The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board said it had initiated steps to fashion out strategies that would protect local capacities that had been developed by oil and gas service companies over the past five years of implementing the Nigerian Content Act.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe, stated this in Lagos at the load-out and sail-away ceremony of the Sonam non-associated gas wellhead platform topside fabricated by Nigerdock Nigeria Plc.
Noting that the topside is the largest ever made in Nigeria, weighing about 2,700 tons, Kentebe stressed the need to ensure that such achievements were sustained and the gains recorded over the years were not eroded as a result of the crash in oil prices and cutback on projects.
He said, “While we celebrate these feats, we are mindful of the current economic environment, lull in business and threat to these capacities.”
Kentebe explained that the new strategies would require all stakeholders of the industry to work together to see that new projects come out to sustain jobs and capacity in Nigerian facilities.
He said the Federal Government was already taking steps to bring all stakeholders to the table to work out solutions to the challenge.
The NCDMB executive secretary hailed the commitment of Nigerdock to the development of the Nigerian content, noting that the company had recorded many firsts on several projects, including modules fabricated on Usan and Ofon for Total, Abang and Itut topsides for ExxonMobil and Meren and Sonam topsides for Chevron.
He said, “The capacity has not only been sustained but increased over time. Thousands of Nigerians have continued to be employed and trained. Nigerian suppliers have also been built up on the back of these projects and activities.”
He cited Wellmann Nigeria Limited as another example, saying the company had developed the capacity to load out heavy fabricated modules by investing in the acquisition and operation of Self Propelled Modular Trailers.