From my original archive
Congo Republic
Destination overview
About this destination
The Republic of the Congo lies in Central Africa and is distinct from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Brazzaville, its capital, faces Kinshasa across the Congo River. Pointe-Noire is its principal Atlantic port and a centre of oil-related activity.
French is the official language, alongside widely spoken African languages. Tropical forest covers a substantial part of the country. Rivers and coastal routes have long connected settlements and trade.
The landscape includes forest, savanna and a narrow Atlantic coastline. Music, urban culture and regional traditions coexist with the industrial importance of offshore oil production.
My connection
From 2008 to 2010, I worked with ENI Congo in Pointe-Noire as supervisor for new site activities. I coordinated work on production facilities and onshore well sites, following contractors, permits, material movements and the technical, quality and safety requirements of the project.
Original archive notes and photographs
My original travel notes
The Republic of Congo: The Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, is a country located in Central Africa with a population of approximately 5 million people. The official language is French, and there are over 60 different ethnic groups in the country, each with their own languages and cultures.The country has a primarily agricultural economy, with oil and timber being major exports. However, the country has faced challenges related to corruption, political instability, and poverty.
Personal memories
I worked in the Republic of the Congo for two years, from 2008 until the end of 2010, in Mboundi, a small village in the jungle. Some of the oil-production methods seemed to belong to an earlier era, and working there with the local people reminded me of the film The Wages of Fear.
We had very little equipment for repairing the old installations, and failures were frequent. Nevertheless, we managed to keep the oil production going and establish reliable water injection.
 |  |  |  |  |