NCDMB Highlights Local Capabilities in Facility Tour for Shell Nigeria

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) recently toured the facilities of

Brightwaters Energy Ltd. (formerly Willbros Nigeria Ltd.), Solewant Nigeria Ltd., and Pipe Coaters

Nigeria to showcase the capabilities of local companies to Shell Petroleum Development Company

of Nigeria. The Board aimed to emphasize the potential of local firms to serve the oil and gas

industry, positioning them as preferable alternatives to international players. The NCDMB assured

stakeholders that service companies and manufacturers with established capacities in Nigeria will

continue to receive patronage through the awarding of contracts. During the visits, NCDMB

Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola stressed the importance of acquiring first-hand knowledge

of in-country capabilities before making key decisions on oil and gas projects. He insisted that

operating companies must support and patronize local service companies in compliance with the

Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, according to a press release from the

NCDMB. Scott Gregory, the chief executive of Brightwaters Energy, expressed the company’s goal

of returning to high-performance levels and sought the Board’s support in securing oil and gas

projects. Ernest Nwapa, chairman of Tenaris Nigeria and former executive secretary of the NCDMB,

noted that long-pending oil and gas projects are now moving forward after nearly ten years. He

expressed hope for optimizing existing local capacities in executing these projects. At Solewant

Group, an EPCI and Pipe Coating Company, the NCDMB delegation toured the facilities and

inspected new investments, such as five-megawatt generators, acquired to ensure a stable power

supply to the facility.