By Ayomide Otitoju
The Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), Ronald Adams, has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves for increased participation in offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects, citing massive potential for business growth and skills development.
Adams, represented by SNEPCo’s Head of Supply Chain, Charles Oranyeli, made the call during the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) held on Thursday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He noted that projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension present significant contract opportunities for indigenous firms ready to scale up their capabilities.
“SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater frontier with the Bonga development, the country’s first deepwater oilfield exploration and production project,” Adams stated. “Our operations have significantly benefited Nigerian businesses, and we expect them to prepare to seize even more opportunities.”
He emphasized the need for Nigerian companies to upscale their capacity in key service areas including logistics, drilling, fabrication, construction of subsea manifolds, mooring and loading systems, pressure vessel production, gas processing equipment supply, as well as procurement and civil works in shallow water operations.
Since the Bonga field began production in 2005, SNEPCo has consistently invested in building the technical capacity of local contractors and service providers. According to Adams, these efforts aim to ensure the safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery of projects within Nigeria and across the broader West African region.
Adams noted that local firms have played critical roles in supporting the operations of the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which achieved a significant milestone by producing its one-billionth barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
“SNEPCo views Nigerian content development as a strategic business driver rather than just a compliance requirement,” he added. “We will continue to support Nigerian companies in expanding their footprint in the oil and gas industry.”
The three-day NOGOF event is being organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) under the theme: “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry Through Indigenous Capacity Development.”
