Operators in the oil and gas sector have tasked the Federal Government to ensure that more projects are approved for the oil and gas industry, to enhance economic development.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Simbi Wabote, particularly appealed to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to approve more projects in the industry to enhance economic development urgently.
He said, “We appeal to other International Oil Companies to ensure that more projects are domiciled in Nigeria to create jobs for Nigerians.
“We must ensure oil companies in Nigeria develop capacity building and effective local content development.”
The Managing Director, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nicolas Terraz, said that work had commenced on the $3.3 billion Floating Production Storage Offloading vessel and would undergo integration of the six locally fabricated modules within the next six months.
According to him, the integration of the six locally fabricated topside modules, before its final sail-away to the Egina field, is a remarkable achievement in local content development in Nigeria.
The Total Upstream boss also said several technological feats had been recorded by the various entities involved in the project.
“Egina is the deepest offshore development carried out so far in Nigeria, with water depths at over 1,500 meters,’’ he said.
Terraz explained that the Egina FPSO was designed to operate for 25 years and produce about 200,000 barrels of oil per day.
He said the Egina operations would generate significant activities for local contractors in various sectors and would continue to provide avenues for the training and development of Nigerians in various domains.
Meanwhile, Kachikwu has called for more investment from the IOCs in Nigeria and urged them to improve more on the local content development initiative.
He explained that Nigeria would continue to be a prolific economy and a model for any country in the world in terms of oil production.
He said, “We are going to ensure more speed, good terms and ensure that oil companies get huge rewards. We will also ensure that local content continues to build capacity and effective service.
“I want to congratulate Total and its partners for their huge investment in Nigeria, and for the fantastic piece and unique benchmark for six modules that are fabricated in Nigeria by Nigerians.”
Kachikwu urged more IOCs to ensure that more jobs are domiciled in Nigeria to promote and enhance local content development initiatives, adding that oil companies should also ensure continuity of jobs in Nigeria to keep Nigerians working.
He appealed to other IOCs to expedite actions on all pending jobs that needed to be done in Nigeria to keep Nigerians working.
“The investment is key and huge, the president will be very happy about this economy’s development in Nigeria that engaged over 2,000 indigenous workers.
“The 200, 000 barrel per day production will also add value to the economic growth of the country,’’ Kachikwu said.
