Challenging logistics in the Democratic Republic of Congo

John Anderson reports on a project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the logistics of deploying and supporting a MineTech survey and demining initiative proved almost more of a challenge than the minefields.

MineTech is used to working in remote environments. Our ability to co-ordinate every aspect of our life support facilities, from catering to transportation is essential in keeping our people right where they're needed, ensuring close delivery of service and ultimately cost efficiencies. Maintaining self-sufficiency is something we're pretty skilled at, with stocks of essential equipment held, ready-to-roll. However going operational at short notice in Muanda, a remote oil town at the mouth of the Congo River put even MineTech's logistical skills to the test.

One demining team and a survey team were required to deploy as quickly as possible to complete survey and clearance work and create a measure of comfort for seismic crews scheduled to follow a couple of months later.

With the mine clearance issues identified and understood, logistics became the single and most important issue in what, despite the increasing attentions of the oil industry, remains an extremely remote environment.

Notwithstanding continuing unrest across DRC, the security of our personnel in this region was not a major concern. The whole coastline oil concession zone was in a high profile security area which necessitated close liaison with the military. This created a significant administrative work load as special permission was required to work in the area. Visas needed to be obtained at short notice for some personnel but as in many other countries, MineTech Zimbabwean demining teams were able to enter DRC without a visa, which eased the process. Everyone required work permits however and licences had to be obtained for every satellite phone and high frequency radio which were needed to provide a communications fall back plan in case the cell networks failed.

Power was essential to operations, not just to support the camp but to recharg batteries and metal detectors. The only available solution was to take our own generator supported with solar panels to provide a consistent supply.

Despite this being an oil town there were no fuel stations. A trip to the oil refinery provided access to a bulk purchase arrangement, where a minimum 500 litres was delivered in bowsers that required us to organise a designated safe storage area in camp. Finding water was also a challenge. All water had to be bought, either by the bottle in the market or in water bowsers which then needed transportation to the site.

Local food supplies produced a relatively limited menu. Any meat we ate was canned. Fortunately there was a relatively plentiful supply of fish which could be bought on the beach each morning. However the whole process of sourcing food was time consuming, with only small amounts available from each individual market stall.

Wherever possible, MineTech employs local personnel both for demining, if appropriate, or for support functions such as cooking and driving. Drivers were plentiful but English speakers were not so we needed to source an interpreter.

Road and medical facilities were limited in both Muanda and in Congo's capital city, Kinshasa so providing adequate western style medical care for our teams required us to bring in a medic. In case of any serious accident or illness we planned to avoid local facilities and to invoke full medical evacuation processes.

After all this extensive planning, our support infrastructure was finalised just a few days before the demining teams arrived.