ANGOLA - Energy & Mining
General Manager, Angola Environmental Serviços (AES)
Bio
The General Manager of AES, Matuzalem Sukete has been with the company for more than 15 years, where he held various positions including assistant operations manager, operations manager, and deputy general manager. With his training in power engineering, Matuzalém has also worked in companies like Empresa Nacional de Electricidade and Global SantaFe in an offshore drilling rig. Matuzalém holds a master’s degree in purchase and supply chain management from Robert Gordon University.
AES provides integrated waste management services to the oil and gas sector in Angola and has been a pioneer in Angola in solutions focused on decontamination and reduction of volumes of NORM waste. By integrated we mean, besides the actual waste management, we also provide a list of complementary services that make the entire waste management process feasible, conducive and easy for our clients. The core activity carried out is the treatment of drill cuttings, which is done through a technology called thermal desorption. This allows the drill cuttings or drilling mud to be treated through a thermal process in which the oil contained in the cuttings is recovered without altering its original properties, and this is reused in the production of new drilling mud. The remaining cleaned solids are then sent for final disposal at AES’s own certified landfill properly designed for this type and nature of waste. AES also carries out incineration activity for hazardous waste that cannot be recovered or recycled. This is incinerated to ensure that the hazardous element of it gets significantly reduced, hence, eliminating the risks/threats to the environment. One important challenge in the extractive industry, but which also is found in multiple sectors and industries worldwide, has to do with the existence of radioactive waste. This is a challenge that the world is still in the pursuit of better solutions.
AES is aware of the various projects and has been building capabilities to respond to such growing needs for environmental preservation. We exist to provide solutions and to serve as a tool that allows this important sector of the economy to carry out its activities in a sustainable way. We have had several discussions with the different stakeholders on this issue including contractors and owners for these projects and they can count on AES’ support for that. Our shareholders are very committed to invest for building local competitive solutions that will keep making AES an important reference mainly in Angola but also in different parts of the world as well which already now contact Angola Environmental Serviços. AES’ organizational structure and its infrastructure are all set up to respond to such necessities.
Angola’s government is environmentally conscious and holds all the main player of the oil and gas sector to the highest global standards to protect marine and other resources for future generations with zero emissions. AES’ operating premises and its landfills meet the highest standards. This custodial role has to be passed on to younger generations to preserve our Angolan heritage. To build sustainable solutions, especially when talking about education that involves reshaping mentality and culture, time is of the essence as well as dedication and collaboration. AES has involved itself in multiple fronts to help shaping and molding the culture, mentality, and awareness by initiating and supporting various initiatives amongst which include offering internship programs to students pursuing studies related to environmental preservations. In engaging with the communities and the authorities, AES has conducted social welfare projects geared to educating the community on the needs of adopting adequate behavior to foster sustainable solutions. One example of such collaboration is that with the support of the regulatory authorities and the local government, AES has committed and is now working on a project to build a carpentry to donate to the community, and this carpentry will use the received wood waste as input for the production. This helps to pass a number of lessons such as the waste valorization initiatives and circular economy as whole, the social benefits of employment and the influence AES can have on the community to steer them toward more sustainable practices.
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ANGOLA - Economy
Interview
President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Angola-Saudi Arabia (CCIAAS)