Fugro opens training and equipment testing facility in Angola

The official opening of the facility on 10 July by Lilianne Ploumen, the Dutch minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, was attended by the Angolan minister for construction, Waldemar Pires Alexandre; as well as the secretary of state of the ministry of petroleum, Anibal Silva; the Dutch ambassador to Angola, Susanna Terstal; and local dignitaries and clients.

“Our new site demonstrates Fugro’s strong commitment to the Angolan market,” said Christina Brokahne, managing director of Fugro Angola as she took Ploumen and other guests on a tour of the facility, which comprises a building area of approximately 7,000 square metres.

The new site hosts a double storey administrative building housing offices, conference rooms, a training facility and staff canteen. Attached to the office building is a large warehouse facility of 2,500 square metres with a 20-ton overhead crane and ample storage space, as well as workshops for equipment testing and maintenance, a dedicated area for subsea equipment and ROV tooling and a large state-of-the art geotechnical laboratory.

The ceremony also provided an opportunity for Fugro Angola to demonstrate its practical support for the ‘Challenge the Silence’ programme of the Forum de Mulheres Jornalistas para a Igualdade no Genero. Herivaldo Augusto, director of Fugro Angola Limitada and Wilhard Kreijkes, Fugro regional director Africa, together with Ploumen presented a cheque to the charity, which raises awareness of gender equality and domestic violence in Angola.