Kentz wins €47.6m contract in Africa

Tipperary-based engineering group Kentz has won a $69 million (€47.6 million) contract at a coal mining project in Mozambique.

The contract for the Moatize Coal Project will see Kentz undertake the structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and piping erection work for the coal processing plant.

The project is being developed by Brazil-based mining company Vale, and will be one of the largest coal mining projects in the world.

Located in the Tete Province, the plant will be able to handle 26 million metric tonnes of coal per annum.

"This is a fantastic award for Kentz and reaffirms our dominant position in the mining sector in sub-Saharan Africa," said Kentz chief executive Dr Hugh O'Donnell. "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."

The project will also involve investment in health, education and professional training, and the creation of infrastructure and development of sustainable economic activity in the local community.

Kentz floated on London's Alternative Investment Market early last year. The group specialises in servicing industries such as oil and gas drilling and refining, mining and pharmaceuticals.