Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has explained why it has been investing in and developing commercial oil and gas projects across the country, despite being a regulatory agency.
This is as the Board has made several interventions in the oil and gas value-chain, such as the development of LPG storage terminals and jetties, modular refineries, infrastructure for gas gathering, CNG facilities, manufacturing of composite LPG cylinders, etc.
NCDMB General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Dr Ginah Ginah, explained that section 70 of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010, mandates the Board to assist Nigerian companies to develop their capabilities and capacities in the oil and gas industry
Ginah spoke in Port Harcourt, at the 2021 Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists in the South South.
He said the theme of the event, “Sustaining Nigerian Content amidst Shifting Energy Landscape: The Role of the Media”, was chosen in order to draw attention to the Board’s activities in sustaining Nigerian Content growth despite the rapid changes in the energy landscape.
“Many journalists here might wonder why the Board is getting involved in developing commercial oil and gas projects being a regulatory agency.
“The basis of our action is Section 70(h) of the NOGICD Act 2010, which mandates the Board to assist local contractors and Nigerian companies to develop their capabilities and capacities to further the attainment of the goal of developing Nigerian Content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“Besides, most of our partnerships are oriented to promote or realise strategic policies of the federal in the petroleum industry. Our goal is to catalyse strategic government policies and programmes and then exit once those businesses become successful. “
On energy transition, Ginah said NCDMB has aligned itself completely with the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that gas was the country’s Transition Energy, hence the declaration of 2020-2030 as a Decade of Gas by the federal government.
He said NCDMB has been involved in several partnership arrangements for investments in several gas projects which include,
“Partnership with NEDO Gas Processing Company in Kwale, Delta State for the establishment of 80MMscfd of Gas Processing Plant and a 300MMscfd Kwale Gas Gathering hub which is 95percent completed.
“Partnership with Triansel Gas Limited in Koko, Delta State for the 5,000MT LPG Storage and Loading Terminal Facility.
“Partnership with Duport Midstream for the construction of Energy Park in Egbokor, Edo State.
“Partnership with Brass Fertiliser for the development of a 10,000MT/day Methanol Plant at Odiama in Brass.
“Partnership with Rungas in Bayelsa and Lagos states for the establishment of plants to manufacture 1.2million units of composite LPG cylinders.
“On Saturday last week, we commissioned Butane Energy Limited 100MT Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Storage and Bottling Plant in Kastina State, which will help address supply constraints in the domestic LPG market in the Northern part of Nigeria through its plant operations/bulk storage, transportation/ distribution, cylinder filling and bulk retail.
“Other planned investments with the company in LPG storage and bottling plants would come up in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Bauchi States while six depots would be in Zamfara, Jigawa, Gombe, Plateau, Niger and Nasarawa states.”
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