By John Ikani
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote says major International Oil Companies (IOCs) have made significant investments in support of the ongoing development of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme.
Engr. Wabote made the disclosure at the Nigerian Content Sensitisation Programme for Law Enforcement Agencies in Yenogoa, Bayelsa.
A statement issued by the agency’s communication department during the weekend, quoted the local content boss as saying: “The NCDMB was developing the oil and gas parks in conjunction with key operators in the oil and gas industry.”
He listed the key operators as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Exxon Mobil Nigeria, and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
According to him, Shell funded the provision of power and utility cables deployed at the oil and gas park located at Emeyal -1, Bayelsa, while Exxon Mobil provided the electrical infrastructure for the park at Odukpani in Cross River.
While noting that NAOC had earlier partnered with the NCDMB to develop the 10-megawatts gas power plant that would supply electricity to the Bayelsa park when completed, Engr. Wabote added that the partnership also facilitates provision of uninterrupted electricity currently to the Nigerian Content Tower and some strategic infrastructure owned by the Bayelsa State Government.
Engr. Wabote further disclosed that the board had signed an agreement with the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) to establish a gas-fired power plant at the Odukpani, park – to provide the park with constant electricity.
He said the power facility would be ready before the end of 2022, about the sametime the Emeyal-1 and Odukpani parks would be completed, ahead of commencing operations in early 2023.
The local content chieftain also announced that the NCDMB had started inviting interested manufacturing companies and other firms to apply for spaces in the parks.
According to him, the parks which would have dedicated power supply and shared services, were conceived to domicile equipment components manufacturing in-country, meet the needs of the oil and gas industry and sectoral linkages as well as create jobs for the nation’s teeming youths.
He also said that the NCDMB was working to develop oil and gas parks at Oguta in Imo, at Onna in Akwa Ibom, Ilaje in Ondo State and in Delta, adding that work was progressing in different stages at the identified locations.
Engr. Wabote went on to note that the completed oil and gas parks would be managed by professional facility managers, to ensure their sustainability.
The ES further stated that the board is partnering with the Nigeria LNG Ltd to develop the Brass Island Shipyard as a Capacity Development Initiative.
He said the feasibility study, geotechnical survey, and site selection study had been completed.
“In addition, the land valuation and perimeter survey has also been completed and the plan is to construct the shipyard in two phases,” he added.
