By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has said that the construction of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Train7 has witnessed 60 per cent local content.

Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr Simbi Wabote, said this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair, scheduled to take place in Bayelsa from May 17 to 19.

Wabote said unlike the LNG Train 1 to 6 that had near zero participation of Nigerians because of poor performance in energy technology, the Train 7 had more Nigerians participating due to the development of local capacity and capability.

“I think the project is a total of about US$5 billion and 50 per cent of that is being handled in-country and by Nigerians,” he said.

Wabote said that the significant leap and growth happened because they provided many Nigerians with the opportunity to excel in oil and gas technology.

He said the local content participation being witnessed in the oil and gas technology was achieved mainly through the biannual Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), organised by the NCDMB.

“When we were looking at the strategy on how to develop Nigeria content, that is, the local capacity to provide services to the oil and gas industry, we went through a lot.

“There was so much that we needed to do in order to enhance the participation of Nigerians.

“So it was out of this request by stakeholders that we looked at it and said okay provide a platform where you will tell them of opportunities in the industry such that people can begin to prepare themselves.

“One of the greatest successes was that if you look at the Train LNG 1 to 6, the level of Nigerians participation was near zero because energy technology and the activities there were alien to us.

“Everything practically was done overseas but with the advent of NOGOF, today, 60 per cent of the activities in LNG 7 is being done by Nigerians.

“It is because we provided the prime information which enabled them to prepare themselves to participate in that project,” Wabote said.

According to him, the local content participation is a creation of the Act 2010 which mandates the NCDMB to support the development of local capacity and capability in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

He noted that the Act also mandated the board to foster institutional collaboration, maximise Nigerians’ participation in the oil and gas activities and link the sector to other sectors of the economy.

“We are also maximising the utilisation of Nigerian resources amongst other objectives.”

Wabote highlighted the importance of the oil and gas fair to the economy, noting that it was an opportunity to industrialise the country.

“Our goal is to use NOGOF as a platform to promote these objectives that drive growth and development across the Nigeria oil and gas value chain.

“We are excited to engage with stakeholders, foster the development of local content and strategise on the capacity building initiatives that will benefit the industry and the broader economy.

“This will be the fourth edition, the first and second edition were hosted in Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa states respectively, while the third edition was hosted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our theme this year is “The oil and gas industry, catalyst and fuel for industrialisation of Nigeria” and interested stakeholders can visit WWW.NCDMBNOGOF.org for information on how to get involved in any capacity.

“We believe the theme is important as it highlights the critical role of the oil and gas industry in tune with industrialisation and overall development of the Nigerian economy.

“We have also raised the bar at this year’s event by expanding our focus to include the linkage industries and extending our reach beyond Nigeria to the entire African continent,” he added.

The NCDMB boss noted that another objective of NOGOF2023, would be to bring together key stakeholders of the oil and gas industry to discuss ways to deepen local content.

This, he said, would be done by leveraging identified opportunities and identifying sonic ways to move the industry forward. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The management of Seplat Petroleum Development Company, a Nigerian independent oil and gas company, says the company has donated well-equipped laboratories to schools in Edo and Delta.

The Director of External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, Dr Chioma Nwachuku, explained that the laboratories were for Science Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) to promote practical learning in both private and public schools.

Speaking at the event in Benin on Wednesday, Nwachuku said that the initiative was geared towards assisting the students to develop their science, engineering, mathematics, and art skills using technology.

Nwachuku noted that the STEAM laboratory, supported by Solar Energy, has internet access to provide the teachers with a technology-enhanced learning environment to support project-based learning for their students.

She explained that the laboratory was designed to help students learn how to work as a team, solve problems and apply their knowledge in advanced and in creative ways to prepare them for the future.

“Seplat is excited that the STEAM laboratories will further strengthen the application of STEAM learning that the company has continued to promote in schools through the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).

“The Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme, known as STEP, equips secondary school teachers with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to teach students the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics learning model.

“Teachers are critical factors towards achieving quality education. Hence, in 2020, Seplat commenced the STEP initiative to empower teachers with the essential STEAM knowledge and skill sets.

“This highly sought-after programme has delivered immense outcomes for 634 teachers and touched more than 25,000 students in Delta and Edo secondary schools,” she said.

Also speaking, the Director of New Energy, Seplat, Mr Effiong Okon, said: “We started the STEP initiative by training teachers, and now we have taken the next step by investing in the STEAM laboratory and providing unique gadgets.

“This laboratory will significantly change how students learn and how our children’s potential can be unleashed.

“Although we started with producing oil, Seplat is currently investing in New Energy, and this STEAM laboratory will be successfully powered by solar energy because we have a high sun density.

“So, we do not have to rely on the grid or power-generating sets to run the laboratory. We look forward to collaborating with the students and possibly championing new scientific breakthroughs.

“The laboratory has various science devices and tools such as electrical kits, chemical supplies, computers, art materials and a projector. among others”.

In her speech, the Commissioner for Education in Edo, Dr Joan Oviawe, thanked Seplat on behalf of the state government.

Oviawe reiterated that the donation supported the state government’s drive to enhance the role of technology in improving the quality of education in the state.

In his welcome address, the Principal of Ihogbe College, Mr Johnson Egharevba, expressed the excitement of the entire school adding that his students had also attended Seplat-organised competitions in the past.

Egharevba said that three of the school’s STEP-trained teachers had developed power banks based on knowledge gained from STEP. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

By Emmanuella Anokam

Mrs Nkechi Obi, the Group Managing Director of Techno Oil Ltd., an indigenous oil and gas company, has emphasised the need to have significant investments and infrastructure to achieve global energy mix and sustainable energy.

Obi made the call at the business leaders and regulatory dialogue, a session at the ongoing Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the session has its theme as “Africa at the Heart of the Global Energy Mix: What’s Ahead in Nigeria.”

NAN also reports that biomass (charcoal), petroleum reserves, natural gas, peat, hydroelectricity, solar and wind are major energy resources in Nigeria and the country remains a top producer of crude oil and natural gas in Africa.

Obi who received a lifetime oil and gas achievement award at the ongoing summit said at the session that gas would play a big role in the global energy mix and that Nigeria had enough of it to drive the industry.

She explained that there were about eight mitigants to achieving the global energy mix but that the provision of infrastructure, reduction in biomass and fossil fuel were key to achieving success, especially in the downstream sector.

According to the GMD, Nigeria needs an enabling environment to drive investments to position itself strategically in view of global trend to transit to cleaner energy.

She said the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) was a big relief in pursuit of a cleaner energy but regretted that the Act was not being implemented effectively.

She urged the Federal Government to fast track the process of its implementation, especially the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority which had plans to drive the PIA implementation process.

Obi noted that the country had abundant gas reserves but that the challenges of affordability, accessibility and availability were still militating against the progress of the industry.

The Techno Oil GMD said the challenges in the oil and gas sector had led to the company making some investments and improving its infrastructure aimed at benefitting the entire gas value chain.

She said in the quest for cleaner energy and to tackle challenges in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) adoption, it established a fully automated LPG ultra-modern gas cylinder manufacturing plant with state of the art laboratory and modern testing equipment.

“The terminal we have is about 10,000 metric tonnes capacity and the cylinder manufacturing plant enhances usage of quality cylinders.

“The goal is to help households and encourage domestic switch from heavy biomass use and deepen LPG use which is safer, cleaner, healthier and cheaper to use.

“Today techno cylinders are of standard and the best,” she said.

The summit which started on April 16 and would end on April 20, has its theme as “Global Perspectives for a Sustainable Energy Future.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria and the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office have geared up efforts on promoting low-carbon hydrogen for economic growth and industrialisation.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Annett Gunther, said this at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023).in Abuja.

The two offices hosted a dialogue titled “Low-Carbon Hydrogen: A Key Piece for a Just Transition”.

The offices are financed by the Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

According to Gunther, the process is clearly moving from oil to gas, and from gas to hydrogen and other green and renewable energy sources.

Gunther said the Nigerian International “Petroleum Summit” was re-branded as “Energy Summit”, thus reflecting a crucial change in its outlook and in the increased attention it gave to non-traditional sources of energy.

In his remarks, the Country Director, GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Markus Wagner, said that, “the nascent low-carbon hydrogen economy and its associated industries held the promise of economic growth and industrialisation.

He emphasised its added-value creation, decent job generation, infrastructure development, and an increased access to secure affordable low-carbon energy.

“Yet, these socioeconomic benefits can only be reaped if we focus on long-term development instead of immediate returns. If we focus on how to make the Energy Transition a Just Transition,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Gabriel Aduda, in his keynote address, said Nigeria was keen on exploring the possibilities that the nascent hydrogen economy could create for its energy sector.

Aduda emphasised how low-carbon hydrogen fitted into the theme of 2023 edition of the NIES (Global Perspectives for a Sustainable Energy Future), which was motivated by the foreseen changes in the fossil fuel segment as the world pursued the energy transition agenda.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, expressed gratitude on the existing cooperation between Germany and Nigeria.

He expressed anticipation for further cooperation in the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, especially on the topic of low-carbon hydrogen.

Dr Chinnan Dikwal, Executive Vice President, African Energy Council also made a presentation on the opportunities and challenges to make low-carbon hydrogen a reality for Nigeria.

Dikwal said that Nigeria was well positioned to produce low-carbon hydrogen for domestic use and export into Europe and Asia.

He further gave recommendations to help develop a robust hydrogen value chain in Nigeria, such as creating a H2 accelerator programme for start-ups and projects, co-locating H2 production and consumption in hydrogen valleys.

He included launching a hydrogen-centric regulatory regime to instill confidence for both producers and consumers of hydrogen.

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion, which served as a platform for Nigerian voices from oil and gas, renewable energies, public sector, academia, and NGOs to speak about their visions of a Just Transition.

Ms Gina Lagunes, Head of the German Nigerian Hydrogen office, in a remark said Nigeria, as a traditional fossil fuel exporting country with existing oil and gas infrastructure and know-how, could use this trend as a momentum to transition towards sustainable energy.

Lagunes further reiterated the Hydrogen Office’s commitment towards providing advisory for the creation of an enabling framework for low-carbon hydrogen, developing capacity in public and private sector, civil society, as well as offering support to private sector and specific projects. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Emmanuella Anokam

The TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria says it will stop routine gas flaring in 2023 to actualise energy security and sufficiency.

Mr Victor Bandele, the Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria, said this in Abuja, when he featured at the Chief Executive Officers Roundtable, at the ongoing Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023).

Bandele said the decision was a deliberate measure by the company toward delivering safer, cleaner and accessible energy for energy transition.

He noted that about 95 per cent of its gas production was currently being utilised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable which gave top energy companies an opportunity to share their thoughts on how best to solve issues around energy poverty was tagged: “Building Energy for Tomorrow.”

Bandele said the decision of the company to end gas flaring this year started in the past 15 years noting that they had been progressive on the target.

He expressed the company’s commitments to ensure fully integrated, sustainable and available energy in the oil and gas industry to actualise energy transition.

According to him, the company places safety of people and respect for the environment at the forefront.

“Over the years, we have been consistent in development, making sure that all infrastructure we have are fully utilised.

“This year, we have just finished drilling an exploration well and we will continue to consolidate on the things we know how best to do,” he said.

Speaking on gas as the transition fuel, Bandele said the company had inaugurated onshore projects which were already at the engineering stage.

He said the action was a deliberate plan by the company to supply electricity to communities situated at the site of its oil block which had been in darkness for the past 25 years.

“We acquired second largest solar company in the world. It is also a deliberate action to work in that space to boost the industry,” he added.

He said they would continue to consolidate on new energy, while expanding gas development projects.

Bandele challenged the industry regulators to increase the scope of gas to be used on gas channel since the pipelines were being utilised.

He also said TotalEnergies was in talks with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. on how to install another 10 megawatt electricity to a community in the zone of its project.

He explained that the project would be 100 per cent solar-based with two years completion target.

Bandele said that the company had made a lot of progress in its domestic gas education to stakeholders and was continuously enriching its gas portfolio in terms of export.

“TotalEnergies is present in all sectors of energy in Nigeria, namely downstream, midstream and upstream,” he said.

Emphasising on its downstream achievements, he said the company’s 550 filling stations across the country operate on solar energy.

Bandele regretted that so much time had been wasted on deliberations and solutions for energy security, and called for on hands to be on deck to achieve the desired result.

“Nigeria is a cornerstone to the development of Africa. No country is as mature as Nigeria on gas development and we must take advantage of that,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma