Yemisi Izuora
An Indigenous oil logistics firm has called for quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, PIGB, to support local capacity building in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking on the benefits of the Nigerian Local Content Act, while briefing the media in Lagos on Monday, chief executive officer of Fortune Global Shipping and Logistics, Mr. Eric Opah, said the Nigerian Act is a law targeted at promoting local participation in the oil and gas industry providing exclusive consideration for Nigerian indigenous service companies which demonstrate ownership of equipment, Nigerian personnel and capacity to execute jobs in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Opah, observed that the implementation of the law has significantly offered Indigenous companies the opportunities to break even in the sector, but stressed that PIGB if passed into law with further support investment and increase activities in the industry.
He said the company played crucial role in the Egina floating production storage and offloading facility (FPSO), developed by the French group Total.
The company he said has build strategic partnerships to strengthen its new business portfolio in the oil and gas sector, adding that with fresh opportunities it is exploring offshore the company will break more grounds.
“We played a major role in the delivery of the Egina FPSO and our input is critical which goes to confirm our competences in oil servicing space. The Egina was very challenging to us as an Indigenous oil company because we export d the pressure tank to South Korea and the Local Content implementation of the project facilitated the in-country integration of the infrastructure.
So I want to urge the National Assembly to expedite action on the PIGB because we need strong fiscal policy to help develop local competences and improve indigenous oil companies participation in oil and gas activities especially now that the oil prices is improving”, Opah said.
Speaking further, he said the company has commenced expansion outside Nigeria to export capacities and explore opportunities in the international market.
“One of the challenges local players face today is access to finance and to compete in the global market you need adequate capital base and this is where we find it difficult to handle big projects.
However, we have expanded to Ghana and the US and we are looking at new opportunities that will support our growth strategy and plan”, he said.