MicCom cables, indigenous firms position for Nigeria LNG Train 7 By Jerome Onoja

Bukola Adubi

MicCom Cables and other indigenous firms in Nigeria are currently positioning themselves to take advantage of the opportunities that the Train 7 project of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) will offer.

The final investment decision (FID) for the project was taken in Abuja on the 27th December, 2019 after about 12 years of waiting. According to the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, the project has the potential of bringing in immediate employment opportunities for more than 10, 000 Nigerians directly, and another 40,000 indirectly. Also, it will attract foreign direct investment of about US$25b to the Federal Government.

The expansion project will increase the company’s production by 35 per cent and its competitiveness in the global LNG market. Speaking on the project at the just-concluded Practical Nigeria Content, PNC in Yenagoa, the COO, Miccom Cables, Ms Bukola Adubi said, “Considering

the in-country value additions from previous vessels acquired by the NLNG, one sees a steady rise in local content opportunities and compliance. With the NLNG Train 7, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have expressed confidence that Train 7 would be guided by the signed Service Level Agreement, SLA which comes with immense benefits to local contractors”.

S he a d de d , “s e r v i c e a n d manufacturing companies have invested resources, and grown technical capabilities in preparation for these projects. “We shall see a multiplier effect across several sectors when the project is completed in 2023. But ahead of that, indigenous manufacturers of cables like us have stepped up to the challenge to ensure the cable needs of projects like these are met by local supplies.” Adubi noted, “going by the numbers Mr Tony Attah, MD of NLNG reeled out during his presentation, one cannot help but appreciate the level of local content achievement back in 2016 when they brought in the Abuja II vessel”. She further added,

“with the training of 700 Nigerians in different skills in ship building both in Nigeria and South Korea, along with the utilization of over 500,000 litres of made-in-Nigeria marine paints, one is sure to see an improvement in the proportion of these indices, considering the difference in the project sizes.

“It is also noteworthy to mention their use of 180km of low voltage cables manufactured in-country. Today, as manufacturers of cable, we have moved beyond low voltage cables to medium and high. The capacity has been built. So, we are expectant that the contractors, on behalf of NLNG will continue in that part of entrenching local content and improving in-country value retention.” MicCom Cables and Wires, which is the first indigenous cable manufacturing company in Nigeria, has been engaged in the manufacturing and supply of cables and wires for various projects across the country and Africa.