The booming oil and gas sector in Africa has prompted the establishment of Dubai-based GAC Group’s latest new company in Algeria.
Operational since July of this year, GAC Algeria’s head office located in Algiers provides a full range of ship agency services to all kinds of vessels calling at all the Algerian main ports including Annaba, Skikda, Jijel, Bejaia, Algiers, Mostaganem, Arzew/ Betioua and Oran.
Erland Ebbersten, regional director for Europe, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Africa, says GAC’s expansion into the country is part of the group’s ongoing focus on the global energy market.
“As a company heavily involved in oil and gas, we cannot miss establishing a strong presence in Algeria where 1.5 million barrels of oil are produced on an average day and where gas exports make it the fourth largest exporter of gas,” says Ebbersten.
The prospects in the country are further bolstered by its huge reserves with investments in infrastructure such as motorways from east to west and power plants. With continuing investments being made in Algerian oil and gas development, this sector has potential for increasing production capacity over the next few years.
General Manager Xavier Perrin believes the differentiating advantage that GAC brings to its customers in Algeria lies in the group’s global network, infrastructure and resources.
Whilst the focus of the business is on oil and gas export, GAC will also be handling a vast array of activities such as the import of pipes in bulk vessels, car carrier import, bulk import and export, export of fertiliser and cement as well as liner business.

GAC-Ultramar Network
In other group news, GAC-Ultramar Network, part of the GAC global shipping agency network,  extended its South American coverage with the addition of Colombia and Ecuador to its existing presence in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.
The GAC-Ultramar Network cooperation which was formed in 2004 combines GAC’s global network with Ultramar Network’s local expertise to provide tailor-made port and hub services to principals operating ships in South America. 
GAC Group vice president for shipping Lars Heisselberg sees the network expansion as an important development for the four-year alliance. “Colombia and Ecuador operate some of the busiest ports and trade lanes in South America. Our presence in both countries adds a significant boost to our existing network,” he said.
As the largest port agency in Colombia in terms of attended port calls, GAC-Ultramar Network Colombia offers tramp and liner services agency services. The network includes offices in Bogotل (headquarters), Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Puerto Bolivar, Coveٌas, Cali and Medellيn.
GAC-Ultramar Ecuador is formed as a result of a port agency operating agreement between Ultramar Network Chile and Grupo Transoceanica, the premier transport group in the country. The ports attended by GAC-Ultramar Ecuador are Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, La Libertad and Galلpagos.