Oil & Energy

PETAN Rewards SPDC With Best LCD Award

Published

16 years ago

May 18, 2010

For its pioneering role in the introduction and implementation of local content development initiative, aimed at building indigenous capacity and capability in the oil and gas industry, the more than 50-member strong indigenous companies providing technical services in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), has rated Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), with an award as the best in local content development among all major international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria.

The award, which was presented to Shell at the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), the world’s leading melting point for exhibition of cutting-edge innovations and expertise in oil and gas industry, in Houston, Texas, United States, by PETAN Chairman, Shawley Coker, is coming just few days after President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Bill into law, late last month, at the State House, Abuja.

A large contingent of PETAN members, and Nigerian government delegation led by Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke, were at the OTC to showcase their inventions, innovative skills and expertise in the critical oil and gas industry, and to also learn from global leaders in both upstream and downstream sectors of the industry that would continue to drive world economy and politics for decades to come.

Presenting the award to Shell, Coker said PETAN was excited at the commitment and driving force SPDC has brought to bear in the tacit implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on Nigerian content development and its contributions towards the passage of the bill by the National Assembly.

The PETAN chairman, commended SPDC for the “visible steps” taken so far to encourage the participation of indigenous companies in the highly technical and capital intensive oil and gas industry, and appealed to other IOCs to take a cue from SPDC and improve their stakes in local content development as a veritable means of fast-tracking the involvement of Nigerians in the industry’s lucrative playing field.

Announcing receipt of the unanticipated award on behalf of SPDC before some 40 senior journalists at the 2010 Bureau Editors/News Editors’ Forum in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Simbi Wabote, said, Shell was “happy at the recognition, and will continue with efforts to empower more Nigerian companies, especially those based in the Niger Delta, to render key services in the oil and gas industry”.

Wabote noted that he was not surprised at the award following SPDC’s startling performance in the implementation of local content in critical areas of its operations, leading to the award of contracts to indigenous contractors valued at more than $1billion in 2008, adding that despite slow down in the global economy in 2009, SPDC also awarded contracts to indigenous contractors to the tune of more than $718million.

Focusing on the 2009 figure, the Shell NCD general manager stressed that, “of this, some 52 per cent of the contract value, representing $373million, went to companies based in the Niger Delta”.

According to Wabote, Shell is “committed to developing Nigerian content by partnering with local community contractors to gradually build their capacity”, adding that the major industry player believes that “by supporting both established and new contractors in the Niger Delta, they will grow to play leading roles in the provision of goods and services in the oil and gas industry”.

He listed areas where Shell has excelled in developing indigenous capacity and capability of Niger Delta contractors to include marine logistics, surveillance, civil construction, flowline construction, information technology, and dredging, emphasizing that the focus now was to support community contractors to build additional capacity in engineering, fabrication, materials procurement, supply of steel plates and sections, wells and drilling services as well as inspection and testing.

The Tide recalls that SPDC’s community content initiative is designed to promote the use of human, material resources and services from local communities in the Niger Delta, without compromising quality, health, safety and environmental standards, in order to stimulate the development of the region in particular and Nigeria in general.

Nelson Chukwudi

Oil & Energy

TotalEnergies, Conoil Sign Deal To Boost Oil Production

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

TotalEnergies has signed agreements with Conoil Producing Limited under which to acquire from Conoil a 50 per cent interest in Oil Processing Licence (OPL) 257, a deep-water offshore oil block in Nigeria.

The deal entails Conoil also acquiring a 40 per cent participating interest held by TotalEnergies in Oil Minining Lease (OML) 136, both located offshore Nigeria.

Upon completion of this transaction, TotalEnergies’ interest in OPL257 would be increased from 40 per cent to 90 per cent, while Conoil will retain a 10% interest in this block.

Covering an area of around 370 square kilometres, OPL 257 is located 150 kilometers offshore from the coast of Nigeria. “This block is adjacent to PPL 261, where TotalEnergies (24%) and its partners discovered in 2005 the Egina South field, which extends into OPL257.

Senior Vice-President Africa, Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies, Mike Sangster, said “An appraisal well of Egina South is planned to be drilled in 2026 on OPL257 side, and the field is expected to be developed as a tie-back to the Egina FPSO, located approximately 30 km away.

“This transaction, built on our longstanding partnership with Conoil, will enable TotalEnergies to proceed with the appraisal of the Egina South discovery, an attractive tie-back opportunity for Egina FPSO.

“This fits perfectly with our strategy to leverage existing production facilities to profitably develop additional resources and to focus on our operated gas and offshore oil assets in Nigeria”.

Oil & Energy

“COP30: FG, Brazil Partner On Carbon Emissions Reduction

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government and Brazil have deepened collaboration on climate action, focusing on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and the reduction of black carbon emissions.

The partnership is anchored in South-South cooperation through the Brazil-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, which facilitates the exchange of ideas, technology, and policy alignment within the global climate framework, particularly the Paris Agreement.

The Executive Secretary, Amazon Interstates Consortium, Marcello Brito, made the disclosure during an interview with newsmen, in Abuja, on the sidelines of the 2025 COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Belem, Brazil.

Brito emphasized that both nations are committed to global efforts aimed at curbing black carbon emissions, a critical component of climate mitigation strategies.

“Nigeria and Brazil are collaborating on climate change remedies primarily through the Green Imperative Project (GIP) for sustainable agriculture, and by working together on renewable energy transition and climate finance mobilisation,” Brito said.

“These efforts are part of a broader strategic partnership aimed at fostering sustainable development and inclusive growth between the two Global South nations,” Brito added.

TheTide gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced an ambitious plan to mobilize up to $3 billion annually in climate finance, through its National Carbon Market Framework and Climate Change Fund, positioning itself as a leader in nature-positive investment across the Global South.

Represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, Tinubu made the announcement during a high-level thematic session of the conference titled ‘Climate and Nature: Forests and Oceans’

Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s climate strategy is rooted in restoring balance between nature, development, and economic resilience.

Hosted in the heart of the Amazon, on November 10—21, the 30th COP30 conference brought together the international community to discuss key climate issues, focusing on implementing the Paris Agreement, reviewing nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and advancing goals for energy transition, climate finance, forest conservation, and adaptation.

Oil & Energy

DisCo Debts, Major Barrier To New Grid Projects In Nigeria ……. Stakeholders

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Energy industry leaders and lenders have raised concerns that the high-risk legacy debts of Distribution Companies (DisCos) and unclear regulatory frameworks are significant barriers to the financing and development of new grid-connected power projects in Nigeria.

The consensus among financiers and power sector executives is that addressing legacy DisCo debt, improving contractual transparency, and streamlining regulatory frameworks are critical to unlocking private investment in Nigeria’s power infrastructure.

Speaking in the context of new grid-connected power plants, during panel sessions at the just concluded Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Power Conference, Senior Vice President at Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund, Jumoke Ayo-Famisa, explained the cautious approach lenders take when evaluating embedded or grid-scale power projects.

Ayo-Famisa who emphasized the critical importance of clarity around off-takers and contract structures said “If someone approaches us today with an embedded power project, the first question is always: Who is the off-taker? Who are you signing the contract with?” . “In Lagos State, for example, there is Eko Electricity and Excel Distribution Company Limited. Knowing this is important,” she said.

She highlighted the nuances in contract types, whether the developer is responsible just for generation or for the full chain, including distribution and collection.

“Collection is very important because you would be wondering, ‘is the cash going to be commingled with whatever is happening at the major DISCO level, is it ring-fenced, what is the cash flow waterfall,” she stated.

Ayo-Famisa pointed out that the major stumbling block remains the “high leverage in the books of the legacy DisCos.” Incoming project financiers want to be confident that their cash flows won’t be exposed to the financial risks of these indebted entities. This makes clarity on contractual relationships and cash flow mechanisms a top priority.

Noting that tariff clarity also remains a challenge, Ayo-Famisa said “Some states have come out to clearly say that there is no subsidy; some are saying they are exploring solutions for the lower income segments. So, the clarity would be on who is responsible for the tariff, is this sponsored?, Can they change tariffs?, In terms of if their cost rises, they can pass it on, or they have to wait for the regulator.

“Unlike, what you find in the willing seller-willing buyer, where they negotiate and agree on their prices. Now they are going into grid, there is Band A, Band B, if my power goes into, say, Ikeja Electric, or I have a contract with them, “am I commingled with whatever is happening across their multiple bands?”

Also speaking, Group Managing Director and CEO of West Power & Gas Limited, Wola Joseph Condotti, stressed the dual-edged nature of decentralization in the power sector.

“Of course, decentralization brings us closer to the people as the jurisdiction is now clear. You also know that your tariff would be reflective of the type of people living in that environment. You cannot take the Lagos tariff to Zamfara, and this is what has been happening before now in the power sector. So, decentralization brings about a more customized solution to issues you find on the ground.

“Some of the issues I see are those that bother on capacity. It was a centrally run system that had 11 DISCOs. Of the 11 DISCOs, I think there are 3 or 4 of us today that are surviving or alive, if I may put it that way. If you go to electricity generation companies, they are doing much better,” she said.

Condotti highlighted regulatory overlaps as another complication, especially when power generation or distribution crosses state lines.

She said, “Investors would definitely have a problem. Say if you have a plant in Ogun State supplying power to another state, say Lagos State; you are automatically regulated by NERC. But the truth is that the state regulator of Ogun State and Lagos State wants you to comply with certain regulatory standards.”

With the growing demand for reliable electricity and an urgent need for infrastructure expansion, the ability to navigate these complex financial and regulatory landscapes would determine the pace at which new grid-connected power projects can be developed.