Sonangol will reinforce its tanker fleet with two ships. The new vessels, whose construction has been commissioned to South Korea, will be capable of carrying one million barrels.
The construction of one of the ships has already started, having started last week, on the 15th of July.
According to the oil company, in a statement quoted by Angop, the start of the contract was made official with the cutting of steel, in an act that marked the start of the pre-fabrication stage of the ships and which was attended by staff from Sonangol and the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas.
It is estimated that the delivery of the first ship, already under construction, will take place in March next year, while the second should take place in the following quarter.
Cited in the note, the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Trading & Shipping Business Unit (UNTS) of the oil company – which has the work under its responsibility –, Luís Manuel, clarified that the project is part of the company’s investment strategy and that will bring benefits to the country.
“We have thus achieved one of the goals set and programmed within the activities and the effort that has been made so that Sonangol keeps its activity in the shipping segment updated and, naturally, always in operation”, he said.
The construction of the ship is the responsibility of Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), a South Korean company, and will respect technical indications defined by the international shipping market, as well as environmental standards for containing pollution, writes Angop.
The ships belong to the Suezmax line, which has a lifespan of 20 years and are so called because they are able to circulate in the Suez Canal.
According to Angop, this acquisition will allow the oil company to ensure its commitment to shipping and delivering oil to destinations requested by buyers without having to resort to renting resources from third parties.
