Yemisi Izuora
More than 40 Nigerian companies showcased their potential for offshore materials and services in the oil and gas industry at an exhibition organised in Lagos by the deep-water subsidiary of Shell in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration and production Company Limited (SNEPCo.)
Speaking at the exhibition in Lagos, the Managing Director of SNEPCO, Bayo Ojulari, said: “The annual Nigerian content exhibition has helped Nigerian companies to keep pace with the fast-evolving local market for offshore materials and services.”
“Looking back on the three editions, I’m happy to say that the event has provided a platform for the alignment of offshore industry demands with local capabilities, which has in turn promoted exchange of ideas and best practices among the indigenous service providers, SNEPCo and other stakeholders,” he said.
In his remarks, the Manager, Monitoring at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. William Arikekpar, commended SNEPCo for sustaining the exhibition since the first edition in 2012.
He urged Nigerian companies to take advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities in offshore oil and gas operations.
General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell companies in Nigeria, Mr. Chiedu Oba, said: “Shell companies in Nigeria will continue to support local manufacturers and vendors to bring them up to international standards. In doing this, we’re looking to see manufacturer suppliers who will make their mark on the international scene.”
SNEPCo helped to create the first generation of Nigerian deep-water oil and gas engineers and service providers when it commenced production at Bonga field in 2005, Nigeria’s first oil and gas project in more than 1,000 metres of water.
Today, 90 percent of Bonga’s core offshore staff are Nigerian.
SNEPCo has also led the way in providing financial empowerment and facilitating the transfer of knowledge and competences from global offshore service providers to local firms in exploration and production activities.
The exhibition, the 4th in the series aimed at raising the level of awareness in critical offshore oil and gas categories where local investment opportunities exist, and where Nigerian businesses are currently under-represented.
Among the exhibitors at the 2015 edition were two companies, the Nigeria Machine Tools, and Kay Global, whose products are now being used in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.