Global engineering firm Kentz Corporation, through its operating unit, Kentz Engineers & Con-structors, of Mozambique, has been awarded a $69-million contract for the Moatize coal project, in Mozambique, which is being developed by Brazillian mining company Vale.

The scope of work that Kentz will under- take includes the structural steelwork and the mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and piping erection work for the coal processing plant.

The project is Vale’s first greenfield project in Africa and will be one of the largest coal-mining projects anywhere in the world. Located in the Tete province, some 1 700 km north of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, the plant will have the capacity to handle 26-million tons of coal a year.

The project also involves initiatives dedicated to investment in human capital, including health education and professional training as well as the creation of infrastructure and development of sustainable economic activity in the local community.

“This is a fantastic award for Kentz and reaffirms our dominant position in the mining sector in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the first of many coal projects that are planned for development in the region, which has the largest carboniferous reserves in the world. Kentz is ideally positioned to secure ongoing work over the coming years,” says Kentz CEO Dr Hugh O’Donnell.

Kentz, which serves a blue-chip client base primarily in the oil and gas, petrochemicals and mining and metals sectors, has worked in sub-Saharan Africa for over 30 years, providing specialist engineering and construction solutions for its clients. The company has in excess of 3 000 personnel in the region and over 10 000 employees in 26 countries.

The company’s three main business lines are specialist engineering, procurement and construction services, construction, and technical support services. It has a proven record of delivering mechanical, electrical, controls and instrumentation engineering, construction and management services in remote locations.