By Francis Sadhere
The Nigeria Local Content Act has become a catalyst and motivator for stronger commitment to the development of Nigeria contractors capacity and capability in all aspects of the economy, especially the Oil and Gas industry, says Engr. Uwakwe Chukwudi, General Mangager, FENOG Nigeria Limited.
Engr. Chukwudu stated this yesterday during the official commissioning ceremony of FENOG’s self propelled swamp lay barge, 3Nos Service vessels, PD350 ton HDD rig, HDD water borehole and soil sample collection rig and phase 1 of 350m rigid pavement access road in base 3,FENOG’s jetty/fabrication yard in Ugbuwangwe town, Warri, Delta State.
He said that it was in furtherance to the above commitment that has encouraged FENOG to acquire modern self propelled onshore pipe lay barge and three service vessels so as to meet its aim of effectively keying into the good gesture of the government while they also meet their clients’ expectations and need for quality service.
He therefore, pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Group General Manager, NAPIMS, the Executive Secretary and members of the NCDMB, the IOC’s and other stakeholders in the Oil and Gas industry to stretch forth their hands of patronage to FENOG as a way of ensuring the successful implementation and actualization of the Local Content Act and to cushion and give meaning and justification to the huge expenditure by FENOG in procuring these modern Oil and Gas industry equipment and machinery.
He said; “Local companies like FENOG Nigeria Limited deserve encouragement to participate actively in the Oil and Gas industry. When we are encouraged, development will spread to all parts of the oil-rich Niger Delta region and a good percentage of our army of unemployed youths will be employed. We count on your support for patronage in the days, months and years ahead.”
While saying that the latest equipment will no doubt add momentum to the success of FENOG in the Oil and Gas industry, Engr. Chukwudi appealed to all IOC’s and Government bodies to adopt their novel method of pipeline installation as a better technology invented by FENOG.
“In addition to being the 2014 NOGIC indigenous Company Award recipient, FENOG Nigeria Limited is on the sure road map of being included in the world’s Guinness Good Book of Record for installing a 67km by 20inch Amukpe to Escravos pipeline using, FENOG’s pioneered, Continuous Horizontal Directional Drilling (CHDD), method which is the longest and most secured string of pipeline in the world,” he said.
According to him; “The Self-Propelled Onshore Pipe Lay Barge is 75m in length, 14m breath with a draft (fully loaded) of 1M with a capability to lay pipe from 2” to 5”diameter. Besides, each of the three 500HP services vessels are kitted with sophisticated features while the 350 ton HDD rig has ability to grab/push or pull line pipes, trust bore and for tunnel works.
“These patriotic efforts and initiatives of FENOG ae aimed at effectively keying into the good gesture of our government while meeting our clients’ expectations and needs for quality services. The three fleets of equipment and other facilities were suitable acquired for strategic projects especially the Trans Niger Pipeline Loopline (TNPL) projects for SPDC.”
Engr. Chukwudi also called on the Honourable minister of Petroleum Resources, Group Managing Director, NNPC, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB and Group General Manager, NAPIMS, to prevail on SPDC to award the TNPL project since huge resources have been expended in acquiring these equipment.
While commending President Jonathan and Minister for Petroleum Resources for signing the Local Content Act, Engr. Chukwudi also thanked the Executive Secretary of NCDM for demonstrating unshaken commitment to the realization of the vision for the establishment of NCDMB, when he graciously commissioned its HDD rigs in July 2011.
“Today we are proud to announce to you that in addition to our proven wealth of experience in HDD technology, FENOG is one of the biggest HDD Company, owning a total number of seven (7) rigs of different capacities and functions. We therefore extend our gratitude to Prime Drilling Gmbh (Germany), the manufacturers of our HDD rigs, and Daman Shipyards Gorinchem of the Netherlands, the builders of the Self-propelled onshore lay barge and the service vessels, for their support in areas of technology transfer to our workers,” he added.
Engr. Chukwudi stressed that in its quest for being the best Nigeria company with 100% Nigerian human resources, its has recently and aggressively moved into shallow and deep water operations by the acquisition of “Akpevweoghene Derrick Pipe Lay Barge’ meant for the construction of platforms, heavy lifting and laying of pipelines in both shallow and deep waters.
In his address, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwampa, while commending FENOG for acquiring such equipment, promised theme that the board would do all within its power to ensure that the local content act was strictly adhered to by the oil companies.
He noted that it was good to have partnership with companies that are progressive and companies that have the capacity to do some of the works they were doing in the Oil and Gas industry, adding that it was investments like these embarked upon by FENOG that grows the economy.
He said; “I also like the way FENOG is growing partnership with other oil companies. This is another way of building capacity. We are in a situation whereby the country is faced with only two or three industries and our economy has been sustained by these two industries. It is a good thing to have partnership with companies that are progressive and companies that have the capacity to do some of the works we are doing in the industry today. It is investment like this that grows the economy.”
Engr. Nwampa said that Nigerian companies are investing additional capital in bringing in new equipment used in developing the Oil and Gas industry, noting that as the Niger Delta region becomes calmer and calmer the impact of these investments will be felt and Nigeria will become a great oil producing nation.
According to Engr. Nwampa; “All these investments are energizing the industry. So it is only a matter of time before the full impact will be felt and Nigeria will really become a great oil producing nation. We have gone beyond just getting contracts. Nigerians must participate and start building equipments. It is our wish to urge you to start building vessels here in Nigeria because it is very important for us to begin building equipments in Nigeria.”
“We believe that the thing we have come here to do today will give FENOG sufficient capacity to participate in the oil and gas industry. I assure FENOG that we are already doing so in restructuring the operations of the oil and gas industry in such a way that the work will start flowing. And when work starts flowing, the Nigeria local content law will ensure that companies must have plans for the indigenes.
“So I encourage you not to relent but continue to do your work and continue to do the right thing. We are working from the Nigeria local content and monitoring board to continue to push for the competition of Nigerians in the oil industry. The companies in Nigeria that are investing a lot of money in the industry are going through a lot of threats and misunderstandings. But one thing we must be happy about is that foreign industries have come to the realization that the only way we can sustain the oil industry in this country is to allow Nigerian companies participate in the industry,” Engr. Nwampa said.
The Executive Director of FENOG, Mr. Mathew Tonlagha said that; “We have invested heavily on capacity over the years, but with low patronage from the oil. It is the federal Government that is holding us now. We are commissioning our equipment and they are supposed to give us projects that they are supposed to commission. This is the third time we are inviting them to come and commission our modern equipment, but we have not invited them to come and commission any project here. So it is a challenge for the Federal Government. What will be the hope of Nigerians tomorrow if we continue to invest in equipment without calling them to come and commission projects that we have completed? So those are the things that President Goodluck Jonathan said they are going to push for and we hope that next time when we see them come here, is to commission projects that FENOG completed for the oil companies.”
