LOCAL CONTENT: OILSERVE POSITIONS FOR MAJOR GAS/POWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
By Yemie Adeoye
TO further demonstrate its commitment to the Nigerian Content Act, Oilserve Ltd, one of the major Engineering and construction service companies in the country has further positioned itself for the execution of major gas/power infrastructure projects currently undergoing Front End Engineering Design (FEED).
These projects, owned by Oando Plc and numbering about five, are all geared towards building massive capacity and transform the gas infrastructure terrain.
The Chief Executive Officer of Oilserv, Mr. Emeka Okwuosa dropped the hint while delivering his address at the launch of the newly completed 128 kilometer south-south gas pipeline in Cross River state whichwas constructed by Oilserv.
Petro Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke
According to him the company brought to bear on the project a high level of professionalism due to the uneasy terrain through which the line would pass.
Domiciling engineering works
'Oil serve is the EPC Contractor that built all these facilities, this facility we're commissioning today including the pipelines are owned by Oando, but Oilserve engineered and constructed it. This is a clear story of local content for all those concerned with domiciling our engineering works in-country.
'The project is owned and executed by an indigenous company engaging and employing indigenous people and thereby growing their capacities.
Mr. Okwuosa, said that the 128-kilometre gas pipeline has the capacity to deliver up to a standard cubic feet per day, to its maiden customer, UNICEM, to fuel its new cement plant, located in Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
According to him, the 128-kilometre gas pipeline would accelerate industrialization in the South-south region by providing cheaper, safer, cleaner and environmentally friendly fuel to industries in the region
He noted that the pipeline was built under a joint venture arrangement with the Nigerian Gas Company NGC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, to foster changes in the terrain and impacted positively in the oil and gas sector.
He also said that the 18-inch by 128-kilometre gas transmission pipeline to the United Cement Company UNICEM, plant was to boost their production to meet up with the international cost competitive rates in the industries.
'We are aware that Oando is currently carrying out Front End Engineering, for more than five others major Gas and power infrastructure project which will facilitate opportunity for Domestic Gas Distribution system in Nigeria,' he explained
With this pipeline, we are beginning to create the much needed gas grid in the South Eastern part of Nigeria connecting through the existing of Nigeria Gas Company infrastructures to the Obigbo and opens up in Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers States.
The completion of this project marks the beginning of a journey towards the restoration of Nigeria into the league of Nations that have successfully enjoyed the advantage of the abundance of natural gas to positively impact on the lives of present and future generations of these citizens.
Speaking on technical challenges faced during the project execution, the Oilserv boss stated that as the first major domestic gas transmission pipeline system to be built in the south-south and south-east zones of Nigeria it presented very serious technical challenges that were successfully dealt with by Oilserv/Oando.
'We had a total of 8 major river crossing. These were crossed using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) system. The rivers range from 800m to 1.3- km width. These are all in swampy terrain and required major shoring/timbering and site preparation to install the HDD equipment. We also dealt with community issues via experienced handling and engagement of communities along the pipeline route', he explained.