Shell, UKTI Host Nigerian, British Firms

As part of strategies to improve foreign direct investments portfolio, and build capacity of local entrepreneurs, more than 60 Nigerian and British companies have explored opportunities for business at a three-day engagement session in Abuja, jointly organised by Shell Nigeria and United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI).

The oil and gas industry-targeted session brought together 65 companies, 30 of them British, holding detailed discussions on partnerships in Well Engineering, Drilling, Engineering, Materials and Offshore Logistics Support.

The networking and discussions at the summit are expected to result in 10 new partnerships in key oil and gas growth areas including; Drilling and Wells, Engineering, Equipment and Component Manufacture, Fabrication, Logistics, and Capacity Development.

A statement signed by Shell’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Tony Okonedo, indicated that some 17 Nigerian companies also requested assistance to identify suitable British or other foreign partners.

“The session takes Nigerian content development a step further,” said Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Ernest Nwapa, in a speech at the opening session. “We commend Shell for the initiative”.

His remarks were echoed by the President of the Petroleum Engineering Technology Association of Nigeria, Shawley Coker, and Laurie Schmidt, Contracting and Procurement Manager, Shell Sub-Saharan Africa.

In a presentation on business opportunities in deepwater operations, Austin Uzoka, Head of Nigerian Content Development in Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), said: “Shell companies in Nigeria have recorded significant achievements working with Nigerian service providers in land and swamp operations. We are keen to do the same in offshore activities and encourage Nigerian companies to partner with British counterparts to develop skills and source financing”.

The Abuja business summit is the 5th in the UK/Nigeria Oil & Gas Supply Chain Engagement Programme since 2009.

Another session is planned for Aberdeen in September this year, for which 20 Nigerian companies have already registered to attend.

Executive Director Upstream International, Royal Dutch Shell, Malcolm Brinded, said: “Shell is committed to continuing to further develop local content in its Nigerian operations. I wish this programme every success”.

Shell companies in Nigeria encourage Nigerian content development by promoting the use of locally manufactured goods as well as community and Nigerian service companies in production operations, projects and well engineering.

Last year, Shell-run companies in the country awarded contracts worth nearly $947 million to Nigerian companies.

This represented more than 96 per cent of the overall number of contracts, and amounted to over 94 per cent of the total amount spent on these transactions.

Nelson Chukwudi