The Nation Newspaper

Tag: INTELS

  • INTELS acquires N1.8b crane, largest in Africa

    INTELS acquires N1.8b crane, largest in Africa

    In line with its commitment to making Nigeria the hub of Oil and Gas logistics services in Africa, INTELS Nigeria Limited has acquired a 600-tonne Liebherr crane worth $6 million (about N1.83 billion).

    The crane which has been deployed, is reputed to be one of the largest port handling equipment in the world.

    INTELS’ Head of Administration and General Services,  Chibuisi Onyebueke, said the crane, which sits on 104 tyres, is capable of lifting cargoes as heavy as 208 tonnes with a 17-metre boom outreach.

    “The crane is characterised by rapid and efficient handling of loads up to 208 tonnes. With its extensive boom outreach, the LHM 600 is the ideal cargo handling solution for the type of very large and ultra large ships operating across the world today,” he said.

    He said the huge crane, fondly called ‘Big Mama’ at the port, was acquired in addition to several other existing cargo handling equipment at the Onne Federal Lighter Terminal and Federal Ocean Terminal.

    According to him, the crane is fully operated by Nigerians, who have been trained on its handling and maintenance.

    Onyebueke, who conducted some media  executives round the  Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone last week, said Onne was established to serve as a single loading location for the Oil and Gas industry, adding that INTELS was working with relevant government agencies to accomplish that purpose.

    The Oil and Gas Service Centre, he said, has improved personnel’s efficiency in the industry, while saving downtime on offshore rigs, and providing quick responses in the event of emergency.

    “It also provides the opportunity for better physical monitoring and follow up of equipment in stock, modularisation of areas and better control of supply vessels for the oil and gas industry,” he said, adding that, INTELS tailored its services, facilities and operations to support activities in the oil and gas industry.

    “The highly technical facilities required to support oil and gas related operations also require special equipment and highly skilled manpower to manage such operations, which therefore, led to higher level of investments by INTELS relative to competitors,” he said.

    Onyebueke also said INTELS  remained fully committed to maximising in a sustainable manner the use of indigenous human resources, materials, equipment and services in its operations without compromising the company’s values, quality, health, safety and environment standards.

    He said: “As a Nigerian company, INTELS is committed to maximising the participation of Nigerian businesses and local contractors in its operations, in compliance with the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010.”

    The signing into law of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act, otherwise referred to as the “Local Content Act” in 2010, he said, was in line with the expectations of INTELS, “as the issue of Nigerian content has been central to the company’s development strategy”.

    The company, according to him, has actively supported its host communities through supporting sustainable projects and comprehensive corporate social responsibility programmes, adding that the logistic company has committed billions of naira to road construction, provision of street lights, ultra-modern markets/lock-up shops and ICT centres in various parts of the Niger Delta.

    Other projects undertaken by INTELS include renovation of school, provision of civic centres, youth secretariats, jetty restoration, women empowerment projects and medical outreach.

    INTELS Nigeria Limited provides comprehensive integrated logistics services to the oil and gas industry. It operates in major government-owned port facilities and Free Zones in Nigeria, among others.

    At present, INTELS is leading the Nigerian Oil and Gas logistics support industry as a core logistics service provider through its skill, efficiency, integrity and quality of service.

    The organization has 30 years of experience in ports management and terminal logistics support services in shore bases across Nigeria, applying the “One Stop Shop” solution under its Oil Service Centre Concept.

    In 2006, INTELS was awarded concession by the Federal Government to operae Terminal A (Federal Ocean Terminal) and Terminal B (Federal Lighter Terminal) at the Onne Port Complex, which houses the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone. It also operates terminals in Warri, Calabar and Apapa ports.

    INTELS has received several local and international awards and commendation. Recently, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) – which is a government agency under the Federal Ministry of Transportation – commended INTELS Nigeria Limited for its huge investment and commitment to the development of port operations in the country.

    The Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, said INTELS deserved the recognition because of its defining role in the provision of integrated logistics services in the Nigerian maritime, oil and gas industries.

  • ‘Competitors behind attacks on Intels’

    Agroup, Concerned Maritime Professionals (CMP), has condemned incessant media attacks on leading logistics service provider Intels Nigeria Limited.

    In a letter addressed to Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, copies of which were made available to The Nation, the group said the attacks are being sponsored by competitors for selfish motives.

    It said:“Our attention has been drawn to incessant attacks in the media against private terminal operators in the Nigerian maritime industry, especially Intels Nigeria Limited, which is one of the few thriving businesses and the largest employer of labour in the maritime sector

    “Despite the harsh economic environment, the company has weathered the storm, offering world-class services that could compete both nationally and internationally.

    “Recently we have seen organised attacks in the media against the company that has served as robust revenue source for the government, especially at this time when so many companies are on bended knees. We consider this uncalled for, more so when the attacks are obviously sponsored by competitors,” CMP said in the letter signed by its Coordinator, Mazi Charles Obi and  titled: Need to Call to Order Competitors Sponsoring Media Attacks Against Intels Nigeria Limited.

    CMP said while it is not holding brief for Intels and would stand up for any company in Nigeria unjustly pummeled by any group, it wants the Federal Government to caution media houses from being used by competitors to run down the few thriving businesses in Nigeria.

    “Recently we see the trend of attacks against Intels Nigeria Ltd, ranging from unfounded allegations of monopoly and alleged indebtedness. The entire plot by competitors smell of mischief.

    “To be sure, Intels is not the only company in the Onne free zone and so cannot be accused of monopoly. There are close to 200 firms that operate in the zone with each of them professionally managed and duly regulated by appropriate agencies of government. Intels has operated in the zone for three decades and made meaningful contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.

     

  • ICRC advocates dredging of Warri Port

    The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr Aminu Dikko has urged the Federal Government to dredge the Warri/Escravos water channels.

    Dikko made the plea on Thursday in Warri after he led a team from the ICRC on an inspection tour of facilities at the concessioned terminals in Warri Port.

    He said that the development would help to rejuvenate business activities at the port.

    The terminals inspected included the Julius Berger, Associated Maritime Services Ltd (AMS) and the Integrated Logistics Services (INTELS) terminals.

    The director-general expressed satisfaction at the significant level of investments put in place by the concessionaires.

    He said that the concession had contributed greatly to the growth of the economy.

    According to him, Julius Berger for instance, had invested almost 23 million dollars to buy equipment.

    He said, “The concessionaires have made significant investments running into billions of dollars to improve their facilities which was part of the development plan.’’

    “The monitoring and evaluation visit is a critical component of the mandate of the ICRC.

    “It helps to ensure that infrastructure assets that have been granted to the private sector by the Federal Government are improved upon.

    “So far, it has been successful; we also had the opportunity to interact with the guarantor which is the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),’’ the director-general said.

    Dikko said that there was a dearth in vessels sailing into the Warri Port which by implication had affected the envisaged revenues accruable to government.

    “As a result of restiveness, vessels are not comfortable coming into the Warri port because of its attendant negative impact on the anticipated business opportunities which is a setback for the concessionaires.

    “The channels are supposed to have been dredged by government over time.

    “As it is now, big vessels cannot come in due to the shallow depth.

    “Any big vessel coming will have to stay somewhere to reduce the cargoes to make the vessel lighter.

    “This takes a lot of time and additional costs and it is a major disincentive to businesses,’’ Dikko said.

    He commended the management of NPA for providing adequate security for the terminal operators and other stakeholders in the port.

    According to him, there are several Naval boats at the different terminals, permanently located to provide security to both the workers and ships coming into and going out of the port.

    Earlier, the Delta Port Manager, Mr Abubakar Umar, who conducted the ICRC team round the concessioned terminals, identified draft as a major issue in the port.

    According to Umar, ocean-going liners cannot come in, while importers also have concerns about the security in the waterways.

    In his remarks, Mr Ranko Donanchi, Head of Operations, INTELS, decried the dearth of business at the Warri port, adding that the company handled only 16 vessels in 2015.

    Donanchi said that that Intels had aligned with the Federal government’s policies in the areas of port development and standardisation, local content initiative, technology transfer and community development.

    Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the Julius Berger Terminal, Mr Henry Osunbor, said that the company had met the statutory requirements as regards fees, taxes, insurance and port terminal maintenance.

    The Director of the AMS Warri base, Mr Jimoh Ohwo, said that the company had also made commendable progress in its operational and developmental plans.

    “Our staff strength has increased from 15 to 68 with additional 171 dock labourers (casual).

    “We have built perimeter fences, access control with ISPS, CCTV cameras, boardroom, among others, as part of our developmental plan.

    “Between the months of May and June 2014; we had three vessels with combined tonnage of 260,203 tonnes,’’ Ohwo said.

  • MDAs, oil firms rate Intels high

    MDAs, oil firms rate Intels high

    Government’s ministries, departments and agencies as well as oil firms and others have hailed the performance of Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels).

     According to a compendium made available yesterday, about 183 commendation letters from clients and authorities between 2012 and 2015 were received by the company.

     A breakdown showed that a total of 82 letters expressed satisfaction with the high quality of services provided by Intels.

    Some of those who wrote the letters are: Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Agip Exploration limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited and TOTAL Premier Services Nigeria Limited.

    The Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited said: “In spite of the numerous challenges encountered during the year under review, you (Intels) performed excellently. We urge you to maintain the momentum or more in 2016.”

    Oil services companies like Schlumberger Nigeria Limited, Dawoo Nigeria Limited, West Atlantic Shipyard, Seadril Mobil Unit Nigeria Limited, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited and Del Waste Management Company Limited also positively assessed the company.

    The Ports Authority Police Command, Onne Port Division in Rivers State, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Navy (NNS Pathfinder) Naval Base Port Harcourt, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and Bureau of Public Enterprises, also rated Intels performance highly.

    The Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Onne, said: “We really appreciate the uniqueness of your organisation and hope to continue partnering together towards the upliftment of our great country Nigeria.”

    Reacting to the commendations, Intels Nigeria Limited’s General Manager Mr. Sascha Kuehl said: “Since its inception over three decades ago, Intels Nigeria Limited has continued to make remarkable and sustained efforts at remaining the best logistics services provider to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and within the Sub-Saharan African region.

    “Our one-stop-shop approach to logistics and the three-simple steps in logistics operation, which reduces cost and time constraints have continued to impress the authorities and clients.”

  • Bayeros deny links with Intels, NPA

    Bayeros deny links with Intels, NPA

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that the Ado Bayero family of Kano has no stakes in the ports development giants, Intels Nigeria Limited.

    They made this disclosure against the background of media reports alleging that the family had connections with Intels.

    However, the NPA in a statement unequivocally stated that the Ado Bayero family of Kano has no stake of any kind in the port operating firm, Intels Nigeria Limited.

    The statement reads: “Our Managing Director Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero is the first son of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. Contrary to reports in a major national daily and response to other enquiries, the Nigerian Ports Authority asserts as follows: Neither the late Emir of Kano nor his estate holds any subsisting equity in Intels Nigeria Limited.”

    The management further noted that, “The Ado Bayero family disposed of the equity interest of the late Alhaji Ado Bayero in Intels Nigeria upon his demise. This transaction was effected over six months before President Goodluck Jonathan appointed the distinguished corporate lawyer Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero as managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority.

    “Interested persons desirous of truth in public discourse could verify this transaction from the Corporate Affairs Commission or the concerned Intels Nigeria Limited.”

    “Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero is committed to best practice standards in corporate governance as he guides the affairs of Nigerian Ports Authority. He would not breach such standards for any reason, given his noble antecedents and experience in company administration.”

    It added that, “Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero is committed to leading Nigerian Ports Authority to oversee port regulation as a neutral arbiter without bias to any interest or stakeholder.”

  • INTELS to LADOL: Stop harmful propaganda

    INTELS to LADOL: Stop harmful propaganda

    The management of the Integrated Logistics Limited (INTELS) has advised the management of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL) to stop tarnishing its hard-earned reputation by engaging in propaganda.

    LADOL allegedly accused INTELS of being behind the recent presidential directive to relocate its fabrication project for the Total’s Egina floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) to Bayelsa State from its Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

    The Managing Director, LADOL Integrated Logistics Enterprise, Dr Amy Jadesmii, told reporters in Lagos a letter from the Presidency directed that the project be relocated to Agge in Bayelsa State or any designated oil and gas terminal located in ports in Onne (Rivers State) , Warri (Delta State) and Calabar (Cross River State).

    But the management of INTELS (Onne port) during a tour of the facility by maritime correspondents urged LADOL to focus on its core area of business of managing its private jetty in line with extant laws and regulations instead of preoccupying itself with propaganda aimed at “undermining INTELS’ multi-billion dollar investments over the years built to serve Nigeria and the West African sub-region”.

    INTELS management said: “While acknowledging the legitimate aspiration of LADOL to expand its business beyond private jetty, it will be counter-productive for it to predicate its business expansion on damaging the corporate reputation of INTELS built over decades of hard work and investments.

    “Onne Free Trade Zone is one of the several concessions under our control and our core business is markedly different from that of LADOL and other concessionaires as approved by the Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

    “As a concessionaire for Onne, Calabar and Warri ports, we handle exclusively ocean going vessels dedicated to oil and gas cargoes in line with the terms of our concession and the regulations of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). We do not handle rice, cement or sundry cargoes,” the General Manager, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Mike Epelle said.

    Sources in the maritime sector also said that LADOL had in its quest to expand its scope of business, applied for permission through the NPA for integration of Egina deepwater FPSO at their private jetty but that the NPA Executive Committee after thoroughly examining the application technically and operationally said it is not possible for it to handle such operations at the jetty, which was duly communicated to LADOL. The NPA investigations showed that the width and draft of the Lagos channel cannot accommodate the facility (FPSO) because of limited room for safe maneuvering as the average depth and channels are 9.5 and 210 metres respectively, while the turning basin radius is less than the 600 metres required by global practice, which is the minimum radius for turning basin for FPSO.

    LADOL was informed that in view of the high traffic of vessels in the channel, the integration and movement of FPSO being towed by more than five tugs could lead to a blockade of the channel for weeks or months in the event of any accident during navigation in the channel.

    The sources stated that LADOL had approached directly the Ministry of Transport with a similar application which was also turned down. “But with no intent of giving up on the bid to expand the scope of its operations, LADOL resorted to engage directly with the Presidency. In a letter to the President, LADOL requested the approval for the handling of the FPSO at its facilities or in the alternative to be allowed to handle it or part of its operations at Agge Bayelsa State. The proposal requesting the President to approve the handling of the FPSO at its facilities at Agge is a clear indication that the company was interested in building such facility in Bayelsa,” the sources added.

    After due consultation with the relevant authorities, the Presidency responded and directed that the operation based on technical/operational reasons as adduced by NPA, Federal Ministry of Transport, and Office of the Security Adviser to the President, the FPSO can be handled by LADOL at Agge Bayelsa if such facility area is available or in the alternative be appropriately handled at the designated oil and gas cargo terminals fully equipped with facilities to handle such operations. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in 2013 protested to the Presidency against approval that seeks to grant permission to LADOL to handle the integration of the FPSO at its facilities located in Lagos, even as further correspondence from LADOL to the Presidency on the same subject and referred to the Minister of Transport, did not receive approval, the sources said.

    The Minister of Transport had recommended the FPSO integration be handled at Onne having the capacity to accommodate such a project and as spelt out in the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in a letter of 2008, to concessionaires.

    To realise the full benefits and potential of the concessions, the House of Representatives in 2012 recommended that there is urgent need to enforce the ban on mid-stream discharge of cargoes as well as use of private jetties to discharge and load import and export cargo; that all oil & gas related cargoes are to be discharged only at appropriate designated terminals; that government should introduce incentives to the Eastern ports to make them more attractive to shipping companies, cargo owners thereby decongesting and reducing pressure to Western Ports; and that operators should be free to choose ports of discharging their cargoes within the designated ports of Onne, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri, among others, the sources added.

    INTELS management appealed to the operators of the LADOL jetty to focus on finding solutions to their own problem because the issues are clearly matters that impinge on technical and security matters which are not under the control of the company.

  • Plan to make INTELS national terminal angers workers

    Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has advised the Federal Government against designating the INTELS Terminal, Onne Free Trade Zone, Port Harcourt, a national terminal for the clearance of heavy cargoes and deep draught vessels.

    The union warned that such a move  would have grave implications on job creation and security of its members, noting that this would not be tolerated under any guise.

    The Seaport Terminal Operators Association (STOA) had in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated October 14, 2014, drew the attention of the Presidency to excerpts from various addresses delivered at the recent commissioning of phase 4 projects embarked upon by INTELS  at Onne Port, which it said suggested a grand and deliberate design to designate the INTELS Terminal a National Terminal for the clearance of heavy lift cargoes and deep draught vessels.

    The letter was published in a national newspaper on October 17, 2014. Bbased on the publication, MWUN held its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Monday, October 20 at the end of which it issued a communique. The communique said: “We are alarmed by STOA’s publication in the media on October 17, on the developments arising from the recent commissioning of phase 4 Intels Project at Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone Ports, which has to do with, among others, the references made in the various addresses to the new operational capacity developed in the phase 4 project and the attendant attainment of 15 meters chart datum in the Berth and insinuations about a plot to designate the INTELS Terminal a National Terminal for the clearance of heavy lift cargos and deep draught vessels.

    The Union said that while it is not  going to talk about the implications of these insinuations or developments to other terminal operators, because they are in a better position to talk about how it will affect them, it is  much concerned about the job implications and job security of  its members. The Union noted that many of its members are working with stevedoring companies in the midstream or offshore operations with vessels.

    “We do not want to imagine or contemplate what will happen to the pool of Dockworkers in these locations, who are our members, if this policy is implemented. We do not want to believe that this is part of a grand design to weaken union’s solidarity and strength because if it is, government should better prepare for the consequences because we will resist it with the last drop of blood,” MWUN.

    In the communiqué signed by MWUN Secretary General, Mr. Aham Ubani,  the union reminded those whom it accused of pushing for this policy that the reasons for the appointment of stevedoring companies to midstream and offshore terminals, like STOA clearly started in its publication, was to create jobs and address youth restiveness as part of programme to sustain the amnesty offered insurgents during Niger Delta militancy era.

    The Union advised that such a policy should not be contemplated because it will not fold its hands and allow those with ulterior motives drive its members out of employment to join the saturated labour market. It said government should jettison such plan in the interest of industrial peace in the ports. The nation’s ports formations, the Union noted, have been peaceful, unless the government and those pushing for this policy do not want peace.

    “Needless to say that part of the reasons why there are security challenges and insurgency in the North, especially in the North East where the Boko Haram sect is because of the army of idle able bodied hands whose minds have now become the devil’s workshops. If we discover that government or those behind this ill-advised policy is going ahead with it, we will shut down ports to protect the jobs of our members. It is not a threat,” Ubani said.