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ContainerWorldContainerWorld

ContainerWorldContainer World is already the leading name in Africa's container industry. But as the oil and gas market throughout the continent continues to expand, the company is set to enjoy even more rapid growth.

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Established in 1983,Container World

has proved itself as a dependable

and flexible firm specializing in the

sale, rental and conversions of new and

pre-owned marine containers. With a

turnover of more than 400 million rand,

this has placed it at the forefront of a

sector that remains a crucial part of the

continent's shipping industry.

Unsurprisingly, this has taken the company

far away from its roots in South Africa.

Operating across the east and south,

Pascal Vidal, the head of its oil and gas-

focused offshore division, says that

Container World is now “doing a lot of

business on the west coast as well”.

“Of course,” he continues, “we are very well

known in South Africa – we have been

around for 31 years now. And we have a

very good reputation across Southern

Africa as a whole.”

The formula for this, he adds, is

simple.“It's down to being active for over

three decades, providing quality equipment

and keeping our word. That's good

enough. We're always improving our

services too.”

A key part of these offerings are containers built

specifically for offshore oil rigs. Along with the standard

shipping and supply ship units, Container World also

offers accommodation, offices and workshops, along

with boat-shaped floating skips for the lifting and

transportation of non-hazardous waste to and from

offshore platforms.

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Branching out

This has led to opportunities in some of

Africa's key oil and gas producers. The firm

is currently close to beginning operations

through a project in Angola that Vidal

describes as “more than a joint venture”.

“The company has been created and is

already registered,” he continues.“One of

our directors has been named on the board

and we will be fully operational early next

year. We're just completing the

administrative tasks now, such as bank

accounts and finalising the investment.

We're required to put money in the country

but it's only a million dollars.”

“The company will not be called Container

World but will provide the same type of

services – the sale and conversions of

containers, pre-fabricated containers and

offshore equipment. All the support will be

coming from South Africa.”

This seems like a wise decision. Angola is

Africa's second largest oil producer, having

recently been overtaken by Nigeria. Yet the

two countries have been vying for the title

for some time now and while Nigeria is

facing numerous challenges in the form of

instability, oil theft and an uncertain

environment for investors due to the long-

delayed Petroleum Industry Bill, Angola's

It's down to being active for over three decades, providing quality equipment and keeping our word. That's good enough. We're always improving our services too.

“

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output is rising fast.

“Angola has a lot of potential, especially

with the new pre-salt discoveries in the

South, says Vidal.“They are on track to

double production over the next five years.

“We've been in the Angolan market for

more than 12 years now,” he adds.“It's a

neighbouring country, but it can be very

difficult to collect payment from

customers. When we are there, our clients

can pay in their local currency, the Kwanza.

But with us being investors our dividends

will be very easy to expatriate back to

South Africa.”

Angola has a lot of potential, especially with the new pre-saltdiscoveries in the South. They are on track to double production over the next five years.”

“

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Opportunities

Moving forward, there are even more

opportunities on the horizon too. “In the

future, we're looking to work in

Madagascar,” Vidal says.“That may start

quite soon. Also, there's a major new

development that will be a focus for us in

Uganda. Even though it is inland, the

activity on Lake Albert means that

containers are still required.”

Huge reserves of oil were discovered in the

Albertine basin in 2006, and the bulk of

commercial production in the country is

now expected to begin in 2017, once a new

export pipeline and refinery are built.

At the same time, Vidal states that the

company will soon be very active in Chad –

another country that it is pushing forward

its nascent oil sector. This could see it

double output to 260,000 bpd by 2016 – a

figure that could have a significant impact

on one of the poorest nations in the world.

“We're looking to a new project in Senegal

too, which will become an oil producer

within three to four years,” he adds.“There's 5

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Pascal Vidal

Miguel dos Santos

Goretti Teixeira

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Mauritania too, and all the time we'll carry on

servicing our existing markets as we do.”

This, he admits, will not be without its

challenges. “We know that as this activity

increases, so does the competition. For us we

don't see it as a fight, it mean us adapting our

approach, knowing that there won't just be two

or three companies on the market, but six or

seven. Our method may be slightly different,

but that won't affect product quality.”

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8

101 Musgrave Park

18 Musgrave Road

Durban, 4001

E-mail: info.dbn@containerworld.co.za

P O Box 50502

Musgrave Road

4062

+27 31-201 2226Tel:

+27 31-202 3904Fax:

+27 31-202 1648A/c Fax:

Other Offices at:

www.containerworld.co.za

Container World Durban Head Office

Contact Details

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