Angola’s Sonamet targets Namibian oil, gas market

Agolan fabrication giant Sonamet has set its sights on expanding into Namibia’s growing oil and gas sector as part of a broader regional diversification strategy.

Speaking in a recent interview, Sonamet senior executive Sandro Ferreira said the company is actively engaging with the Namibian government and public institutions to explore ways of establishing a competitive presence in the country.

Discussions are reportedly centred on potential tax incentives and free-zone arrangements that could make Namibia an attractive base for future operations.

“The main focus today remains on Namibia, our closest neighbour, and, to some extent, Mozambique. In Namibia, we are closely monitoring opportunities and actively engaging with the government and public institutions to explore how we can become more competitive – particularly through tax incentives and free-zone arrangements,” Ferreira said.

He noted that Sonamet’s interest in Namibia is driven by its proximity and the country’s rapidly developing energy sector.

With nearly 30 years of experience in oil and gas fabrication and engineering, the company believes it is well placed to support emerging projects in the region.

Ferreira said Sonamet’s expansion plans extend beyond commercial ambitions, emphasising the company’s commitment to local content and skills development. The firm has already trained 30 Namibian welders and pipefitters in preparation for future collaboration on fabrication projects.

He also highlighted Sonamet’s focus on retaining and developing skilled engineers, many of whom were recruited straight from university and have since advanced into senior technical roles.

“As we focus on expansion, there are two main objectives: growing our presence and supporting local content in the countries where we operate. For example, in Namibia, our goal is to integrate Namibians into our facility so they can work on their own projects. Recently, we trained 30 welders and pipefitters from Namibia as part of this effort,” Ferreira said.

He added that Sonamet aims to leverage its Angolan expertise and fabrication capacity to support the needs of neighbouring oil and gas markets.

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