally-trained “shepherds” the uniqueness of the breed,” he says. SILENT: who took care of the cameras, patrolled the Agricultural encroachment is also a concern, Microlight eye in park and helped keep poachers at bay, Mr Vaz particularly with locals chopping down and the sky probes the Pinto did not have to wait long for conclusive burning trees to make charcoal for fuel. dense bushland findings. “We finally got results in February,” he “At the moment, the giant sable’s natural

42 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 43 culture

It’s vibrant, it’s fun, it’s While inspiration and months of hard work go into winning Angola’s coveted carnival prize, the annual parade along Luanda’s Marginal is always a colourful arnival!! celebration for the whole city. S

arnival O O T C T N N C I P A

A V O L L I A S

D E S N O J

: S O T O H P

he performers, supporters and followers of Luanda’s Cha de TCaxinde cultural centre are no strangers to partying. But when they heard that they were the winners of this year’s coveted Angolan carnival prize, they held their biggest celebration ever. tTaking part in the annual street parade, which requires months of preparation to write songs, perfect dance routines and create elaborate costumes, is an accomplishment in itself. Winning the event, held on the capital’s seafront Marginal every February, is truly an honour. “It was fantastic. Everyone was here at the cultural centre when the news came through that we were the winners,” says Antonio Monteiro, the vice president of the Cha de Caxinde association. “There were about 3,000 people waiting here at the centre – they were so nervous that they didn’t want to come to hear the jury give the classification first hand,” adds Mr Monteiro, who is affectionately known as Bambino. “At around 3.30pm, I phoned through with the good news and we had a big party that lasted until the next morning. Everybody was on such a high that no one wanted to leave,” he laughs as he remembers the thrill of the moment. But Bambino, who personally picked up the trophy and a cheque for $30,000, explains that there is a lot more to carnival than silverware and prize money. Indeed, as anyone here will tell J O S

E you, carnival is a day when all Angolans come together simply to

S I L V A

have a good time. P I N T O

SUMMER 2005 45 S O

“It’s the one day of the year when every- sands flock to the streets of the Baixa (down- T

“The carnival has N A S

body, rich and poor, comes out to share a town Luanda) each year, determined to enjoy O L A D

always been an party that celebrates an Angola for us all,” themselves to the full. N says Luanda resident Antonio Pinto, who It is not always a pretty sight, with some important party for recalls being jostled by the thousands of peo- men dressed as women, others as witches and the Angolan ple craning their necks for a glimpse of the some adults even wearing nappies. But with colourful 2005 street spectacular. people of all ages decked out in colourful cos- people, but we had With Angola now enjoying its fourth year tumes incorporating sweets, feathers and of peace, carnival is flourishing as a main- other innovative home-made designs, carni- more than two stream cultural event. Today, more than ever, val is a treat for the eyes. the overriding goal is to put on a good per- “The carnival has always been an impor- decades of a formance and have fun, with the political tant party for the Angolan people, but we had carnival without tone that dogged the event during the hostili- more than two decades of a carnival without ties now fading away. life. Now, people are really making up for lost life. Now, people Cha de Caxinde has certainly played a time,” says Mr dos Santos. key role in modernising carnival. Right from Those who took part in this year’s cele- are really making the association’s birth in 1989, says Bambino, brations agree that carnival is accompanying “shaking up the carnival” and bringing it to Angola on its road to a brighter future. “This up for lost time.” life was one of the group’s top goals. year the carnival showed a lot more hope, it “One thing written in our decree when looked more towards the future rather than we created this union was that we would dwelling too much in the past. This year we Jacques dos Santos modify the face of the Luanda carnival,” felt people were focusing more on the positive President, Cha de Caxinde agrees Jacques dos Santos, Cha de Caxinde’s things that have happened in peacetime and president. “Its image was very poor because are now looking forward to better things,” of the war and because of the politics of war. I says Mr Pinto. think we have finally managed to change all Cha de Caxinde was one of around a that,” he adds. dozen organised groups that participated in One thing that hasn’t changed is the fact this year’s event – the biggest to date. While all that carnival still holds a special place in the impressed with their music and choreo- hearts of the people. Literally tens of thou- graphed performances, many took inspiration P H O T O S :

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from the traditional themes and rhythms of original, professional parade,” said one carnivals gone by. But Cha de Caxinde, Angolan journalist. “There was no doubt in always recognisable with its trademark my mind that they deserved to win.” green and white colours, stood out from the For this year’s entry, Cha de Caxinde crowd. chose to honour Mendes de Carvalho, As one of the last groups to go past the Angola’s oldest and one of its most revered tribune, where Angolan president Eduardo members of parliament, and also an author dos Santos, his wife Paula and a host of who writes books under the pen name BRILLIANT: other dignitaries watched the pageant, the Wanhenga Xitu. “We decided to pay homage directed by its Cha de Caxinde procession was unlike any- to him. We studied his books and took a part

flamboyant P H thing that had passed before it. from each book. We even had a man repre- O T

commandant Cha O

S “In all the years I have been reporting senting him, sitting on a couch. It was :

J O

de Caxinde dances S E

on the carnival, I have never seen such an Wanhenga Xitu, telling stories like a charac- S I L

its way to victory V A

P I N T O

46 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 47 S O T N A S

O L A D N P H O T O S :

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ues,” he says, his voice echoing around the those taking singing lessons and others simply acoustic-friendly wooden stalls and ceiling. browsing through the centre’s extensive collec- “It’s the one day “Look back five or six years and we had tion of books. All are happy to meet up for a of the year when only one theatre group in Luanda. Now we refreshing drink in the centre’s calm, leafy have more than 30, probably more than 100 if courtyard bar. everybody, rich you count all the small groups in the bairros It is here that we find Bambino, sipping a and poor, comes (local neighbourhoods). Now people have cool sparkling water ahead of a meeting with room in their lives to explore culture.” the association’s president and some of its out to share a Cha de Caxinde does its best to encourage other senior members. theatre in all shapes and sizes, offering its party that The next carnival is months away, but it is impressive installations free of charge to visit- never too soon to start planning. “We still have celebrates an ing troupes from elsewhere in Angola and not decided what we are going to do next year, abroad. But it is not just drama that is encour- Angola for us all.” aged here. Dance classes – from traditional but we have to start preparing soon. Our carnival group is one of the biggest, so we have a lot Angolan Semba moves, to raunchy Latin Antonio Pinto to organise. And the competition is heating American salsa and even conservative ball- Luanda resident room dancing – are almost always full. up,” he admits, with a wry smile. Cha de Caxinde is home to an eclectic Maybe Bambino is staying mum to keep ter out of one his books,” says Bambino. Winning the 2005 carnival may be Cha de blend of people. Students of the evocative his rivals guessing, but everyone agrees that From scores of pregnant women to a Caxinde’s crowning glory, but all year round Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira mix with this year’s carnival will be hard to beat. ❖ bunch of creative bohemians representing this vibrant association reserves a corner of those who have supported the association over Angola’s capital for the development and pro- the years, the procession was captivating and motion of culture. humorous. Under the strict direction and Luanda, which was once a pulsating cul- whistle-blowing of the flamboyant comman- tural hive of activity boasting dozens of dant, in a brilliant white uniform, the crew was cinemas as well as several theatres, lost out to obviously on top form and certainly caught the decades of colonial and civil war. Most people eyes of the judges. agree that in the country’s phase of post-con- Bambino says victory was sweet, but jokes flict reconstruction, culture is more important that it was by no means cheap. The prepara- than ever to help to stimulate the spiritual tions began in September, and even with the growth of Angolans. substantial prize money the group did not Standing inside the recently renovated manage to break even. “We had 1,500 people mint green and white theatre, Bambino says P H O T

involved in this year’s carnival, and paying our peace is giving the scene a fresh lease of life. O S :

J O

tailors to produce our costumes alone cost “People lost all their traditional and social S E

S I L V

$25,000. But, of course, we don’t take part in activities during the war, but now we have the A

P I N T

carnival for the money,” Bambino says. chance to reactivate and bring back those val- O

48 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 49 agriculture

gers in town – so much so that the firm acquired wisdom and can now cope with which originally spotted his potential now whatever his home environment throws up. employs him as a general manager and a “As you know, the weather in Angola is teacher of future generations of farmers. very complicated,” he says. “Almost no one Indeed, as Mr Silveira welcomes the lat- here can grow vegetables because of the wet est batch of students to the Centro de season. But with these techniques that I Formacao de Agricultura (agricultural train- have brought back from Israel, it’s no probing centre) at the Terra Verde farm, 30kms lem to produce results 12 months of the north of Luanda, he cuts a confident figure. year. It’s a matter of managing and manipu- A specialist in irrigation and greenhouse lating the weather,” he adds. technology, he briefs them on some of the Strolling past his beloved greenhouses things they can expect from the programme. “You will have practical and theoretical where peppers and tomatoes ripen under classes every day. We look forward to your ideal conditions, Mr Silveira is proud to be a co-operation and hope you’ll enjoy the part of such a successful project. course,” he says, surrounded by a display of At its outset three years ago, the 300- prime fruit and vegetables – an example to hectare farm was, as Mr Engel puts it, the students of what Angola’s fertile lands “nothing but bush and baobabs,” but with can yield with hard work and the right staff such as Pedro Silveira putting their knowledge. training into practice, the team here has The school is just one unit of the Terra proved it is possible to tame even the tough- Verde group which produces top quality est environment. agricultural produce for domestic consump- During his teenage years, Mr Silveira tion. Mr Silveira, who travels to Israel every could have picked any profession. With year to top up his ever-expanding knowl- maths and chemistry his favourite school edge, is the apple of the firm’s eye. subjects, he toyed with the idea of a career “In this year’s class in Israel there were in electrical engineering – while at a lanky 40 managers from all over the world – from 1.92m tall and an avid basketball player, “I saw an advert South America and Europe as well as from becoming a sports star was not beyond the Africa. But Pedro was number one,” says in the newspaper Erez Engel, Terra Verde’s director, brimming realms of possibility. for a course in rowing Farming, however, never even entered When Pedro Silveira was growing up with pride. in Angola’s coastal Benguela province, he “Pedro started from zero, but for every- the equation, but with no regrets about tak- farming where G was surrounded by banana trees, coconut one here in Angola agriculture is in the ing this direction Mr Silveira’s aspirations they were success palms and cornfields. Despite his lush blood. He is a perfect example of what can now rest on passing on the know-how of his sending students An imaginative environment, never once did he dream of be achieved with a little encouragement and craft and feeding his country. putting a spade to the soil. a lot of dedication,” Mr Engel adds. “I want to help Angola to stop import- to Israel for venture is under way But years later and a whole lot taller, Certainly, Mr Silveira had to put in the ing food and for us to start producing it special training. I which is training Mr Silveira, now aged 30, is one of the effort to get where he is today. “During that ourselves. We have a lot of potential. We country’s leading agricultural experts. “I first course, I went to the Arava Desert [in have water and land, and we can do this,” applied for it, got young Angolans to saw an advert in the newspaper for a Israel] to learn how to grow vegetables in a he says. accepted and the course in farming where they were sending dry, hot climate. The only water came from As his students settle down to their first develop their students to Israel for special training,” he the Dead Sea which meant it was very salty,” lesson, it is clear that while Angolans are next I knew I says, explaining how it all began. he explains. counrty’s fertile land keen to learn, they also have a lot to teach. “I applied for it, got accepted and the “The methods we had to learn were was on my way.” “Many people don’t know about Angola and for the production of next thing I knew I was on my way. I didn’t really high-tech. We learnt how to grow with the methods we use here, but we have actually realise what I was getting myself and without soil, in the cold and in the heat, locally-grown fruit into,” he adds. However this spur-of-the- and how to produce crops at all times of reached a very high level,” says Mr Silveira. Pedro Silveira “It is an established fact that the best and vegetables. moment decision was to change Pedro year in all weathers.” General Manager, results in agriculture are achieved through Silveira’s life for ever. Angola presents a completely different Terra Verde Agricultural Training Three years ago, he nervously stepped set of challenges, with too much water for a combined knowledge. Our knowledge from Centre off the plane in Tel Aviv, Israel’s economic large part of the rainy season and not Angola could be very helpful to others else- capital, without the faintest idea about enough during the rest of the year. But Mr where in the world,” he adds with cultivation. He now has the greenest fin- Silveira quickly learnt to apply his newly- confidence. ❖

50 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2005 51