As part of strategies to boost indigenous companies’ participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, Shell Exploration and Production Companies in Nigeria, five reputable banks and an American international financial institution have pulled together $6billion (approximately N9.8trillion) as funding commitment for local medium and large scale enterprises desirous of adding internal value to the lucrative industry.

First Bank Nigeria, Access Bank, CITI Bank Nigeria, Fidelity Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank, as well as DLR Integrated Business Services, which provides international financing and procurement services for local content providers, are partnering Shell joint venture to ease indigenous companies’ access to critical funds to finance huge procurement and manufacturing contracts in the oil and gas industry.

The Tide gathered that each of the five prestigious banks have dedicated $1billion to fund local contractors while DLR Integrated Business Services, with head office in New York, United States, has guaranteed $1billion international financing and procurement window, with a solid commitment to link Nigerian contractors with big-time equipment and products manufacturers as an instrument of facilitating sustainable partnerships for growth.

Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu said last Saturday in Port Harcourt while launching the Shell Contractors Support Funding Scheme that the initiative derives from the success of the year-old N4.5billion Shell Kobo Fund for community contractors.

Sunmonu said that the $6billion SME support funding commitment would enable local contractors to leverage hard-to-access international financing for big procurement and manufacturing contracts, adding that “this initiative will place Nigerian contractors at the front line for quality service delivery in the oil and gas industry.”

According to him, “in 2010 alone, Shell awarded contracts worth more than $947million to Nigerian companies” while “in 2011”, the company upped “the value of contracts to local contractors to $1.4billion”, representing about 93 per cent of the overall number of contracts and amounting to about 68 per cent of value of contracts awarded to third parties to date.”

He said that in the past, “financing of projects has traditionally been a major challenge to contractors’ growth and participation in the delivery of goods and services to the oil and gas industry,” and hoped that with the new dedicated fund, “financing difficulties will be greatly reduced.”

“The banks have committed to relaxing the collateral security requirement, reducing interest rates and establish their competitive advantage so as to become global players,” Sunmonu stressed, adding that he was looking forward to a day when Nigerian contractors will become major services suppliers to the Shell Group.”

While thanking the banks for partnering Shell to provide this launching pad for indigenous contractors, the Shell Nigeria chair charged participating local companies to play by the rules and apply the funds to agreed-upon projects while commending the Federal Government for initiating positive the reforms in the industry, particularly the local content law, pledging Shell’s commitment to fostering greater opportunities for Nigeria and Nigerians in the oil and gas industry.

In his remarks, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa catalogued the pioneering role Shell was playing in developing local content in Nigeria, saying that “if other international oil companies (IOCs) commit just 50 per cent of what Shell is investing in developing local content, Nigeria oil and gas industry would lead the way in helping the Federal Government achieve its Vision 202020.”

Represented at the event by Engineer Gina O. Gina, the NCDMB boss challenged other IOCs to emulate the giant strides Shell was making in assisting government and Nigerians realise the vision of indigenous inclusiveness and participation in the industry as a veritable means of restoring peace and investors’ confidence while creating more jobs, wealth and sustainable prosperity in the country.

Also speaking, the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Morrison Fiddi, pledged the commitment of the joint venture partners to create enabling regulatory and operating climate for local companies in the industry to thrive and compete more favourably with their global counterparts.

The GGM, who was represented by Joseph Ehijiator, lauded Shell for the initiative, and appealed to indigenous companies to leverage the funds to increase their contributions to national development.

In their separate speeches, representatives of the partnering banks expressed untiring commitment to the scheme, pledging the unleash their global financial reach and capacity in ensuring that local contractors working for Shell access required funds to finance any contracts in line with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) guiding the initiative.

Responding on behalf of participating contractors, Managing Director, Skyward Resources Limited, Hon Enahoro Eta, showered encomium on Shell for the opportunity, and expressed optimism that the fund would enhance their participation and ability to deliver required services in-country.

Highlight of the event was the signing of the MoU for the scheme by Sunmonu on behalf of Shell while First Bank’s Group Head Energy, Institutional Banking, Olalekan Adelekan; Vice President Eastern Region Global Subsidiaries Group, CITI Bank, Theresa Evuleocha; Group Managing Director, Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Managing Director, Fidelity Bank, Reginald Ihejiahi; Deputy Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Ade Adeola; and President, David L. Ross & Associates, David L. Ross, signed on behalf of their financial institutions.

Nelson Chukwudi