The Coba Group
COBA Group is a Lisbon-headquartered, privately held engineering and environmental consultancy founded in 1962, delivering feasibility, design, supervision, and environmental assessment services across transport, energy, water, and mining for governments, multilateral development banks, and private-sector clients in 60 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersLisboa, Portugal
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Coba Group does
COBA Group is a privately held, multi-geographic engineering and environmental consulting firm headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 1962 by four engineers. The firm provides comprehensive consulting services across the full lifecycle of infrastructure projects — feasibility studies, design, technical assistance, construction supervision, and environmental and social assessments — across transport (roads, railways, airports), energy (hydropower, dams, transmission), water resources and irrigation, environment and sustainability, and digitalization. Its client base is dominated by government agencies, multilateral development banks (World Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank), and private sector operators in energy, mining, and water (EDP, REN, Neoenergia, Brisa, SOMINCOR/Lundin Mining, EDIA, IP-Infraestruturas de Portugal, MINEA Angola, ANA Airports), with project execution conducted through competitive public tenders and direct contracts across 60 countries.
The Group operates through a holding structure (COBA, SGPS, S.A., established 2014/2015) encompassing six regional operating companies (Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Algeria, Peru, Colombia), a Brazilian presence via LandPro and the November 2025-acquired MZE Engenharia, and specialized subsidiaries covering roads/pavements (CONSULSTRADA), surveying/LIDAR (LandCOBA), irrigation and environmental recovery (TETRAPLANO), and other engineering services (COESA). Revenue is generated primarily through professional-services, project-based contracts (feasibility studies, design, supervision) priced on fixed-price or time-and-materials terms, with multi-year durations typical for large infrastructure mandates. The Group's go-to-market relies on technical excellence reputation (ENR Top 225 ranked firm — 138th in 2018), 64 years of cumulative project history (~2,800 projects), MDB pre-qualification (ranked 3rd among Portuguese firms for MDB contracts 2012–2023), and active engagement in international engineering forums.
In June 2026, the Group created a joint venture named QUASAR with Brazilian consultancy Intertechne (COBA INTERTECHNE Energy Transition, Lda.) to enter the energy transition market, focusing on Oil & Gas, intermittent renewable energies, and renewable gases — representing a directional pivot toward decarbonization-adjacent work. The Group employs BIM, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and LIDAR survey technologies on projects such as the Kholombidzo Hydropower Project in Malawi and various water infrastructure works, and maintains memberships in professional bodies including ICOLD, IAEG, APPC, SPG, and CPT.
The Coba Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Coba Group
- Legal name
- COBA Group
- Website
- https://cobagroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- COBA Group is a Lisbon-headquartered, privately held engineering and environmental consultancy founded in 1962, delivering feasibility, design, supervision, and environmental assessment services across transport, energy, water, and mining for governments, multilateral development banks, and private-sector clients in 60 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Coba Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Engineering and Environmental Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (541330), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electric & Other Services Combined (4931)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Balance-of-Plant (BOP) & Civil Works for Power Plants (EUAEAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Site Preparation & Civil Works (Clearing, Grading, Earthworks, Roads) (EUAMAFAA), Civil & Site Works EPC (Earthworks, Roads, Drainage, Foundations) (EUAEADAA), Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory (EUAMANAB), Supply Chain (Scope 3) Emissions & Supplier Engagement Platforms (EUABAEAE)
Keywords
Where The Coba Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisboa
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
The Coba Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Engineering Consulting Services: COBA generates revenue through providing comprehensive engineering consulting services including feasibility studies, design projects, technical assistance, construction supervision, and environmental assessments for infrastructure projects.
- Project Design Contracts: Revenue is generated from fixed-price and time-and-materials contracts for project execution, preliminary studies, environmental impact studies, and construction supervision services.
- Multilateral Development Bank Contracts: Significant revenue stream from contracts funded by multilateral development banks including World Bank, African Development Bank, and European Investment Bank projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Engineering consulting services are priced based on project scope and complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Coba Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
COBA Group is a multi-geographic engineering and environmental consulting firm providing professional services across all stages of infrastructure project design and technical assistance. Core offerings include feasibility studies, project design, construction supervision, environmental assessments, and technical assistance in transport (roads, railways, airports), energy (hydropower dams, hydroelectric plants, transmission), water resources (supply, sanitation, irrigation), and environmental management for government clients, multilateral development banks, and private-sector operators across 60 countries.
Product overview
COBA Group is a multi-geographic engineering and environmental consulting firm offering services across all stages of project design and technical assistance. The portfolio consists of six regional companies (COBA Portugal, COBA Angola, COBA Moçambique, COBA Algérie, COBA Peru, COBA Colombia) and several specialized subsidiaries (COESA, CONSULSTRADA, LandCOBA, TETRAPLANO, LandPro) providing services in transports, energy, water resources, environment, sustainability, and digitalization. A new strategic joint venture, QUASAR by COBA and INTERTECHNE, was launched in June 2026 to focus on energy transition. The company completed over 2800 projects across 60 countries since its founding in 1962.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QUASAR by COBA and INTERTECHNE: Energy transition company focusing on Oil & Gas, Renewable Intermittent Energies, and Renewable Gases, created as a strategic partnership between COBA Group and Intertechne.
Products and services
- Engineering Consulting Services (Feasibility, Design, Technical Assistance, Construction Supervision)
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked 138th in ENR Top 225 International Design Firms (2018), up 56 positions from 2017
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Coba Group
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Coba Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Coba Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- IntertechneflagshipCOBA Group and Intertechne formed QUASAR (COBA INTERTECHNE Energy Transition, Lda.) to accelerate energy transition. The new company focuses on three strategic areas: Oil & Gas, Intermittent Renewable Energies, and Renewable Gases. QUASAR combines COBA's 60+ years of engineering experience with Intertechne's international energy sector expertise.
- ArteliacoreOngoing partnership for water and sanitation projects including master plans for sanitation in Angolan cities (Luena, N'Dalatando, Cuito, Huambo), Cape Verde pumped-storage hydropower feasibility study, and various infrastructure assessments across Africa.
- Águas de Portugal (AdP)corePartnership with Portuguese water group for international water and sanitation projects, including sanitation master plans in Angola with technical cooperation between COBA Angola and AdP Internacional.
- SWECOminorPartnership with Swedish engineering consultancy SWECO for implementation of international agreements on shared watercourses in Mozambique, focusing on monitoring compliance mechanisms.
- China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC)minorReciprocal delegation reception at COBA headquarters, demonstrating cooperation with major Chinese construction entities for potential infrastructure development collaboration.
- MZE EngenhariacoreIn November 2025, COBA acquired a participation in MZE Engenharia, strengthening leadership and delivery capacity in critical areas of water and energy in Brazil. The acquisition consolidates COBA's position and expands local talent and global experience.
- DAR AL-HANDASAHminorPartnership with Lebanese engineering consultancy for energy transition projects in Angola, including a €30 million contract with PRODEL for power sector development.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Coba Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Artelia: Artelia is an independent French engineering consultancy active in water, energy, transport, and buildings with material operations in Africa and the Middle East. Active COBA consortium partner on Angolan sanitation and Cape Verde hydropower projects, and a close peer on service mix and client base.
- Egis: Egis is a French engineering group operating across transport, water, energy, and urban development with significant presence in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Direct peer to COBA on international infrastructure consulting, particularly for multilateral-funded projects in emerging markets.
- Tractebel (Engie): Tractebel is the Belgian-based engineering consultancy of Engie focused on energy, water, and infrastructure projects worldwide. Comparable to COBA in hydropower and transmission expertise, with significant emerging-market presence and multilateral bank orientation.
- Sweco: Sweco is a Swedish-headquartered engineering, design, and environmental consultancy with leading European market share and growing international footprint. Closely comparable to COBA on multidisciplinary consulting, water/environment, and Nordic-African project delivery — confirmed as an active COBA consortium partner on Mozambique watercourse work.
- Intertechne: Intertechne is a Brazilian engineering consultancy with strong hydropower and energy-sector expertise across Latin America and Africa. COBA's JV partner in QUASAR (June 2026), making it the most direct peer on energy-transition consulting capability.
Broad incumbents
- Stantec: Stantec is a Canadian engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm serving infrastructure, water, energy, and community development clients globally. Comparable to COBA's multi-discipline engineering and environmental consulting model, though at much larger scale.
- AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering engineering, environmental, and construction services across transport, water, energy, and government end-markets. Direct overlap with COBA across multidisciplinary design and supervision, but with vastly larger capture capacity for megaprojects.
- Arcadis: Arcadis is a Dutch design and consultancy firm focused on buildings, infrastructure, water, environment, and mobility, with strong European presence. Direct service-model overlap with COBA, particularly on water, environment, and international development work.
- WSP Global: WSP is a Canadian-headquartered global professional services consultancy with deep engineering, environmental, and infrastructure design capabilities across power, transport, and water. Comparable to COBA in service mix but operates at materially larger scale with broader geographic and segment reach.
Regional players
- Dar Al-Handasah: Dar Al-Handasah is a Lebanese-origin international engineering consultancy with deep presence in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Active COBA consortium partner on Angolan power-sector work and comparable in scale and emerging-market focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Coba Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Coba Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Coba Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Coba Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Coba Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries14 records
The Coba Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Coba Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Coba Group
What does The Coba Group do?
COBA Group is a multi-geographic engineering and environmental consulting firm providing professional services across all stages of infrastructure project design and technical assistance. Core offerings include feasibility studies, project design, construction supervision, environmental assessments, and technical assistance in transport (roads, railways, airports), energy (hydropower dams, hydroelectric plants, transmission), water resources (supply, sanitation, irrigation), and environmental management for government clients, multilateral development banks, and private-sector operators across 60 countries.
Is The Coba Group a public or private company?
The Coba Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Coba Group founded?
The Coba Group was founded in 1962. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is The Coba Group based?
The Coba Group is headquartered in Lisboa, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does The Coba Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Engineering Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are project Design Contracts and multilateral Development Bank Contracts.
Who are The Coba Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Artelia, Egis, Tractebel (Engie), Sweco and Intertechne. Broad incumbents are Stantec, AECOM, Arcadis and WSP Global. Dar Al-Handasah is listed as a regional player.
Does The Coba Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Coba Group.
What industry is The Coba Group in?
The Coba Group's product category is Engineering and Environmental Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAEAAAL, Balance-of-Plant (BOP) & Civil Works for Power Plants, with a secondary code of EUAMAFAA, Site Preparation & Civil Works (Clearing, Grading, Earthworks, Roads). Its NAICS code is 541330 and its SIC code is 1623.