…MR. SEIPULOU LAUDS GOVERNOR DICKSON AND NCDMB
PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA
The second Nigeria Oil and Gas opportunity fair (NOGOF) took place recently in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, which was attended by stakeholders within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in their assertion said it would expend about $15 billion across 24 oil and gas projects in Nigeria in the next five years, the Managing Director of SHELL, Mr. Nosa Okunbor said on the need for Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities in the oil industry, equally said that the oil giant would in the next five years, surpass a 70 percent target in the development of wholly Nigerian human and material resources to achieve its production benchmark.
The two-day intensive event which was tagged “Maximizing Investment into the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry for the benefits of the Nigerian people” which was organized by the Nigerian Content Development Board (NCDB) headquartered inBayelsa State.
The SHELL boss equally added that when completed, the ongoing projects, in the next five years, were capable of generating thousand of jobs in the country industrial development. He cited the Assa North, Ohaji project in Imo State as capable of generating 1,200 megawatts and powering over 1.2 million Nigerian homes.
“These remain exciting times forNigeria as Shell along with its partners will be maturing several projects in support of Nigeria’s growth ambition.
A cocktail of policies and the active support of government and its agencies like NCDMB have made these investments possible as industry continues to witness improved cycle times.
“We have an investment portfolio of over $15 billion over the next five years. Shell’s investments will bring huge benefits to the country and its people in terms of contracts and jobs” he said.
According to him, the company has already taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the 300million scf/d Assa North Ohaji (ANOH) gas project, which on completion is expected to generate circa 1200MW to power circa 1.2m homes (1MW – 1000homes) by supplying gas into the domestic gas market.
He added: “In addition to these, we are also maturing several sizeable projects planned to start within the next five years. Twenty eight projects covering export gas, domestic gas and oil projects spread across Deep Offshore, Shallow Water, Swamp and Land terrains.
“Benchmark for all these projects is to meet and where possible surpass the 70% Nigerian Content target. Employment opportunities are huge, not to mention the spin-off in allied services.” He also listed the onshore oil opportunities as the drilling and completion of over 100 wells; flow lines and bulk lines of over 700km, noting that most of the opportunities would be driven by six infill projects.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, noted that the event was to showcase opportunities in the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream sectors of the Petroleum Industry.
He noted it will also provide stakeholders with information on upcoming projects to enable Nigerian companies/manufacturers tailor their business development strategies.
“It will help identify high impact activities with potential for in-country value addition and develop a five-year roadmap to ensure sustainable Nigerian Content Development,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Seipulou, while fielding questions from newsmen at the epoch making event lauds the Management of the Local Content Development Board and the Executive Governor ofBayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson in providing enabling environment for the peaceful hosting of the event, where thousands of oil and gas stakeholders in deliberating critical issues.
Seipulou, equally thanked Governor Dickson for the provision of various infrastructures in the state, describingBayelsa State as investors’ destination especially, the establishment of the Bayelsa StateAirport. He further underscored the crucial benefits of the event in cross fertilization of ideas in boosting the economy of the country and the provision of several employment opportunities.
The event which was attended by the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chairman House Committee on Oil and Gas in the Senate, and several resource persons presented papers. Also was the exhibition of Oil and Gas related business activities.
