Rebuilding with Purpose: MOSCO’s Post-Cyclone Recovery Work at Ambatovy, Madagascar
In the aftermath of Cyclone Gezani at Ambatovy in Madagascar, MOSCO Specialised Contractors was proud to stand alongside our client and play a meaningful role in the recovery and reinstatement effort.
The images tell part of the story: damaged infrastructure, complex industrial access, elevated work fronts, large ducting systems, scaffolding, insulation, cladding, and teams working in demanding conditions. But the real story is not only about the structures repaired or the quantities achieved.
The real story is about the people. Following the cyclone, the disruption extended far beyond the work areas on site. The surrounding town infrastructure was heavily affected. Off-site accommodation and living areas were impacted by electricity shortages, while the sourcing of basic necessities, including food, became a daily challenge. Communication, logistics, transport, welfare, planning, and productivity all had to be managed under conditions that were anything but normal.
And yet, the team continued.
This is where true leadership is tested. Not when everything is going according to plan, but when the plan is disrupted. Not when resources are easy to access, but when every meal, every shift, every lift, every safe access route, and every work front requires extra effort, coordination, and calm decision-making.
As one of our project leaders put it: “Strong leadership is not only shown in how we deliver the work. It is shown in how we look after our people when conditions are difficult, keep the team focused when circumstances change, and continue to make safe decisions under pressure.”
That mindset shaped the entire recovery effort.
Over a two-month period, MOSCO’s scaffolding team erected and managed approximately 645 tonnes of scaffold, supported by a workforce of 65 people. This access was critical in enabling safe work at height across complex and cyclone-affected areas of the plant. Every scaffold structure represented careful planning, safe execution, inspection, and teamwork. At the same time, our insulation and cladding teams made significant progress on SAP2, installing approximately 4,200 m² of insulation and completing around 1,300 m² of cladding, with a dedicated team of 60 people. This work required discipline, technical skill, and attention to detail while operating in an environment where the simplest daily routines were made more difficult by the wider impact of the cyclone.
The next phase continues on SAP1, where approximately 4,400 m² of insulation and 1,100 m² of cladding still need to be completed. With the same leadership, teamwork, and commitment already demonstrated, MOSCO remains focused on completing the remaining scope safely and professionally.
A special acknowledgement must go to the management team who made this possible. Their leadership, planning, coordination, and care for the workforce were central to the success of the project. They ensured that people were supported, work fronts were prioritised, safety standards were maintained, and the team stayed focused on the task ahead. Their ability to lead calmly through uncertainty allowed the broader workforce to continue delivering with confidence.
We are proud of every person who contributed to this project: the scaffolders, insulators, cladders, supervisors, safety teams, logistics support, management, and everyone working behind the scenes.
At MOSCO, we often say that we provide safe access to new heights. At Ambatovy, that meant more than scaffold and access platforms. It meant creating the conditions for people to work safely, supporting one another through disruption, and showing what can be achieved when leadership and teamwork come together.
This project is a reminder that industrial recovery is not only built with steel, insulation, cladding, and equipment.
It is built by people.
And we are proud of ours.
MOSCO Specialised Contractors
Providing safe access to new heights.