The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote has said that despite government’s drive for Nigerian Content, quality and standards must be upheld by players in the Nigerian oil, gas industry and the manufacturing firms.
Speaking during a recent visit to Tranos Nigeria Limited in Lagos in company of some management of NCDMB and senior representatives of select oil and gas companies, Wabote said that the industry will not compromise quality and urged local firms to meet the required standards so that they could be added to the operating companies’ approved vendors’ lists.
Charging Nigerian oil and gas service companies and manufacturing firms to strive to meet the standards set by the international oil companies, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB said it would attract patronage. He also charged international operating companies to support local companies in their quest to meet their standards and specifications.
The ES also assured Nigerian companies investing in servicing and manufacturing facilities of Federal Government’s support in getting patronage to enable them to employ more Nigerians. ”for every one person employed, 10 lives are affected by association. We have to build our manufacturing base alongside agriculture because they are the major employers of labour,” Wabote said.
The NCDMB’s Executive Secretary commended Tranos for its investments, noting that the size of its facility was bigger than many foreign yards that produce components imported for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Earlier in his presentation, the Managing Director of Tranos, Mr Jude Abalaka noted that his company manufactures products that meet international standards. He listed Tranos’ product line to include cable trays and ladders used for both onshore and offshore, various generator canopies, enclosures that can be utilised for various electrical power purposes, cover for mechanical and rotating equipment and cabinet for various electrical and telecommunication equipment.
He also stated that the company produces various skids and modules for onshore and offshore oil and gas applications, switches and sockets, engineering and fabrication as well as maintenance of oil and gas facilities.
Speaking further, Abalaka disclosed that Tranos was currently expanding its capacity for manufacturing of cable trays and ladders adding that it targets to grow from the current capacity of 200m per day to 7200m per day with the target market demand from greenfield and brownfield oil and gas projects as well as demand in the industrial sector. Adding that facility will start production in September 2020 assured that all the cable tray and ladder needs of Nigeria will be met, with the possibility of exporting to other African countries.
Abalaka who disclosed that no Nigerian company manufacture gaskets locally, despite it being a major requirement in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries said, “we have started placing orders for gasket manufacturing equipment and we will begin the local manufacture of semi-metallic spiral wound and soft cut gaskets in February/March 2010.”
He solicited for the Board’s support and said, ”for the procurement of Tranos’ products for upcoming oil and gas projects, like BSWA, NLNG Train 7, Ikike Project, Ibot WH Project and other EPCI projects.” He also sought assistance with products qualification, certifications and acceptance into approved vendors’ lists of operating companies and inclusion in the NCDMB’s research and development initiatives on the basis of its proven capacity to innovate creative productions in-country.
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