……flaunts 60yr old operations scorecard in Nigeria
By Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
Chevron has said that, perhaps more than any other international oil company, it has sustained support for the Nigerian local content drive, and equally leads in the building of the capacities for several indigenous businesses, personnel and infrastructure.
Looking at its 60 years of operations in Nigeria, the company, which came into Nigeria as Gulf Oil Company, said in the last 10 years alone, it has spend over $1billion annually providing training, contracts and procurement opportunities to Nigerians on all projects in its operations.
Chevron’s chairman and managing director, Mr. Rick Kennedy, who reminisced on the company’s operations in 60 years in Nigeria, said “In the last 10 years, Chevron has spent an estimated annual average of $1 billion on Nigerian suppliers and service providers. Chevron does all this, not because we are compelled to, but because it is the right thing to do.”
He stressed that the company has had a long history of commitment to Nigerian Content development. “Chevron companies in Nigeria had developed and imbibed the local/Nigerian Content development philosophy well before the April 2010 enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD Act),” Rick said.
According him, Chevron broke industry standards at the Agbami project with the fabricating of more than 10,000 tonnes of steel with Nigerian fabrication companies, pointing out that it was the highest ever recorded in Nigeria. The Chevron boss recalls that the company also trained 105 Nigerian engineers from 21 engineering companies in South Korea.
The Escravos Gas Project (EGP), he said, has employed over 1,800 Nigerians and sourced millions of Dollars’ worth of services (engineering, procurement, fabrication, marine, etc.) locally. Similarly, the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) project provided employment to more than 15,000 Nigerians during the construction phase of the project. Rick opined that the project also awarded huge sub-contracts to local community contractors.
“Under the project, we sent 234 Nigerians on a 30-month training program in South Africa at the synthetic fuel facilities of Sasol Limited and trained over 7,000 Nigerians in technical skill crafts, plant operation and maintenance, business and project management, logistics and supply chain management, as well as gas tungsten arc welding processes,” the Chevron boss stated.
Beyond its core oil and gas business, Chevron has made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria for six decades. CNL operates under a joint-venture arrangement with the NNPC for its onshore and offshore assets in the Niger Delta region. Chevron also has extensive interests in multi-partner deepwater operations, the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (“EGTL”) facility and the West African Gas Pipeline Company.
Chevron’s partnership with the people and government of Nigeria creates positive economic ripple effects. “Our long and deep commitment to Nigeria through our significant investments in the economy and social development of the country contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product,” said Rick Kennedy.
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