Oil & Energy

NCDMB Lauds Firm Over Local Content Dev

Published

12 years ago

October 20, 2014

Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Ernest Nwakpa,, cutting the tape to inaugurate Benkline workshop in Port Harcourt, last Thursday. He is flanked by Chairman, Board of Directors, Benkline, Larry Osai (with mic), Jean-Claude Vachet of Total (3rd right), Thierry Bunel-Gourdy of Eurofiliales (2nd right) and General Manager, NCD, Shell Nigeria, Igo Weli (right).

Authorities of the Nigerian
Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have lauded Benkline Nigeria Limited for blazing the trail as the first indigenous company to develop local expertise and begin in-country repairs and maintenance of critical original equipment in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Ernest Nwakpa, who gave the commendation last Thursday, at the official inauguration of a world-class one-stop pumps and rotating machines maintenance workshop built by Benkline in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said that the highly technical machines in the workshop meet the expectations of the board in its quest to enforce in-country domiciliation of knowledge and technology for the fabrication, repairs and maintenance of original oil and gas industry equipment.
Nwakpa, who inspected all equipment in the workshop, recalled his working visit to many oil and gas equipment manufacturing facilities across the world, and emphasized that what Benkline offers in-country was better than what most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) provide abroad.
The executive secretary said that developing local capacity to provide in-country repair and maintenance services for critical equipment and technical spares in the oil and gas value chain was at the core of the mandate of the board, and added that the wholly Nigerian company has succeeded in checking capital flight, while at the same time reducing the costs and man-hours hitherto spent to deliver such services through offshore procurement system.
While showering encomiums on the company for setting the pace in partnering with OEMs to address the needs of the industry locally, Nwakpa, tasked Benkline to ensure that priority is given to research and development (R&D) to fast-track the development of indigenous human capacity and in-country domiciliation of the manufacture, repairs and maintenance of technical inputs in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria with a view to expanding the frontiers in the nation’s economy.
In his remarks, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on NCD, Honourable Asita, expressed satisfaction with facilities at Benkline, and challenged other indigenous oil and gas companies to invest more in local content development to reduce the industry’s dependence on imported equipment and spares so as the grow the economy more speedily.
Asita assured that government would do its best to ensure that IOCs patronize indigenous companies in their equipment procurement, repairs and maintenance processes in line with the spirit of the NCD Law.
Earlier, Chairman, Benkline Nigeria Limited, Larry Osai, had stressed that their core service offerings include pumps and rotating equipment maintenance, HVAC, air compressors and planned management maintenance, as well as procurement of technical spares, workshop services and manpower supply and human capital development.
Listing Frank Mohn AS of Norway and Eurofiliales of France as major technical partners, Osai, a retired Shell Nigeria manager, said that the state-of-the-art workshop components include API mechanical seal test bench, sandblasting bay, and milling, grinding, balancing, lathe and welding machines, adding that it also boasts a combination of 3 to 8 tons forklift capacity as well as 5 and 7.5 tons hoist double girder overhead crane for machining, mechanical seals, pump repairs, offshore interventions, maintenance support, training and provision of technicians.
Flanked by top representatives of Frank Mohn, Morten Sivertsen and Gunnar Gunderson; and Eurofiliales, Thierry Bunel-Gourdy; the chairman explained that Benkline provides total marine, offshore and onshore pumps and pumping systems supply, installation and commissioning, HVAC solutions for marine and onshore operations in collaboration with MizCo of Australia, while also providing cost effective maintenance solutions on compressed air equipment for offshore operations in technical partnership with Tamrotor Marine Compressors of Norway.
While thanking the major IOCs for their support so far, Osai noted that the company also provides comprehensive procurement of FPSO/FSO, refinery and production facilities specialist spares, including integrated logistics support for long lead equipment transport, and urged the IOCs take advantage of the huge opportunities available in Benkline to “save time, money and support local content”.
Also speaking, Managing Director of the company, John Onwah, thanked the IOCs, especially SPDC, SNEPCO, Total, NAOC and Chevron for their patronage, and the NNPC and its subsidiaries, particularly the DPR for their support, and pledged their commitment to be the hub in technical support and excellent services in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and the entire sub-Saharan Africa.
Highlights of the event were the inauguration of the workshop by Nwakpa, and guided inspection tour of facilities conducted by Eurofiliales’ representative, Bunel-Gourdy.

Oil & Energy

Global Energy Crisis Is Reviving Green Hydrogen

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2026

The Tide

The global energy crisis has reshaped global energy priorities seemingly overnight. The Strait of Hormuz has been closed to virtually all commercial traffic for well over a month now, severely restricting global flows of oil and gas. As a result, global energy prices have skyrocketed, and supplies have tightened, pushing many countries to explore alternative energy pathways in a big hurry. This has led to an unfortunate resurgence of coal-fired power, especially in Asia – but it is also set to supercharge the clean energy industry on a global scale. And one of the unlikely benefactors of this groundswell of new investment may be the green hydrogen industry.

China, the world’s top hydrogen producer, is planning to ramp up production of hydrogen, and especially green hydrogen, more quickly than previously planned in order to shore up its energy security as import-dependent Asian markets are rocked by skyrocketing oil and gas prices. China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) has referred to hydrogen as a “strategic lever” for national energy autonomy and resilience, and has pledged to accelerate the development of the domestic sector accordingly.

China’s 15th five-year plan, released last month, flagged hydrogen as a “future industry.” But, apparently, the future is now. According to a recent report from the South China Morning Post, the rhetoric around hydrogen coming out of China signals a shift away from research and toward rapid practical development of the sector.

Last year, the NEA earmarked 41 projects in nine regions across the country to lead hydrogen pilot projects all along the value chain “from production and transport to storage and application.” Now, leadership is pushing to bring those projects out of demo phases and into industrial applications as quickly as possible.

European leaders, too, are pivoting to embrace green hydrogen production with renewed enthusiasm. Earlier this month, ministers from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain petitioned the European Union to loosen production regulations to encourage investment into the sector. And Italy successfully approved a €6 billion state aid plan to support renewable hydrogen.

Even the United States is getting on board. This week, the Trump administration instructed the Department of Energy to save $5 billion worth of hydrogen hubs that were slated for closure. The hydrogen projects – though not green hydrogen ventures – were funded under the Biden administration in order to promote cleaner-burning fuel sources.

Hydrogen could potentially be a critical pathway for decarbonization, as it combusts at high heat like fossil fuels. But, unlike fossil fuels, when it burns, it leaves behind nothing but water vapor. This could make it indispensable for the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors like steelmaking and shipping. However, the vast majority of commercial hydrogen is made with fossil fuels. Green hydrogen, by comparison, is made using renewable energies.

But while hydrogen, and especially green hydrogen, could be a key part of the global clean energy transition, research and development in the sector had been cooling for years, as commercial and cost-effective green hydrogen production methods largely failed to materialize. “Even if production costs decrease in line with predictions, storage and distribution costs will prevent hydrogen from being cost-competitive in many sectors,” Roxana Shafiee, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard University Center for the Environment, told The Harvard Gazette in 2024. Shafiee led a study that found cause to believe “that the opportunities for hydrogen may be narrower than previously thought.”

But the economics of energy are changing as we speak, and the global hydrogen market is likely about to see a windfall as the world rushes to replace geopolitically risky fossil fuels, which have become prohibitively expensive overnight. Clearly, global leaders are already reembracing the fledgling sector as part of an all-of-the-above approach to energy security and independence. While hydrogen may not be a silver bullet solution, it could be a critical part of a more diverse and therefore more resilient global energy landscape going forward.

By Haley Zaremba

Oil & Energy

PETAN Tasks Indigenous Oil Firms On Investments Attraction … Global Engagement Sustenance

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2026

The Tide

The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has urged indigenous oil and gas companies to deepen global engagement and attract investment.

The Association urged intending participants to leverage the forthcoming 2026 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in the U.S. to expand their access to new technologies and partnerships.

PETAN said its participation at the global event would be driven by a deliberate strategy to position Nigerian firms as competitive players within the international energy value chain.

In a statement issued by the Association’s Publicity Secretary, Dr Joan Faluyi, In Lagos, at the weekend, PETAN would anchor its activities at the Nigerian Pavilion, with the theme: “Africa’s Energy Transformation: Scaling Investment, Technology, and Local Capacity for Sustainable Growth”.

Faluyi noted that the conference, scheduled for May 4 to May 7 in Houston, Texas, remained a leading platform for offshore energy dialogue, partnerships and innovation.

According to her, PETAN’s participation goes beyond routine attendance and reflects a focused effort to strengthen Nigeria’s visibility and influence in global energy discussions.

“At OTC 2026, PETAN is returning with stronger alignment and a clearer objective, to ensure Nigerian companies are not just present, but actively engaged and recognised as credible global partners,” she said.

Faluyi explained that the association had consistently showcased the capabilities of indigenous oil and gas service providers at previous editions of the conference, reinforcing their capacity to compete internationally.

She added that the Nigerian Pavilion would serve as a strategic hub for investment discussions, technical exhibitions and direct engagement with global stakeholders.

The association is also scheduled to participate in key engagements, including the African Energy Forum, the NCDMB–OEM Investment Forum and the PETAN Golf Tournament slated for May 7 at Quail Valley Golf Course, Texas.

Faluyi described OTC as a critical gateway for Nigerian companies seeking international opportunities, noting that visibility and engagement at the event often translate into commercial partnerships.

“In an increasingly competitive energy landscape, securing a seat at the global table is essential. Through sustained participation, PETAN continues to assert Nigeria’s place in that conversation,” she said.

Also speaking, PETAN Chairman, Mr Wole Ogunsanya, said the Association’s focus was to ensure that indigenous capacity is fully integrated into global energy decision-making processes.

“We have seen firsthand how global energy decisions are shaped at OTC. This year, we are returning to ensure indigenous Nigerian capacity is not just present but recognised, engaged and heard.

“We are taking our businesses to the table where real partnerships are formed,” he said.

Faluyi added that under Ogunsanya’s leadership, PETAN was prioritising strategic positioning to ensure Nigerian companies are not only visible but considered credible partners in major international energy projects.

Oil & Energy

Solar Panels Imports Ban: Experts Recommend Phase -out Approach

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy sector have warned that an abrupt restriction on solar panels imports would undermine electricity access.

The experts called for a gradual phase-out of imports over several years rather than an outright ban.

Recall that the federal government had announced plans to halt solar panel imports after investing more than N200 billion to encourage domestic production.

Speaking at the Solar Power Media Training, in Abuja, last week, the Campaign Director, Secure Energy Project (SEP), Joseph Ibrahim, said stakeholders support the goal of building local manufacturing capacity but cautioned against sudden policy shifts.

“Let me be clear, we wholeheartedly support local manufacturing of solar panels”.

“We want to see factories in our states, jobs for our youth, and a supply chain that begins and ends on our soil”, he stated.

Ibrahim insisted that the most effective path forward is a carefully managed roadmap implemented over three to five years to give investors and workers time to adjust.

“If we rush this, we risk making solar power too expensive for the millions who currently rely on it for survival.

“By taking a phased approach, we allow time for investors to build their plants, for our workers to learn specialised skills, and for our economy to adjust without losing power”, he said.

The SEP director said policy stability, access to financing, and strict quality standards are essential to building a sustainable local solar manufacturing industry.

“To make local manufacturing a reality, we don’t just need new laws; we need an enabling environment. This means stability — policies that don’t change with the wind,” he said.

Also speaking, Tosin Asonibare, said renewable energy has become a critical solution to Nigeria’s persistent electricity supply challenges.

He cited findings by the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, indicating that many Nigerians remain unaware of the proposed import restrictions and their potential implications.

According to him, respondents in the report largely favoured a phased ban supported by incentives for importing raw materials needed for local production.

“The report also shows that infrastructure for locally manufactured panels is not fully available, so there is need for foreign direct investment improvement in government policy.

“So that the local manufacturers and assembling companies can have higher capacity to meet demand. If that is not done, the price of solar panels will go up”, he said.

He warned that affordability could become a major concern for consumers if restrictions are implemented without adequate preparation.