NLNG to Strengthen Commitment to Local Content devt

The Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has restated commitment to boost local content in the oil and gas sector.

The company stated this when it hosted the Nigerian Content Stakeholders Retreat at its plant complex in Bonny, in demonstration of its unwavering commitment to the advancement of local content in Nigeria.

The three days event provided a platform for the cohesion of NLNG’s vision of being a globally competitive LNG company helping to build a better Nigeria, and the goal of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as the umpire for Nigerian Content Development.

Delivering the keynote address at the Nigerian Content and Award Ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the NCMDB, Engr Simbi Wabote expressed concern over the challenges of inadequate gas supply to the NLNG Plant and promised to support the company along the lines of approving third party gas injectors and sanctioning new deepwater gas projects.

He pointed out that ‘most of the marginal operators have also found gas but part of their challenge is where to send the gas.’

Engr Wabote lauded the NLNG for its remarkable success at promoting Nigerian Content, recalling that at the inception, the company’s Management level had 90 per cent expatriates and 10 per cent Nigerians.

He, however, added that the table has now turned the other way, with the entire Management now consisting of Nigerians.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Philip Mshebila, said the retreat and award ceremony was designed to reaffirm NLNG’s commitment to upholding local content development as a catalyst for the economic advancement of the nation, adding that, through NLNG’s Nigerian Content policy, the company has consistently championed the development of  indigenous and national economic potentials while fostering a self-sufficient and competitive workforce for sustainable development.

According to Dr Mshelbila, NLNG recognises its pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of local content development in Nigeria and restated that the company’s commitment to Nigerian Content development aligns with its profound belief in Nigeria’s boundless potentials which can be unleashed by nurturing and harnessing local talents, Nigerian companies and associated resources, that will in turn help build a stronger, more prosperous nation.

This includes technology transfer, given the high-tech plant and operations of the NLNG Plant in Bonny Island.

The NLNG boss stated that, while the company appreciates the outstanding contributions of major foreign partners, he said:  “we insist on capacity development and knowledge transfer to encourage Nigerian companies to get more involved in the technical processes. We want to see more partnerships with local manufacturers, more empowerment for competitive edge, more import substitution with locally manufactured spares and parts”.

Since commencement of operations in 1990, NLNG has maintained unwavering commitment to local content development through significant investment in skills development programmes that empower Nigerian workers and companies with the knowledge and expertise required to drive economic activities in the nation’s Oil and Gas sector and associated industries.