Mozambique’s liquid and gas containment specialists

Mozambique

Paulo Chibanga, country manager of Enserve Mozambique, talks to The Energy Year about partnering with international groups in large gas projects in Mozambique and the environmental benefits of installing optimal pumps and valves. Enserve Mozambique is an engineering company specialising in pump and valve equipment and maintenance for the oil and gas, steel and water sectors.

Could you comment on the main technologies that you offer to gas sector companies?
When our shareholders decided to establish a branch of Enserve in Mozambique, our principal focus was on liquid and gas containment solutions. We provide everything from piping installation to valves, pumps, gaskets, leak detection systems and repairs. Now we plan to expand our portfolio into flexible hoses and couplings, as well as equipment for the aviation and LNG segments.
Our customers include ADRM, the national water company, Petromoc, AB InBev, Puma Energy, Mozal and Sasol, an important engagement for us with a steep learning curve. We are proud to say that large companies get in touch with us when they arrive in Mozambique. If you search for pumps or valves in Mozambique, Enserve will show up as number one or in the top three, but while most companies only supply the equipment, we also provide maintenance and repairs.
Our main purpose right from the beginning was to lower costs for our customers. Gas installations, for example, can have significant losses because, unlike water, which you can see or hear dripping, gas is not visible and leaks are difficult to detect. Besides contaminating the environment, gas leaks are very dangerous, and safety is another important issue. We are the number one company in testing the hydrostatic pressure of equipment, it is one of the main things we do today. We pride ourselves on the precision, safety and quality of our work.

What has been your involvement with Sasol in Mozambique?
Our contract with Sasol is very important for them because we carry out highly specialised work. In the past, and even today, few consider the possibility that a Mozambican company can provide such services. We are a flagship provider for Sasol, and we have been with them at trade shows. We are an example of a successful local content plan and a reference from them to other clients.
When Saipem arrived in Mozambique, they contacted us after discussing with other players who the top providers were. For us, that is extremely important. It was an anchor contract from day one because we were able to build upon it and also use it to train staff.

What are your key objectives for 2024 and beyond?
We are focused on growing our capabilities and finding additional partners who will invest in the company. We have been in discussions with a big oil and gas firm which is part of the VINCI Energies Group to form a partnership for localisation in Mozambique, and we have others with South African companies that have a lot of experience in our field. Understanding the technical aspects of projects, identifying the best equipment to utilise and which standards to follow are daily responsibilities for us, and we seek to partner up with companies that can reinforce our training on specific equipment.
Besides investments, we are also looking for ways to improve the speed with which we deploy staff and equipment. One of the most important goals for us is to start working on projects more consistently.
The force majeure, and the other issues in Cabo Delgado, have intimidated investors. A few partners that are interested in working in Palma or Pemba first want to be sure that everything is secure. But, like everything in life, it’s first come, first served. It’s a business challenge and it’s an attitude. That is why we have a large market share today. We were one of the first to arrive and take a position.

How does the equipment you supply help protect the environment?
We have monitoring systems that detect gas leaks and other emissions. Equipment such as valves and pumps can be responsible for pollution and needs to be properly installed, maintained and repaired to eliminate losses that are harmful to the environment. The work we do helps reduce the environmental impact of the companies we serve.
We also calibrate and certify equipment to make sure that it is operating correctly and safely, to avoid dangerous situations. The scope of our work is not to reduce the consumption of paper or electricity at the office, it is about mitigating environmental pollution, dangers and costs for our clients.

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