Somague

In 1947, José Vaz Guedes founded the company, Moniz de Maia, Duarte & Vaz, which was the first step in creating what was to become the Somague Group. The company came about in response to the anticipated post-war recovery period, which was associated with heavy public investment in large infrastructures (dams, ports, viaducts and roads). The first works undertaken were construction of the Castelo de Bode dam on the Zêzere river in Portugal. 

In the following years, the company went about expanding its range of expertise, with, in addition to dams, bridges such as that of the Ursa Valley on the Zêzere River and ports such as the one built in Funchal. The company also went on to undertake its first international project, construction of the Açude Bridge over the Limpopo River in Mozambique.

The company's rapid growth led to it expanding into other areas of expertise and businesses through partnership with, or the incorporation of, both national and international companies, such as: the creation of Ediçor for the Azores market in 1986, a 45% stake in CVC (Construcciones de Cabo Verde) in 1990, acquisition of 50% of the Habitar company in Angola and 80% of Sogel in Mozambique in 1999, control of the Neopul company, specialising in the railway market, in 2002, etc.

Throughout the years of its activity, the company underwent modifications in its corporate structure.  In 1970, the Vaz Guedes family acquired the entire capital of the company, which was renamed Sociedad de Empleadas Somague and, finally, in 1998, the merger of Somague with the Soconstroi company resulted in Somague Engenharia Sa, Portugal's largest public works and construction company.

In the year 2000, Somague associated with the Sacyr Vallehermoso Group, a business group that over time brought together several leading companies in different segments. Finally, Somague was fully integrated into the group in 2004, resulting in a larger, stronger group of companies, with excellent business potential, capable of competing on another scale.