B.G. Technical Limited Opens New Pipeline Pigging Products Factory in Owerri

Against the backdrop of economy recession as a result of ebbing price of crude oil in the global energy market, B.G. Technical Limited, an indigenous oil and gas pipeline and well services company recently commissioned a new factory for the manufacturing of pipeline pigging product and accessories in Owerri, Imo State. The factory which is reputed to be the only such facility that manufactures pigging products in Africa, is sized to supply the needs of the ongoing NNPC gas pipeline projects up to size 48 inch diameter.

Delivering his remarks, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Board, Mr. Dazibah Patrick Obah, represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Tunde Adelana lauded the management of B.G. Technical for setting up a facility for the provision of oilfield services and manufacturing of pigging products in Owerri, to enhance the Board’s capacity development initiative of an oil and gas industrial park in the area and assured the company of its support in their efforts at acquiring additional capacities.

Mr. Obah expressed confidence that investors like B.G. Technical would probably compete in the area of pigging services which is critical for the maintenance, inspection and integrity assurance of pipeline infrastructure owned and operated by a Nigerian oil and gas company due to the preponderance of foreign goods and services. He further stated that the achievement of B.G. Technical, which is a company that seeks to create a regional manufacturing hub in Nigeria, would certainly thrive.

The Acting Executive Secretary disclosed that the pipeline pigging products factory is a reflection of hard work injected into the Nigeria economy and the passion of its Chief Executive, Engr. Geoff Onuoha to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the industry and development of the nation’s economy. He was also enthusiastic that the facility was manufactured in-country by Nigerians, adding that the Nigerian Content policy was remarkably achieving outstanding results.

The Board’s Chief Executive encouraged other Nigerian companies across all sectors to always strive to develop their capacities and competencies for value addition.

Speaking earlier at the exhibition tour of the commissioning, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the company, Engr. Geoff Onuoha hinted that the products were manufactured by B.G. Technical’s sister company, Pipeline Pigs and Accessories Limited (PPA),  established in 2002 to cater for the pigging products need of pipeline operations in Nigeria and globally. He, however, gave comprehensive details of the products during a tour while fielding questions from representatives of some IOCs and indigenous oil servicing companies in attendance.

Engr. Onuoha, stated that the factory was initiated to bring an end to the importation of pipeline pigging products, boost availability of mainly quality products in which he emphasized that the pigging products manufactured locally were supplied to clients in Nigeria and exported for use to other parts of the world. “It is about putting Nigerian intellect to work in the country. It is about local content, manufacturing and supporting industry with products that are made in Nigeria,” he said.

The Chief Executive of the company, however, lamented that the challenge facing indigenous manufacturers in Nigeria is that it is cheaper to transport goods from United Kingdom (UK) to Gabon than from Nigeria to Gabon because of the bottlenecks of export from getting regular transport. According to him, “Between UK and Gabon there are possibly three to four cargo flights a week. While between Nigeria and Gabon there is no cargo flight. So, cargo flight drops your cost drastically. Those are things that count and I believe with time those factors militating against us will become a thing of the past overcome”.

Highpoint of the event was goodwill messages from the General Manager, Nigerian Content of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Chiedu Oba; a representative of the General Manager, Nigerian Content, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Raymond Wilcox; the Chairman of PETAN, Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor;  Mr. James Jock, a General Manager in NAPIMS who represented the GGM, NAPIMS and the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Ernest Nwapa who graced the occasion.