The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and key players of the Nigerian oil and gas industry have begun to review the existing data on upcoming projects and their Nigerian Content opportunities.
The review seeks to update the Compendium of Nigerian Content Opportunities, highlight challenges faced by operators and service providers and proffer solutions that would increase in-country value creation and retention and fast-track the development of new projects.
The Board organised a two-day workshop in Lagos recently and it featured sessions on upstream opportunities, with presentations from international and indigenous operating companies and a dedicated marine vessels strategy session on the second day.
The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Mr. Daziba Patrick Obah, delivered the opening address on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Simbi Wabote and stated that the event would build on the data generated in the maiden edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunities Fair (NOGOF) held in 2017 at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. A key output from the Uyo event was a compilation of opportunities in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.
He stressed the need to update the compendium on an annual basis to enable the Board and stakeholders track the progress made in maximising Nigerian Content opportunities.
The Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, NCDMB and coordinator of the event, Mr. Akintunde Adelana, informed that NOGOF 2019 will hold from April 4-5, 2019, at the 1000-seater conference hall of the new NCDMB headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Expected attendees include venture capitalists, investors and other players in industry. The event would also serve an avenue to identify gaps in local content, list investment opportunities and highlight value-addition and employment opportunities, he added.
Participants at the Lagos workshop suggested that NOGOF 2019 should identify opportunities for synergy and foster collaboration between contractors. Other proposals include the need for a session that would discuss the progress made in reviewing schedules to the NOGICD Act as well as a session that would focus on technology.
Stakeholders also advised NCDMB to effectively monitor contract execution and maximally disburse the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund) to boost the financial capacity of local contractors.
It was also canvassed that the forthcoming NOGOF should set agenda for greater collaboration among government agencies connected with Nigerian Content.
Representatives of various international and indigenous operating companies presented their goodwill messages.
Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association (PETAN), Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, confirmed that that NCDMB’s aspirations like the domestication of technology, growing the nation’s GDP and developing capacities in-country were in tandem with PETAN ideals.
In his presentation, the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Mordecai Ladan, represented by Engr. Joseph Ogunsola of the Gas Division, stated that the Nigerian gas industry offered incredible opportunities for investments, which would create huge benefits for the investors and Nigerian people.
He stressed that to achieve gas flare-out, there must be focus on infrastructure, fiscal terms, open access to facilities, political will, technology options and synergy among industry players. He stated that the National Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) has a target of zero routine gas flaring in Nigeria by 2020.
The Nigerian Content Capacity Development Manager, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, Engr. Sylvester Iduseri, indicated that the company’s Egina deepwater project achieved 75 percent Local Content and exceeded the 70 percent target set by the NCDMB. He said studies were ongoing for Pereowei development, a subsea field project, which would be a tie-back to the Egina FPSO.
Tendering was ongoing for the Ikike project and the Final Investment Decision (FID) forecast is expected in Q4 2018, he added.
He also explained that Nigerian Content opportunities in the Ikike project exist in engineering, procurement, construction and fabrication, installation, drilling, completion among others.
Other key suggestions at the workshop included the need for project promoters to continue to christen projects and facilities with names of their host communities as such gestures would foster a sense of belonging in the communities.
