Global health and safety group homes in on African oil, gas prospects

20th June 2014

By: Sashnee Moodley

Senior Deputy Editor Polity and Multimedia

  

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International environment, health and safety (EHS) solutions specialist EHS Support has entered into a definitive agreement with local consulting company Prime Africa Consultants to develop a footprint in South Africa and ultimately Africa for its US and Australian oil and gas clients.

EHS Support chief technical officer and VP Nigel Goulding tells Engineering News many of its US and Australian clients are hoping to enter the African oil and gas market, resulting in the need for EHS Support to seek an experienced partner in the market.

He notes that, in addition to an attractive gross domestic product, there are various assets on the African continent that appeal to investors.

He adds that with the pending growth in onshore and offshore oil and gas opportunities in Africa, EHS Support hopes to establish a viable presence on the continent.

“It is a great opportunity for us to establish a presence in Africa. In particular, South Africa’s key advantage is that it offers a setting that is more conducive for US companies to conduct business,” Goulding says.

Through a series of company evaluations, EHS Support identified Prime Africa as a suitable part- ner as an entry point into the African, and particu-larly South African, oil and gas marketplace.

“The agreement is a sharing of services between two parties. One of the key things we looked at was whether the company had a similar culture to ours in the marketplace. We wanted a provider of niche services and some services that will support our existing offerings in the marketplace. We identified Prime Africa’s strength in economic and ecological evaluations as a primary advantage as our focus requires some of these skills,” Goulding explains.

In the last few months, both companies have been working according to a framework agree-ment that applies to a number of opportunities in South Africa and other countries on the continent.


South Africa has appreciable energy demand, which will allow for growth when additional energy resources are developed, which EHS Support hopes to use as a springboard into Southern Africa.

He predicts the next three to five years will be exciting for growth in oil and gas, as South Africa will grow from a low base in onshore oil and gas development.

“In terms of onshore energy development, South Africa is in its infancy. However, once it matures some of the key opportunities available will be in the ancillary services that will be required in the early phases of exploration – the development of projects services, such as road and water infrastructure and some of the support services, such as accommodation and waste,” says Goulding.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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