Congo Services boosts local content in the oil and gas sector

As part of these policies, Energy Capital & Power spoke to Karim Manouach, Managing Director of Congo Services, a Congolese company with a majority Congolese shareholding. Congo Services embodies the government's local content strategy, actively contributing to workforce development and strengthening the country's energy sector.

Promoting local expertise in oil and gas services

Congo Services specialises in stevedoring, handling, lifting equipment rental, lifting equipment maintenance services and the supply of lifting and handling personnel. Since 2020, it has extended its activities to repair and maintenance services in the oil and gas, mining and private sectors. The company is also the exclusive dealer for Manitowoc cranes in Congo, offering sales, rental and maintenance services. Its subsidiaries, Congo Services Transit, focus on freight transport, while SCPP provides painting and scaffolding services for offshore platforms.

"We are the only Congolese company in this field, competing with international companies that have vast resources at their disposal. To remain competitive, we have had to adapt by maintaining the structure of a national company while complying with international standards", emphasises Mr Manouach.

Congo Services' client portfolio includes international oil companies such as TotalEnergies, Perenco, ENI, Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes, with TotalEnergies being SCPP's largest client. Mr Manouach underlined the strength of these partnerships, saying: "Our long-term collaborations with major and junior oil companies reflect our expertise and deep commitment to the industry."

Mr Manouach also highlighted the company's agility and local expertise, adding: "Our in-depth understanding of the local environment gives us a competitive advantage. Unlike multinationals, our decision-making process is much faster, enabling us to adapt quickly to customer needs and operational challenges."

Raising the bar for local content

Congo Services is committed to strengthening local expertise by aligning its operations with international standards. "Our aim is to ensure that Congolese professionals have the skills and knowledge to compete globally," said Manouach. To achieve this, the company is investing in a new maintenance facility, setting international benchmarks for offshore operations, with a particular focus on hydraulics and specialist repairs.

"We don't just hire local talent, we develop it, because building local capacity is not just a legal requirement, it's a strategic asset", explained Mr Manouach. The company offers structured training programmes to equip employees with technical skills and prepare them for senior positions in the oil and gas sector. The company is also developing its inspection services, having recently acquired its first magnetic particle inspection kit.

With a solid base in Congo, the company is now looking to expand regionally. "We already have equipment in Cabinda, where we work with the local refinery," explains Manouach. "As soon as this project is completed, our equipment will be transferred to the nearby airport construction site. In addition to Angola, Congo Service's plans to expand into several African countries. "We are ready to take our expertise beyond Congo and contribute to the growth of the African energy sector," concluded Mr Manouach.

Promoting local content will be at the heart of the Congo Energy & Investment Forum, to be held from 24 to 26 March in Brazzaville. The event will showcase energy projects in Congo and highlight investment opportunities, bringing together international investors, industry leaders and local stakeholders to stimulate growth in the sector.