- Safiu Kehinde
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) has charged Nigerian companies to take advantage of its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects, stressing that they have a lot to benefit.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, gave the charge while speaking at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday.
The three-day NOGOF was hosted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) with the theme: “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry Through Indigenous Capacity Development.”
According to a statement made available to NPO Reports, Adams noted that projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts.
“SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater frontier with the Bonga development as the first deepwater oilfield exploration and production venture in the country,” Ron said in remarks which were delivered by Head Supply Chain, Charles Oranyeli.
“Our operations have greatly benefitted Nigerian businesses, and we expect them to get ready to take up more opportunities.” he added.
Adams highlighted ways at which Nigerian companies could upscale their skills and continue to offer services in areas such as logistics, drilling, fabrication and construction of subsea manifolds, mooring and loading systems, pressure vessels and provision of gas processing equipment in deep-water, as well as procurement and civil works in shallow water.
According to the statement, SNEPCo, since starting production at Bonga in 2005, had been supporting Nigerian contractors and service providers to grow their capacity through the development of systems and a competent workforce with the aim to deliver projects safely, on time and within budget not only in Nigeria but also in the West African subregion.
These efforts have reportedly enabled Nigerian companies to play prominent roles in the safe and efficient operations of the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel which produced the 1-billionth barrel of oil from the field on February 3, 2023.
Adams added: “SNEPCo sees Nigerian content development as a business driver and not a regulatory requirement and will continue to support our companies to lay even bigger roles in their support for oil and gas operations.”
SNEPCo is among the sponsors of the event, and is hosting an exhibition, highlighting its contributions to the development of the Nigerian economy and communities.