NCDMB rallies oil contractors with NOGOF 2023

Sopuruchi Onwuka

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will in the middle of next month host a robust expo on contract opportunities in the upcoming projects in the petroleum industry.

The event which is in its fourth edition and organized in partnership with Jake Riley Limited comes at time the industry stakeholder groups agreed at the Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja to accelerate development of the Nigerian hydrocarbon resources in the prevailing strong price cycle and ahead of demand uncertainties associated with energy transition.

At the NIES 2023, the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr Gbenga Komolafe, declared that the resource administrator has committed to timely conclusion of the twin bid rounds on flare gas commercialization and deepwater acreage awards.

The two programmes are expected to stimulate a flurry of exploration activities in the deepwater, and harnessing huge gas resources at the nation’s various active oil production sites for commercialization.

Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited declared at the conference that it was working with its partners in operated assets, various joint ventures and production sharing agreements to overcome issues in the operating environment and activate already approved development programmes to boost production.

The conference also laid templates for the industry to bolster collaboration, enhance sustainability strategies and explore creative funding opportunities for urgent restoration of vibrancy in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

The NCDMB stated at the media briefing that the plans in the industry have put a lot of projects in the pipeline, adding that NOGOF 2023 slated to be hosted in Bayelsa State would bring operating companies, international industry technology developers and indigenous contractors together to explore partnerships and collaboration in delivering projects in the petroleum and linkage sectors.

Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Simbi Wabote, declared at media briefing hosted by Jake Riley in Abuja that 2023 edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2023 is expected to further broaden opportunities for Nigerian players in the wider African petroleum provinces where activities are picking up.

He said objectives of the fair would directly plug into the emerging opportunities provided in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and widen the opportunity scope for competent Nigerian service providers and manufacturers to tap into the huge budget petroleum industry activities in the continent.

Engr Wabote explained that NOGOF was introduced by the NCDMB to bridge information gaps on contract opportunities in the industry, serve advance notice to local service providers on the scope and scale of upcoming activities in the industry, and enable them prepare to participate.

He expressed regrets that Nigerian contractors missed out in several opportunities in the sector prior to the introduction of NOGOF because they were either not aware or prepared.

In pointing at gains of galvanizing local participation in Nigerian petroleum industry jobs, Engr Wabote stated that the NCDMB and local contractors are able to secure in-country delivery of the significant 50 percent scope in the $5.0 billion development project for the seventh process train of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.       

With programmes like NOGOF and resulting capacity ramp up in the service industry, he stressed, NCDMB has laid focus on achieving 70 percent of the entire project scope when the next train of the LNG would be executed.

On the expansion of 2023 NOGOF to linkage sectors and countries, Engr Wabote explained that the full goal was to use business opportunities in the petroleum industry to catalyze industrialization and promote economic growth across sectors in the African economy.

“We hope to stimulate investment, foster technology transfer, and enhance local content development across the African oil and gas value chain,” he emphasized.

He pointed at the linkages between the petroleum and other industries in providing support services and logistics in delivering oilfield development, production, operations and maintenance activities.

Engr Wabote made it clear that NOGOF would further deepen linkages among sectors in the economy; from petroleum, maritime, financial services, manufacturing, construction and others; in a manner that would domicile more activities that create and retain employment for teeming Nigerian youths.

In pointing at the country huge skills base and available capacity for industry job execution, he made it clear that time has come to optimize utilization by expanding the frontier of opportunities in the ACFTA.

“In that case, you need to expand your market outside. We tell our sister African countries that there is no need to go to America, Europe and Asia for oil and gas capacities that exist in the continent, an example is the FPSO integration facility in Lagos. They should come to Nigeria and other sister African countries so we can share the benefits, reduce our costs and grow together, especially with the spirit of the AfCTA.

The Executive Secretary further stated that the ideas for hosting NOGOF 2023are “aligned with the key objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 (NOGICD) Act, which mandates the NCDMB to support the development of local capacities and capabilities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, foster institutional collaboration, maximize participation of Nigerians in oil and gas activities, link the oil and gas sector to other sectors of the economy, maximize utilization of Nigerian resources, among other objectives.”

He also dwelt on the theme of this year’s edition, which is “The Oil and Gas Industry – Catalyst and Fuel for the Industrialization of Nigeria,” describing it as important as it highlights the critical role of the oil and gas industry in fueling industrialization and overall development of Nigeria’s economy.

He added that the event will provide an opportunity for investors, operators, government officials, and major players across various sectors to engage in meaningful networking on how to collaborate in delivering emerging projects in the petroleum industry.

Engr Wabote stated that guides for participation has been provided on the agency’s website for intending participants, sponsors and exhibitors.

Managing Director, Jake Riley, NOGOF project consultant, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue noted that, “with the incorporation of the linkage industry and the reach beyond Nigeria to other African countries, the stakes are even higher to ensure collaboration and success.” 

Mrs Ogbue explained that the 2023 NOGOF would come with full conferencing packages that guarantee participants full networking opportunities, technology expositions and insights into the experiences and requirements laid out by global players.

She also said that the event would provide participants meaningful discussions, pool of ideas and collaborative learning opportunities to advance the industry and grow together.

She commended the NCDMB on the democratisation of access to participation, the development of the industry and the shared prosperity that comes with the NOGOF initiative.