The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian content

  • PETAN honours Shell for promoting Nigerian content

    PETAN honours Shell for promoting Nigerian content

    The Petroleum Technologies Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has honoured Shell companies in Nigeria with the Aret Adams Award for Excellence in recognition of its “outstanding contributions to the growth of local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry”.

    PETAN, comprising 89 indigenous companies in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, announced the recognition at the 2017 award night in Lagos, the 3rd corporate laurel to be won by Shell from the organisation.

    Shell had won PETAN’s Local Content Operator of the Year awards in 2013 and 2015.

    Speaking at the awards ceremony, PETAN President, Bank-Anthony Okoroafor acknowledged Shell’s leadership role in local content development and said the award was well-deserved.

    He added: “Indigenous companies look to leveraging growth opportunities in the industry.”

    Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) Bayo Ojulari, who represented Shell companies in Nigeria, thanked PETAN for the recognition.

    He said: “At Shell, we see local content as a critical business enabler, not just a regulatory requirement, and that is why we took cogent steps to encourage community and Nigerian contractors even before the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act was enacted in 2010.

    “Today, these steps have matured as contracts and funding and other capacity building initiatives as well as highly rewarding collaborative engagements with Nigerian oil and gas professionals in Scotland and suppliers in China. We are pleased that the milestones have been recognised by PETAN and other organisations.”

    The Lagos event also featured awards to other intentional oil companies and Nigerian service providers.

    Shell Companies in Nigeria awarded 94% of their total number of contracts to Nigerian companies in 2016, with the total value amounting to $0.74 billion.

    In a related development, 110 persons have completed the Shell/PETAN Internship Programme designed to support efforts towards tackling the shortage of competent manpower in some critical disciplines in the oil and gas industry, with emphasis on geology and engineering.

  • Senate queries Total over Nigerian content of Engina $16b project

    The Senate Committee on Local Content has demanded to know the Nigerian content of the multi-billion dollar floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) of the Engina project, which is being constructed by the Total Upstream Nigeria Limited.

    A statement by the Media Adviser to  the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Chief Kayode Odunaro, said the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nicolas Terraz, appeared before the Senate Committee on Local Content to make a presentation on the project at the weekend.

    Odunaro said Chairman of the Committee Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) hailed Total for the achievements it so far recorded on Nigerian content in the first ever project to enable an in-country integration of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility in Nigeria.

    The statement, however, said Adeola told the firm’s managing director that his committee would require more detailed information on the project in relation to implementation of Nigeria Local Content Act 2010, given the quantum increase in the project sum since it was awarded in March 2012.

    “In the last four years alone, the project value that was initially awarded at the sum of $3,143,499,498 to Samsung Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in 2012 has been varied from $6 billion to $13 billion and $16 billion respectively without commensurate increase of the local content portion of the project.

    “The committee will want to have information on this aspect of the project in the interest of Nigerian people,” Adeola stated.

    The statement added that Adeola also said the committee might be inviting other contractors involved in the project, including SAIPEM, Nestoil, Dorman Long, Nigerdock and Aveon Offshore.

    The chairman noted that for now, the committee would want a detailed overview from Total Upstream Nigerian Limited, being the major contractor in the ongoing project.

    “The committee will also want to get information on why the Nigerian Engina Project is more expensive than any other projects elsewhere in the world in addition to its local component,” Adeola stated.

    When properly executed, the project, said to comprise drilling and completion of 44 oil wells and other ancillary facilities in deep sea, is expected to create 50,000 employment opportunities for Nigerians.

    It will also aid the acquisition of highly technical skills by Nigerians and create opportunities in future to domesticate the construction of such projects in the country.

    Members of the committee present at the presentation include Senator Biodun Olujimi, the Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Mararafa Kabir, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Senator Binta Mashi Garba and Senator Bassey Akpan.

  • Agip spends $5.4b on Nigerian content

    Agip spends $5.4b on Nigerian content

    The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has spent $5.4 billion to grow and develop Nigerian content.

    Speaking during a two-day workshop for NAOC SMEs Vendors yesterday, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital,  its Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. Massimo Insulla, said the oil major spent the money over the last six years adding that the multinational is in the forefront of the marine initiative.

    He said during the petriod, the company embarked on a number of activities including, but not limited to internship arrangement with Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to provide mandatory practical sea time experience for cadets.

    He said the two-day succession planning workshop, was the second for the year hosted by Eni, Agip’s parent company.

    Insulla said the workshop was designed to equip proprietors and management of SMEs with skills and best practices in planning for continuity and sustainability of their businesses in case of incapacitation, retirement or old age.

    He said: ‘’This programme is significant because it aligns with the new vision of Eni which recognises that diversity across all aspects of our operations and organisation is something to be cherished. We believe in the value of long term partnerships with the countries and communities where we operate.

    ‘’As a demonstration of Eni’s commitment to expand our operations and grow Nigerian content, we are implementing a number of projects in the Nigerian oil and gas as well as energy sector including our Zabazaba deep offshore project, ongoing feasibility for the construction of a brand new 150,00 barrel of oil per day (bpd) refinery, support for refurbishment of Port Harcourt refinery, efficiency of the national grid, alternative energy mix.

    ‘’We are engaged in consolidating our relationship with recognised trainers for the training of 280 seafarers at Maritime Academy, Oron and Joemarine Nautical Company, Warri.

    ‘’We are engaged in training of 10 subsea engineers in collaboration with the NCDMB as well as various project-based training which has so far benefitted 204 trainees nominated from NCDMB as well as impacted host communities.

    ‘’Our vendor finance scheme which started in 2014 in collaboration with Stanbic IBTC and Zenith banks has provided opportunities for our contractors to access funds at favourable terms in order to continue to provide services to our companies.’’

    Also speaking on the occasion, Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, urged businessmen and women in the state to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the NCDMB to grow and sustain their businesses.

    While identifying the development of SMEs as critical to any economy, the governor said access to capital remained the major constraint in business development and sustainability.

    He urged the people of the state to get actively involved in the oil and gas industry to enable them take charge of their local economy.

  • Facebook seeks more Nigerian content online

    Facebook seeks more Nigerian content online

    THE Chief Product Officer of Facebook, Mr. Chris Cox, has urged Nigerian content creators to develop more content on the Internet.
    Cox gave the advice yesterday in Lagos at a news conference on the Social Media Week (SMW), Lagos 2017, which started yesterday. It will end on March 3.
    He said Nigeria was a hub for innovation and creativity because of its fast-growing mobile technology sector and its vibrant film and music industries.
    According to Cox, the world is moving to digital video with formats, such as virtual reality and live video broadcast, giving people new ways to tell their stories.
    “Stories matter; whether it is the stories of our lives or the story of Africa’s growth.
    “We want Nigeria’s storytellers – the musicians, the filmmakers and the novelists to take their stories to the rest of the world.
    “The explosion in mobile video and live video give people a new way to share their story and perspective with the globe and this is happening on Facebook,” he said.
    Cox said content creators like Femi Kuti were using Facebook to bring fans into their lives and extend their presence beyond the stage and recorded media.
    He said innovators like Afrinolly – the creative hub where technology was using virtual reality and 360 Degree Video to create exciting and compelling new storytelling formats – should be encouraged.
    “I am looking forward to hearing more about how Nigerian creative developers and entrepreneurs are using mobile technology, video and Facebook platforms to create inspiring applications and services for their customers and communities.
    “The level of innovation we see in this market is amazing. As Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria is an important market for us,” the product officer said.
    Cox is the most senior Facebook executive to visit Nigeria since Mark Zuckerberg visited Lagos in September 2016.
    He arrived in Nigeria on February 26 and visited New Afrika Shrine to see Femi Kuti, one of his musical heroes.
    SMW Lagos is a weeklong conference that provides ideas, trends, insights and inspiration to help people and businesses understand how to achieve more in a hyper-connected world.
    The event features a central stage for keynotes and panels, multiple rooms for workshops, master classes and presentations.
    During the conference, an area is also dedicated to co-working, networking and interactive installations.