As part of its R350-million investment programme aimed at establishing a significant presence in the African oil and gas sector, mechanical engineering group EnerMech acquired Cape Town-based control valves supplier Control Valve Technology (CVT) in May.

CVT services, refurbishes and sells control and safety valves and actuators to users in the energy, mining and petrochemicals industries. The company has successfully completed several contracts for companies in South Africa, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana and the Middle East.

EnerMech, which is headquartered in the UK, has also established a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, Angola and Mozambique. It comprises business divisions that include valves, cranes and lifting, hydraulics, pipelines and umbilicals, industrial services, equipment rental and training, which all service the global oil and gas industry.

The company employs more than 2 000 people in over 30 locations across Africa, Asia, Australia, Western Europe, the US and the Caspian Sea and Middle East regions.

CVT owner and MD Stephen David will transfer to EnerMech, where he will lead the company’s valves operations in Africa alongside newly appointed regional director Jean François Roche.

EnerMech MD Doug Duguid says CVT’s strong client relationships will aid EnerMech’s valves division in gaining quick and efficient market entry into Africa.

“CVT is a profitable business with a highly skilled workforce and strong customer relationships. It is also ideally positioned to help us grow our business, both in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.

“CVT will be a key building block as we significantly expand our valves business and other business lines in Africa over the next few years,” notes Duguid.

He adds that EnerMech will seek to reinforce the relationships that CVT has established with local companies, such as Western Cape steel mill Saldanha Steel, engineering and maintenance services company Lesedi Nuclear Services and national oil company PetroSA. EnerMech will also continue to secure work with international companies already aware of its valves expertise in other regions.

While CVT mostly fulfils contracts for the petrochemicals industry, it has also completed contracts for the mining, iron and steel, power, and oil and gas sectors. Further, EnerMech expects that the new partnership will draw other service lines to the company’s existing client base.

“Our 20-year track record in the African valves market, combined with EnerMech’s inter- national experience with major operators, opens up new opportunities, not just in our own backyard in South Africa, but also in many other African States where large-scale oil and gas developments are in the pipeline,” says David.

“CVT has a solid reputation across the Southern African region and will make an immediate impact on our African operations. The investment we are making in several African countries demonstrates how important the region is to EnerMech for future growth,” says Roche.