South Africa has positioned itself as a hub to service the oil and gas industry in Africa.
This is because of factors such as the United States’s intention to import 25% of its crude oil requirements from the continent, China’s considerable investments in Africa’s oil and gas sectors and many international oil companies moving into Africa.
In response Afrox has geared itself up to service the oil and gas industry across sub-Saharan Africa. Currently Afrox operates in 16 African countries and is looking to leverage off this geographic footprint.
“We have been positioning ourselves to provide international companies with local access to the latest in welding machine technology, engineering, gases and welding know-how,” says Kim Brightwell, Afrox’s technical expert in welding and related fields.
According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, in 2007 Africa had natural gas reserves of 14,58-trillion cubic metres, 8,22% of global reserves.
Natural gas production in 2007 was 6,45% of the world total. Proven oil reserves at the end of 2007 were 9,49% of global reserves.
In 2007 Africa produced an average of 10 317 barrels of crude oil a day, 12,5% of world output.
Brightwell said Afrox has invested in the latest technology, its distribution network, plant, cylinder stocks and wire production facilities.
“Afrox is also involved in training welders to meet the demands of South Africa’s massive infrastructure regeneration projects. In South Africa we have the skills and the companies capable of delivering them into the oil and gas market.”
Afrox also supplies speciality gases and equipment for laboratory, analytical, research and measurement applications.
Brightwell said Afrox’s gas portfolio includes more than 100 pure products, with several purities for each line. It has built production facilities, accredited analytical laboratories and mobile analytical services and state-of-the-art logistics and selection procedures for the gases.
“We have the capabilities to match and, in most cases, surpass anything to be found internationally,” says Marietha Strydom, Afrox speciality gases’ scientific and helium products manager.
Strydom said safety is important for the oil and gas industry.
She says many onshore refineries and offshore oil and gas platforms have fire suppression systems installed. They are in areas where effective fire suppression is important.
“Africa is an interesting continent with huge resources and potential,” said Harald Ranke, managing director of Linde Process Plants.
Linde Process is a subsidiary of the Linde Group, Afrox’s parent company. Linde has built 75 process plants for customers in Africa
“There are a lot of challenges, for example construction skills availability and safety issues, but we consider the opportunities of operating out of South Africa outweigh any obstacles,” Ranke said.