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Siemens Wins Steel Innovation Award

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The Siemens energy sector received the special award for “Climate Protection with Steel” at the German Steel Innovation Awards for its new SGTS-8000H gas turbine.

The machine is deployed as a prime mover in combined cycle power plants. In combination with a steam turbine, it will attain world-record efficiency of over 60 per cent.

High efficiency levels are essential for saving fuels and thus conserving national resources, and for significantly reducing carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions to protect the climate. Combine cycle power plants currently attain efficiencies of over 58 per cent. An increase in efficiency of two percent points translates into annual C02 saving totaling approximately 40,000 metric tons that is equivalent to the C02 emissions of approximately 10,000 mid-range automobiles clocking up 20,000 kilometres a year. Siemens invested approximately Euro 500 million in development of the new turbine, construction of the gas turbine plant in Irsching and subsequently trial operation.

Approximately 95 percent of the new siemens gas turbine weighing a total of 444 metric tons is made of steel.

In spite of this, these machines are not “heavy metal” but special “high tech” products in which steel contributes toward climate and environmental protection. The new gas turbine is a unique combination of classic heavy mechanical engineering and ultramodern manufacturing technology. Miniscule parts and parts weighing several tons in total more than 7000 individual parts were assembled together using the most advanced methods with the precision of a watchmaker. The combustion chamber housing constitutes a manufacturing innovation.

In addition, the new turbine features a number of design improvements such as an innovative air cooling system for the turbine blades and vanes, which are exposed to temperatures as high as 1500 degree centigrade. The air cooling makes a significant contribution toward faster gas turbine start-up. This is becoming increasingly important because modern power plants are more and more frequently deployed as a backup for mind farms.

The new siemens H class gas turbine has an output of approximately 340megawatts (MW) in simple cycle operation.

That is sufficient to provide electricity for entire population of a city the size of Hamburg.

In combined cycle duty the output will be approximately 530 MW, which would be enough to supply the city of Berlin with its more than 3 million inhabitants with eco-friendly electricity. The turbine was produce at a gas turbine manufacturing plant in Berlin, which has since 1972 delivered over 6000 gas turbines for deployments in power plants to customers in more than 60 countries around the globe.

High-efficiency gas turbines are an important feature of the siemens environment portfolio. In 2008, revenue from the products and solution of siemens environmental portfolio was nearly Euro 19 billion, which is equivalent to around a quarter of siemens total revenue.

Chairman, Board of Directors, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Chief Ebitimi Banigo (right), Regional Manager, Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Mr Uche Nwanguma (centre) and the Head of FAAN security, Mr S. O. Odugbemi, during the visit of the board to the airport, recently. Photo: Ike Wigodo.

Chairman, Board of Directors, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Chief Ebitimi Banigo (right), Regional Manager, Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Mr Uche Nwanguma (centre) and the Head of FAAN security, Mr S. O. Odugbemi, during the visit of the board to the airport, recently. Photo: Ike Wigodo.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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