Sparrows Group secures three-year contract with Total in Angola

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Sparrows Group secures three-year contract with Total in Angola

Sparrows Group has signed a three-year contract with Total to supply crane maintenance and engineering services at four of the operator’s assets in Angola.

The agreement will see the company implement planned maintenance routines as well as delivering all major preventative maintenance, and associated engineering for Total across its Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) units in Block 17. A total of 14 cranes will be serviced as part of the work scope.

Sparrows has provided the services since 2010 where prior to that they delivered ad-hoc maintenance and design scopes related to the field for a number of years. The new deal will protect existing jobs in both Aberdeen and Angola as the company’s bases in both regions will work in collaboration on the project.

The maintenance will cover a total of four fields situated within the block including the Girassol, Dalia, Pazflor and CLOV FPSOs.

With facilities in Talatona and Malonga, Angola is the hub of Sparrows operations in Africa.

Stewart Mitchell, chief executive officer at Sparrows, said: “Having established a strong track record with Total focussed on safety and reliability, the contract is testament to the high quality services provided by our teams in Aberdeen and Angola and we look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come.

“Angola continues to be an area of growth for Sparrows. We are experiencing a strong demand in Africa for companies that can demonstrate high quality knowledge and skills with a focus on reliability.”

Block 17 currently produces around 600,000 barrels of oil per day, a third of Angola’s overall output.

Source: www.sparrowsgroup.com

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.