Wood Group Angolan arm wins first deal

WOOD Group has launched a joint venture in Angola, boosted by a contract to support BP’s African offshore operations.

The Aberdeen-based oil services company said yesterday it had set up Wood Group Kianda with Angolan firm Amílcar Nascimento to manage its interests in the Opec nation.

Wood Group says the market for its new joint venture is worth “tens of millions” of pounds over the next few years.

It also announced the new firm’s first contract win, which will see it provide maintenance services to one of BP’s floating production, storage and offloading vessels.

Ken McLennan, general manager for Wood Group Kianda, said: “Wood Group has been working in the Angolan market for more than ten years through various means so it’s great to now launch Wood Group Kianda, a majority-owned Angolan company.

“This reinforces our presence and long-term commitment to Angola. The contract award from BP also further extends Wood Group’s global relationship with BP.”

The contract with BP is particularly significant as the oil major views Angola as one of its six “new profit centres” for exploration and production.

Angola is one of the world’s major hubs for oil and gas exploration and development, and one of the largest oil producers in southern Africa.

Kianda will provide services such as engineering, design, procurement, construction management, operations maintenance and support, and is particularly targeting the offshore industry, although Angola also has onshore oil and gas.

As a local company, it will be able to take advantage of the country’s policy of growing sustainable domestic supply capability and capacity.

Wood Group’s other international subsidiaries will now work through Kianda to sell their services in Angola.