Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, has announced that the engineering design office for her seventh gas plant, popularly known as Train-7 project, will open in Nigeria, in August 2020.
NLNG, however, disclosed that the bulk of fabrication and manufacturing activities for the project will be suspended until the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.
The Managing Director of NLNG, Tony Attah, disclosed this recently during the kick-off meeting of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC components of the project, which was held virtually between the firm, NCDMB and SCD JV.
Attah described the contract award and execution of Train 7 as a clear demonstration of the commitment of NLNG and its shareholders to continued investment in the Nigerian oil and gas sector with the attendant creation of capacity, competency and value.
He announced that the challenges of the pandemic had compelled NLNG and the SCD JV to agree on scope adjustments that will facilitate a controlled start to the execution phase of the project, with limited engineering activities for the first 12 months (Pivot Period).
Attah assured that NLNG will collaborate with the Contractors and the Board to deliver the agreed Nigerian Content, within budget, on schedule, in accordance with the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and a strong focus on HSE.
“The engineering design office will open in Nigeria in August, but the bulk of fabrication and manufacturing activities will be suspended until the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.
“The parties have agreed mechanisms that will facilitate a ramp up and pivot into the full scope of work as soon as clearly defined indices are achieved at which point the more traditional expectations of the project execute phase will come into play with full mobilization of the contractor to site.
“The critical mass of construction and fabrication activities will take off when the pivot into the full project scope occurs.
“Nigerian Content is one of the key value drivers for Train 7 as it will create jobs, deepen competency and capacity, unlock opportunities in the oil and gas industry and hopefully open the door for further expansion activities with the possibility of further LNG trains and projects.”
The NLNG boss also noted that Community Content is a key part of the project and requested the support of the Board to close the issue of Community Vendors that will participate in the project.
Meanwhile, Saipem Contracting Nigeria has assured that it will utilize its facilities in Rivers State for the fabrication components of the Front End Engineering Design, FEED of the NLNG Train-7 Project.
Director, Tancredi Group, which handles Corporate Communications for Saipem, Mr. George Bush, said Saipem’s fabrication yard in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt will handle the prefabrication works while construction will take place in Bonny Island, location of the Train 7 Project.
Bush explained that logistics aspect of the project will be handled from the Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited’s yards in Abam, Okrika and Onne in Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State, respectively.