OEM will boost local content, says Shell, PETAN

Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC) and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria,(PETAN), have expressed hope that the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) which would be producing sensitive components required in the oil and gas industry would serve as a boost to the nation’s Local content development.

According to the Managing Director and Country Chair of SPDC, Osagie Okunbor, the journey of the initiative started in 2012 where a workshop was held with various OEMs, the local partners and other relevant stakeholders as information was shared on the move.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the domestication of the plant in Port Harcourt at the weekend, Okunbor explained that the goal was to explore ways to facilitate Nigerian Content Development in targeted OEM services for the benefit in the Nigerian oil and as an industry through a more focused collaboration.

Okunbor described the initiative as a welcome development, saying its commercial and economic values are quite enormous as it would enhance maintenance of oil wells, boost the economy and as well, create huge employment.

He said,” I have particularly long for this, the commercial and economic value is quite enormous because we will need it for the maintenance of oil wells. We lost over 1,000 barrels of oil per day due to inability to start a plant like this in the country”
While urging the OEMs participants and the Nigerian partners to make the best use of the opportunity to facilitate knowledge, skill and technology transfer, the shell Managing Director, noted that the key objectives of the project were also to increase control, speed, simplicity and potential for long-term saving and verse job creation.

Speaking also, PETAN’s Chairman, Emeka Ene said, development of countries does not happen by accident but by deliberate attempt and work towards advancement.