Steering local companies within the oil and gas sector towards their maximum output started with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s (NCDMB) approval of a national content plan in March 2019 and over five years down the line, there have been positive results to show for the efforts made so far based on the Train-7 Project nearly commissioning stage.

When the Board’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, on Tuesday 13 August, 2024, visited BEAMCO Nigeria Limited at its facilities in Lagos, he felt moved by the firm’s giant strides in manufacturing the equipment being used.

The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) NLNG, is owned by four Shareholders namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by NNPC (49%), Shell Gas B.V. (25.6%), TotalEnergies Gaz & Electricité Holdings (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr. l (10.4%).

NLNG having achieved up to 22 million tonnes per annum of natural gas production four years ago aimed to push deliveries higher by 35 percent. In partnership with the NCDMB, the Nigeria Content (NC) Plan for its Train-7 project was meant to propel this goal by relying strictly on locals to build the tools.

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Signs that the content plan was being followed have become visible and so during his visit to BEAMCO yesterday, Engr. Ogbe lauded the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Saipem-Daewoo Joint Venture, and the host for enhanced in-country value addition.

Locally assembled pumps and valves needed for Train-7 are set for installation and so are pre-commissioning preparations for the Bonny Island, Rivers State multi-billion showcase.

At the load-out ceremony held at BEAMCO’s facility in Apapa, Lagos, the NCDMB boss observed that the feat of sourcing vital components in-country happened because of the Equipment Component Manufacturing Initiative (ECMI) his agency launched in 2013.

The ECMI framework necessitates a Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) be issued to participating companies who show a desire to make supplies to oil and gas industry clients. This move or requirement ensured that NLNG, through its main contractor, Saipem-Daewoo, awarded a contract to BEAMCO for the supply of 17 API (American Petroleum Institute) Pumps and 19 Control Valves because of the latter’s inclusion in NCDMB’s Approved Vendor List for the Train-7 project.

According to Engr. Ogbe, Nigeria is proud that BEAMCO will be delivering quality pumps and valves on schedule. This is a demonstration that the Nigerian business environment provides all the enablers to support manufacturing and assembly.

In the Executive Secretary’s view, the recent Presidential Directives on Local Content implementation were working. The directive mandates that oil and gas contracts should only be awarded to local companies with established and proven capabilities in-country.

Assuring that there shall only be a continuity, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe said that NCDMB would continue to support BEAMCO to further expand its capabilities to include backward integration in [pump and valve[ components manufacturing in Nigeria.

If the participating company stay the course, he adds, together we will achieve [more similar] milestones in the industry, as part of our collective commitment to achieve 70% Nigerian Content by 2027.

Some components and accessories showcased during the factory trip include four pumps (2 Reflux pumps and 2 Amine booster pumps) and five valves (2 Mark 100 valves, I Mark One valve and 2 flowtop valves).

At the venue sharing the view with the Executive Secretary were some senior management of the Board such as the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Abdulmalik Halilu and also the Director of Finance and Personnel Management, Mr. Ifeanyi Ukoha.

Other visible guests making the quorum were personnel from international oil and gas organisations and their local content divisions.