There is no holding back the fact that it is in the national interest to see the Train 7 gas project go through a quick and moderated path to success, so there is the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) nurturing the asset with a galvanising plant alongside the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited south of the country on Friday.

Having more galvanising plants in Nigeria is useful for the industries whose operations need not be steep, experienced, and equipped in-house maintenance of their steely infrastructure like those working in transportation, are understudying sub-sea life or especially oil and gas companies with their pipelines that send energy products to homes.

NCDMB’s Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe strengthened the possibilities of meeting with all the demands and more when he commissioned a 10,000 tonnes per annum galvanising plant, whose manufacturing credit goes to Daewoo Engineering Nigeria Limited.

ALSO READ: NCDMB’s 70% Nigerian content by 2027 milestone feels real with locally sourced NLNG Train-7 tools

The proper introduction considers Daewoo as one of the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) Train 7 Project.

When the Train 7 project has been completed alongside affiliates Saipem and Chiyoda, it would be thanks to them that NLNG’s current six-Train plant output would have improved by 35 percent from the extant 22 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of gas to 30mtpa, according to its website. 

So much impact has been tied to Train 7, hence the commissioning ceremony being held at Daewoo Galvanising Plant at Abam-ama, Okrika, Rivers State, which was attended by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Dr. Philip Mshelbila.

Constructing and delivering a galvanising plant of such magnitude is simply one of the capacity development interventions to sustain the Train 7 project, but it is not just that. Adding more layers of protection for businesses dealing with steel production this term is a sequel to NCDMB’s requirement or demand from EPC contractors. They are expected to mark their influence by contributing a legacy investment to close a critical capacity gap in the oil and gas industry.

The result of this is what the Executive Secretary went out to commission yesterday. At Okrika, he praised both NLNG and Daewoo Engineering for responding positively to the Nigerian Content legacy requirement, adding that the commissioning of the hot deep galvanising plant has increased Nigeria’s output to over 180,000 tonnes per annum. This will be the number when other facilities established by Dorman-long Engineering, Sparkwest Steel Industries and African Industries Group have been drafted.

Engr. Ogbe, who has been leading vast memorabilia of projects, said the newly commissioned facility will serve the Nigerian oil and gas industry, the linkage sectors, including telecommunications, power and transport because all these fields do require galvanised materials without doubt. The importance of galvanising, says the Executive Secretary, include corrosion protection, the extended service life of steel materials, cost-effectiveness and safety assurances.

In recent times, the NCDMB has been getting attention from outside Nigeria for the way its local content drive in oil and gas has been fairly smooth without exaggeration. By showcasing galvanising plants and other strategic Nigerian Content investments more often, there is a real chance of exploiting the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement protocols. It would only take intensive marketing and remaining committed to quality standards and competitiveness by the firms.

Every time the Executive Secretary gets, he reiterates that the 70 percent Nigerian Content target by 2027 is on good ground. The milestone, although three years away, underscores the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration towards implementing pro-local production reforms that will bring about employment and economic prosperity.

ALSO READ: What the e-marketplace brings to Nigeria with the Train-7 gas project gaining speed

When NLNG’s Managing Director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila had his turn to make remarks, he re-established the company’s unwavering commitment to bringing his company’s Nigerian Content objectives as it ties with the Bonny Island-based Train 7 Project.

According to Dr Mshelbila, the protection of steel for durability was a significant application in the energy sector that bolsters the resilience of equipment, shields against depletion, enhances operational efficiency, curbs replacement costs wastage and prolongs equipment lifespan.

The visit to the Daewoo Galvanising Plant, says the Managing Director is a further ‘show and tell’ of our compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and, our sincere vision of being a globally competitive LNG company helping build a better Nigeria.

Meiza Nigeria