Orient Energy Review, March 2015

Covering Local Content * Oil & Gas N300 3Ghc US $2

Vol. 4 No. 3 March, 2015

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NCDF: Building Indigenous Capacity through Provision of Access to Finance

AfDB Grants NEXIM Bank $302,000 for Regional Maritime Project

Ghana State Oil Company Close To Signing $700 Million Loan

NERC Not Under Pressure to Increase Tariff – Amadi

ISSN:

Nigerian Content: Petrolog Acquires Largest DP2 Vessel In Sub-Saharan Africa

EDITOR’S Note

T

he Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), a Special Purpose Vehicle which mainly aims to build indigenous capacity, was set up in ‎2010 by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, working with its joint financial advisers, BGL Plc and UBA Capital Limited.

The fund which has grown to about $350 million as at last year is designed to help achieve the aims and objectives of the Local Content Act. It is to be accessible to local operators to enhance local content in the oil and gas industry with the central aim of developing indigenous skills across the value chain, promoting indigenous ownership of assets and use of indigenous assets, promoting the establishment of support industries and creating customised training and sustainable employment opportunities.

Over the years, the difficulty faced by indigenous operators in the oil and gas sector in accessing funds to finance their operations‎ have posed a serious hindrance to the growth and development of the Nigerian oil sector. These threats to increased indigenous participation has in the last few weeks taken a dangerous dimension following the sharp decline in the prices of crude oil in the international market, making funding inaccessible to small operators in the oil sector.

But how can this fund be accessed? What is the criterion required?

These are the questions we sought to answer as Godspower Ike and Pita Ochai give us indepth analysis on this subject matter.

We continue to beam our search light on Nigeria’s Power sector, in our bid to follow developments there, which brings us to the door step of Dr. Sam Amadi, the Director General of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. He spoke with Our Abuja correspondent, Shola Akingboye, about the rising tariff being borne by Electricity consumers in the country.

INDUSTRY NEWS

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LOCAL CONTENT

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COVER

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INTERVIEW

16

GHANA REPORT

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PICTURE GALLERY

20-21

CORPORATE PROFILE

22

FROM THE NIGER DELTA

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SPECIAL REPORT

28

EXPLORATION / DRILLING

31

MARITIME/LOGISTIC

32

GAS

34

POWER

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Please read on, I am quite sure you will never get bored. We hope to get your feedbacks, so please keep them coming, using the email address below.

Do have a great read.

Cheers!

Margaret Nongo-Okojokwu Editor, +234-8136329948 M.okojokwu@orientenergyreview.com

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Nneka Ezeemo EDITOR: Margaret Nongo-Okojokwu PRODUCTION: Pita Ochai CORRESPONDENTS: Shola Akingboye (Abuja Bureau Chief) Vivian Osuji Isreal (Head, South-South Bureau, Port Harcourt) Pita Ochai (Lagos) Gilbert Boyefio (Ghana) Business Development Executive: Amie Anerobi MARKETERS: Chidiebere Ezeoke Ejiro Praise Adjarho CREATIVE: EtimSkill CIRCULATION MANAGER: Ajayi Kayode

LONDON OFFICE: Charity Place, Unit 1 Thurrock Park Way Thurrock Park Ind. Estate Tilbury, Essex Rm 18 7Hz. +447974199137 ORIENT ENERGY REVIEW has emerged to be the platform and voice for the growing local content policy across the world. It is a monthly publication of Orient Magazine, Newspaper and Communications Limited 5, Dipo Dina Drive, Abule Oshun, Badagry Express Way - Lagos www.orientenergyreview.com email: info@orientenergyreview.com

HOTLINES: 08109266167, 08091373788, 08129532355

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Oando, NEPN produces first oil on Qua Iboe field

OANDO Energy Resources, OER and Network Exploration and Production Limited, NEPN has commenced it's first commercial production of crude oil on it Qua Iboe field reservoir(OML13) at an initiate rate of 2, 150 barrel per

day.

This is sequel to completion of all civil and pipeline works associated with the field.

The exert date of production commencement as at press time was yet to released by the company.

OER as technical service provider holds a 40 percent working interest in the field while NEPN holds 60 percent together brought the field from conceptualization, through development, to first oil delivery.

The crude processing facility according to statement from OER was commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2014 but commercial production was delayed until the completion of the

Chevron To Sell More Assets Amid Drop In Oil Prices

U

S oil giant Chevron Tuesday said it plans $15 billion in asset sales through 2017 as it seeks to maintain a strong dividend for shareholders amid lower oil prices. The divestment program expands by 50 percent a previous target to sell $10 billion in assets through 2016, according to a presentation by Chevron chief executive John Watson. In 2014, Chevron divested $6 billion in assets, including the $1.3 billion sale of a stake in a Chad oil project to the Republic of Chad. The deal also comprised Chevron's interest in a pipeline system that transports oil from Chad to Cameroon.

Watson said the company was on track to increase production from 2.57 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2014 to 3.1 million in 2017. Major projects ramping up include Texas shale ventures and natural gas developments in Australia and Angola. 'We are well-positioned to

manage through the recent drop in commodity prices and are taking several responsive actions, including curtailing capital spending and lowering costs,' Watson said.

Shares in Dow member Chevron plummeted 3.1 percent to $48.46 in lateafternoon trade.

The move follows Chevron's January announcement of a 2015 capital budget of $35 billion, down 13 percent from last year. The company also halted its share buyback program, citing the big drop in oil prices. In recent months, Chevron has also withdrawn from exploration ventures in Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Ukraine. large oil companies, including ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell, have also trimmed spending in response to about a 50 percent drop in oil prices since June. Leading oil services companies, including Halliburton and Schlumberger, have announced deep job cuts.

Source: AFP

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Orient Energy Review March 2015

associated cluster crude delivery and sales infrastructure into the Qua Iboe Terminal.

“We are delighted to have achieved this milestone, having taken this field through the full cycle of asset development, from drilling to facility engineering, construction and commissioning, and also increasing our organic production contribution from our portfolio,” Pade Durotoye, CEO OER said in the statement.

He continued “We will now be focusing our attention on maturing the potential of this field through seismic acquisition and interpretation, and a possible multi-well drilling program.

“We hope the Qua Iboe field will follow in the footsteps of our successful Ebendo field, where production has increased from 900bopd (gross) at inception to over 7,500bopd (gross) through the identification and drilling of new reservoirs in the field.”

The statement explained that Oando The identified the asset in 2012 and an agreement was reached with NEPN for OER to technically lead and fund certain aspects of NEPN's costs until first oil.

This means that post recovery of all loan repayments, OER is entitled to 90 percent of NEPN's sales proceeds from its 60 percent share of crude oil production until NEPN's obligation is paid in full, with OER earning an additional 10% fee on the funded amount.

Qua Iboe is located at the mouth of the Qua Iboe River in the eastern Niger Delta and covers an area of 14 km2 (3,459 acres).

The field is immediately adjacent to the ExxonMobil Qua Iboe Terminal.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Nigeria, Angola, Ghana To Account For 87% Of Subsea Market

D

espite the slump in crude oil prices, projects in West Africa will largely continue to fuel Africa's subsea demand, with Nigeria, Angola and Ghana projected to account for 87 per cent of West Africa's capital expenditure (capex) demand, according to a new Interim Subsea Market Report

by Infield Systems.

In the global oil and gas industry, subsea is used to describe the exploration, drilling and development of oil and gas fields in underwater locations.

The advancement in technology and high price of crude oil have encouraged oil and gas producers to search for and develop hydrocarbons deep inside the high seas, thus encouraging subsea projects.

In the past, project economics had made the developing prospects in the high seas quite challenging. Infield Systems' new Interim Subsea Market Report to 2019 sees potential for growth in the subsea market over the next five years.

The report predicts that if oil prices recover, subsea capex could grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.1 per cent from 2015 to 2019.

The report noted that subsea demand is likely to continue to be dominated by developments in Africa, Latin America and

North America, as a result of their continued focus on deepwater activity.

Infield Systems' subsea market forecast expects these three regions combined to account for 75 per cent of global subsea capex demand and 59 per cent of subsea tree installations over the next five years.

The current global energy dynamics, which has created uncertainties in global oil prices could put some subsea projects at risk, particularly those associated with field developments with high costs and high risks. But the report said despite the challenges, Africa's subsea demand will continue to largely come from projects in West Africa, with Angola, Nigeria and Ghana playing dominant role.

According to the report, the French oil major, Total will continue to maintain a significant presence in the West African subsea market, with Infield Systems projecting the company to hold a 40 per cent share of the region's subsea capex demand, focused on developments in Angola, Nigeria, Congo (Brazzaville), and the Ivory Coast.

The report identified Nigeria's Egina deepwater project, Kaombo and Moho

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Resources

Nord marine developments as some of the noteworthy projects to be developed by the company over the next five years.

In Latin America, Infields said the subsea market would continue to be predominantly driven by developments in Brazil, while the US Gulf of Mexico is likely to continue to drive subsea activity in North America, accounting for 97 per cent of the region's subsea capex demand and 87 per cent of subsea tree installations.

According to the report, Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, and BP could still hold the largest share of capex demand.

The report further highlighted that while the subsea market has the potential for growth during the next five years, low global oil prices will affect subsea developments. * This Day

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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Survival Systems Ltd. Canada

LOCAL CONTENT

Nigerian Content: Petrolog Acquires Largest DP2 Vessel In Sub-Saharan Africa … Oil companies to adopt university faculties

A

major feat has been recorded in the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act with the unveiling of Petrolog Group's newly acquired DP2 Saturation Diving Vessel, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The saturation diving vessel, christened DSV Vinnice is valued at $170 million and is equipped for shallow and deep water operations and can be used for construction, repair and maintenance of oil-rigs and other offshore naval constructions.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB) Dr. Ernest Nwapa described the acquisition as another affirmation that indigenous oil servicing companies have developed capacity to acquire and operate hi-tech assets and could participate in every segment of the oil and gas industry notwithstanding the challenges.

According to him, the emergence of a new breed of Nigerian investors and the quantum of investments they are making have erased any doubts that government and the people of Nigeria were resolute with the implementation of the policy.

Restating that Nigerian Content was a national agenda, Nwapa added that the Federal Government has started to extend the implementation of the policy to the power and information technology sectors following the huge success recorded in the oil and gas industry.

He credited President

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke for providing a conducive environment for the successes recording in the implementation process, noting that signing the Nigerian Content Bill into law unleashed the potentials of Nigerians entrepreneurs. “When President Jonathan signed the Act in 2010, he set Nigerian entrepreneurs free,” he added.

Speaking further, the Executive Secretary stated that real Nigerian Content accomplishment would only come when vessels such as DSV Vinnice are constructed in Nigeria, expressing hope that any other such vessel to be acquired by a Nigerian investor will be outfitted at the Naval Dockyard Lagos and some of the components manufactured in-country.

He assured that the Board was working with the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS)

to ensure that any major asset acquired by a Nigerian investor gets deployed in the industry as doing otherwise will negatively affect the banks that funded the acquisition as well as make it difficult for other companies to get similar credit from Nigerian banks.

Nwapa recalled that the Board made ownership of assets a key plank of implementation because it provided the opportunity for exposing the technology to other Nigerians.

He also announced that the Board will henceforth make it a requirement for all contracting entities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry to adopt a faculty or department in any Nigerian university and develop a programme that allow the students to learn on the company's assets as a means of bridging the gap between universities and the oil and gas industry.

Giving his welcome address, the Chairman of Petrolog Group, Dr. Joseph Ebuh described the Nigerian

Continued on pg8

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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LOCAL CONTENT

Nigerian Content: Petrolog Acquires Largest DP2 Vessel In Sub-Saharan Africa

Tanzania: Oil, Gas Policy to Give Nationals Priority Tanzanian: Songas Gas Processing Plan

Continued from pg7

Content Act as the greatest boost to the company's growth. He stated that “since the Act came into effect, we have been emboldened to take giant steps and risks to meet existing demand.�

He commended the NCDMB for its implementation of the Nigerian Content Act, which according to him has created opportunities for indigenous companies to thrive.

In his comments, the Managing Director of First Bank Nigeria, Mr. Bisi Onasanya confirmed that the bank supported Petrolog in the acquisition of the DSV Vinnice, affirming the bank's readiness to support infrastructural development and local content.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Engineer Jonathan Okeys described the vessel as a welcome addition to the contracting pool, especially at a time industry operations were becoming more complex and moving into the deep offshore.

He assured that NAPIMS would develop a special contracting scheme to support any Nigerian contractor that invests on the back of the Nigerian Content Act. Also speaking, the President of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engineer Emeka Ene commended NCDMB for being instrumental to most of the investments made by local companies since the Nigerian Content Act came into being.

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T

ANZANIANS will be given priority in procurement of goods and services in investments along oil and gas resources, to ensure optimum national participation in the booming industry, a new national energy policy draft shows.

According to the draft policy the objective is to increase national participation so as to maximise benefits from oil and gas value-chain.

Tanzania has become one of the world's most soughtafter oil and gas regions with a string of vast discoveries that have attracted major global oil and gas companies.

The country is estimated to have over 50 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas, which is projected to rise four-fold over the next five years, putting it on par with some Middle East producers.

Under the new policy, the government will ensure Tanzanians participate strategically in the oil and gas value chain.

The government will also ensure capacity building and skills development for Tanzanians in the oil and gas industry and ensure implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives have significant impacts to prioritised needs

Orient Energy Review March 2015

of local communities.

The draft policy stipulates that local content and national participation in the oil and gas value chain include investment in operation, provision of goods and services, capacity building, local engagement, skills development, local authorities awareness and investors' CSRs. According to the policy, the government will give priority to domestic use of the natural gas resources over exports.

The objective is to enhance reliability of supply and utilization of oil and gas products for domestic market which is buoyed by growing demand for energy supplies to feed the rapid expanding economy.

Under it the government will ensure development of a competitive domestic market for oil and gas products and ensure security of supply to meet domestic demand.

British company BG Group, together with partners Exxon Mobil, Statoil and Ophir Energy, plans to build a two-train LNG export terminal, expected to start operating in the early 2020s. A final investment decision is set for 2016 at the earliest.

By Godspower Ike Over the years, the difficulty faced by indigenous operators in the oil and gas sector in accessing funds to finance their operations have posed a serious hindrance to the growth and development of the Nigerian oil sector. These threats to increased indigenous participation has in the last few weeks taken a dangerous dimension following the sharp decline in the prices of crude oil in the international market, making funding inaccessible to small operators in the oil sector.

With recent developments in the Nigerian banking sector, banks are no longer favourably disposed to lending to indigenous operators in the oil and gas sector, leaving the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) as a critical financing avenue for indigenous players. players.

Stakeholders are of the view that the Fund, set up by the Nigerian Content

10

Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) if effectively deployed, can be a major source of funding for indigenous oil servicing companies, while ensuring the entrenchment of good corporate governance among the companies.

One other important area where the fund is expected to be of utmost importance is iin n the area of capacity building of indigenous operators, in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry

Orient Energy Review March 2015

Content Development (NOGICD) Act. However, a worrying trend in the whole issue is the fact that only a handful of companies have been able to draw from the fund since its inception, while a few others are on the queue, hoping to be able to meet the criteria to ensure they benefit from the fund. The Fund currently put at about $450 million, an

COVER Despite the inherent benefits in the NCDF, as stated by the NCDMB, operators and analysts are still skeptical about it, saying that the provisions of the Fund will hike the cost of contracts in the oil and gas sector, as well as impact negatively on investment inflow into the country.

equivalent of N90 billion, has not been accessed by majority of the indigenous oil servicing companies, raising concerns about the accessibility of the fund.

Stakeholders are of the view that lack of access to the Fund, which was as a result of the cumbersome requirements of banks and the inability of a number of indigenous operators to

draw up bankable business proposals, is threatening the successful disbursement and operation of the NCDF. In addition, some of the stakeholders are concerned about the impact of the fund on the cost of doing business in the oil and gas sector and on the ability of the country to attract foreign investment.

The trend becomes worrisome especially as accessing funds to finance oil and gas transactions in Nigeria and build indigenous capacity, has over the years been a major source of worry for indigenous operators. This has worsened over the past few months by the sharp drop in the prices of crude oil in the international market.

Specifically, investment houses and analysts had predicted that a number of oil

and gas projects would be stalled due to the crude oil price decline as the companies will find it difficult accessing funds from the banks.

Already, in the wake of the drop in the prices of crude oil, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, directed banks in the country to reduce their exposure to operators in the oil and gas sector, citing rising nonperforming loans as one of the reasons for the decision.

This directive from the CBN made it difficult for majority of the operators, especially oil servicing companies, both in the upstream and downstream sector, to access funds for their operations. The directive was even blamed for the fuel scarcity recorded in some states across the country a few days ago.

The development has already started to take its toll on large corporations, as recently, a number of oil companies in Nigeria, especially international Oil Companies (IOC) are considering cutting down on their operations in Nigeria, while some of them have gone ahead to sack their staff ahead of the planned shutdown.

In particular, Total announced its decision to shut down its operations operations in some countries, citing tough operating environment. The company, it was reported, has also commenced the shutdown of its Abuja operations and has already started the process of disengaging about half of its workforce.

Others are selling off their assets so as to be able to use proceeds from the sales to finance their operations.

With the large foreign oil companies already feeling the

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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COVER

STORY

bite, it is expected that indigenous operators, will in no time begin to feel the impact also.

However, it is hoped that operators will be awakened to the huge opportunities presented by the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) and begin to tap from the fund to finance their operations.

The size of the fund is expected to drive capacity building of indigenous operators when effectively utilized, as Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr. Ernest Nwapa, had a couple of months ago, hinted that the NCDMB is considering using a part of the Fund to support companies that are committed to venture into gas cylinder manufacturing.

The NCDMB is also proposing phased increases in indigenous equity in the proposed Offshore Rig Acquisition Strategy (ORAS), to meet the requirements of the NOGICD Act and is planning to assist with long term funding and equity financing through the NCDF. Nwapa disclosed that the fund has been accessed successfully by two Nigerian service companies, while some other companies are at various stages of processing their applications. He, however, noted that the NCDMB was working with the fund managers, BGL, to fine-tune the conditions to be met for prospective beneficiary companies so as to make it more accessible.

“We are not satisfied with the level of access to the fund and we are working to review

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Allison- Madueke

the administration process,” he explained.

He blamed banks and the inadequate packaging of proposals by companies for the delays witnessed in the process, stating that the delays emanated mostly from the processes in the banks and how the companies packaged their proposals.

To this end, Nwapa disclosed that the NCDMB had to appoint a fund manager and also constitute an Advisory Committee, which comprises representatives of international oil companies, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, (PETAN), Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) and Bank of Industry in an effort to create a structured and transparent process for accessing the funding.

According to him, the current conditions require the benefiting company to tie up an arrangement

Orient Energy Review March 2015

with its bank for a facility meant for financing the acquisition of assets and ensure that it draws down the loan and services successfully.

He added that the Fund will then kick in to offset 50 per cent of the interest charged by the bank.

Despite the inherent benefits in the NCDF, as stated by the NCDMB, operators and analysts are still skeptical about it, saying that the provisions of the Fund will hike the cost of contracts in the oil and gas sector, as well as impact negatively on investment inflow into the country.

Specifically, analysts at KPMG, led by Mr. Victor Onyenkpa, Partner and Head of Tax Regulatory and People Services at KPMG Professional Services Limited, in their analysis of the NOGICD Act, said, “It is also unclear how the requirement to pay one per cent of total contract sum awarded in the sector into the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) would be implemented.

“Will this payment cascade to all levels of contract award, or only apply at the stage of award by the oil exploration and production (E&P) companies?

“Further, this additional levy of one per cent of contract value, together with the requirement for contract to be awarded to a Nigerian company, even if 10 per cent higher than the lowest bidder, would significantly increase the cost of contracting in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“Ultimately, this might become a factor in the investment inflows into the

Nigerian workers still hopeful

country, relative to other countries with lower costs of production.�

Also speaking, Mr. Simbi Wabote, Global Local Content Manager, Shell Exploration and Production International Limited, called on the NCDMB to publicise the procedures and requirements for accessing the NCDF and use feedback from the exercise to improve the administration process. He cautioned against allowing NCDF go the way of the moribund Nigerian Content Support Fund which could not be accessed by any service company.

The NCDF, which mainly aims to build indigenous

capacity, was set up in 2010 by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, working with its joint financial advisers, BGL Plc and UBA Capital Limited.

By 2011, the fund rose to $25 million, from a zero fund at inception, while as at today, the fund has grown to about $450 million, with a projection that it will hit $700 million by year end.

The fund, according to the NCDMB, was designed to encourage funding agencies to give money to indigenous operators. An evidence of its capacity building function is the fact that it was designed to among other things, assist

Dr. Ernest Nwapa

Nigerian oil service providers who have been awarded contracts by the oil producing companies to access cheap and affordable credit facilities to execute these contracts.

In addition, it also aims to provide a platform for financing major capital projects which is critical to Nigerian content development in the industry.

The NCDMB describes the NCDF as, “The sum of one per

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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STORY

cent, which shall be deducted en bloc and at source from every contract awarded to any operator, contractor, subcontractor, alliance partner or any other entity involved in any project, operation, activity or transaction in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and be paid into the Fund.�

According to the NCDMB, the NCDF was established by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, with Section 104 of the Act, specifically requiring a Fund to be set-up for the purpose of funding the implementation of the Nigerian content in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry.

The Act requires the NCDMB to manage and employ the NCDF for projects, programmes and activities directed at increasing Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry. In so doing, the NCDMB created independent Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) with representation of industry stakeholders to drive the NCDF utilisation.

The NCDF was designed to support the Nigerian oil and gas service companies with credit enhancement in form of guarantee and cash back interest incentive when accessing credit facilities from Nigerian Banks. The Fund was also designed to provide direct capacity investment to Nigerian companies operating within the oil and gas industry.

The Act empowers every contract awarding entity to deduct one per cent of the contract sum and remit same to

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the fund.

The fund, according to the NCDMB is open to every Nigerian company operating within the Nigeria oil and gas industry; who has either been issued contracts by the International Oil Companies, International Oil and Gas Service companies and other operators of oil

Orient Energy Review March 2015

The NCDF is providing multiple yet complementary approaches to addressing capability gaps in the oil and gas sector and providing cheap and consistent single digit interest rate funds for Nigerian content development.

and gas assets or who desires to develop capacity within the oil and gas sector.

As part of requirements to access the fund, Nigerian oil and gas service companies are expected to put in place appropriate corporate governance structure, risk management framework and accounting reporting system.

The companies are also required to separate business interest from personal interest in managing operations, while ensuring that competent staff are engaged to package bankable loan application at all times.

The NCDF model provides 30 per cent guarantee on loans accessed and 50 per cent interest rate rebate and elongated tenure for loan facilities.

To deepen local content and boost capacity building, the Fund hopes to carry out commercial and developmental interventions, by providing partial guarantee for Nigerian companies to access credit

COVER

STORY

CBN Governor, Godwin Emiefele

facilities in form of contract finance, working capital finance, assets acquisition finance, project finance.

In addition, the fund also aims to carry out developmental interventions through the Board's direct investment; towards capacity building and human capital development.

Considering the current growth potentials of the Fund, the NCDMB said it is expecting a continuous increase in its size and in its capacity to attract other sources of funds both locally and internationally to support Nigerian Oil and Gas content development.

The NCDMB said it is creating a platform upon which the credibility of the program can be measured and the confidence of other fund providers can be secured.

It said, “The NCDF is providing multiple yet

complementary approaches to addressing capability gaps in the oil and gas sector and providing cheap and consistent single digit interest rate funds for Nigerian content development. “It is also creating consistent and sufficient liquidity reserves and ensuring its capacity to attract more funds.”

Considering the current growth potentials of the Fund, the NCDMB noted that it expects a continuous increase in its size and in its capacity to attract other sources of funds both locally and internationally to support Nigerian Oil and Gas content development.

It further advocated the maximum support of Nigerian banks to the programme in order to build the desired credibility that can attract

other international funds and intervention partners.

However, Mr. Jesse Ovadia, a lecturer in International Political Economy, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, in his write-up titled, 'Measurement and implementation of local content in Nigeria a framework for working with stakeholders to increase the effectiveness of local content monitoring and development,' expressed optimism on the ability of the NCDF to build capacity of indigenous operators in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. He said, “Given its size and apparent transparent processes, the NCDF will, when it is finally operational, make a meaningful contribution to Nigerian content development.”

The benefits of the fund in building capacity of indigenous

Orient Energy Review March 2015

15

INTERVIEW

NERC Not Under Pressure to Increase Tariff – Amadi D

r. Sam Amadi, the Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has thrown more light on the recent furore elicited by the upward review of electricity tariff for commercial and industrial consumers across the country. He speaks with our Abuja Bureau Chief, SOLA AKINGBOYE on the exclusive mandate of the regulatory agency to manipulate the rules of the commission in accordance with the provisions and power vested on it without fear and favour.

Excerpt:

T

he recent MYTO 2.1 tariff upward review is generating rancour, was the commission under intense pressure to implement MYTO 2.1 against its own five-year time table.

Anybody who knows NERC procedure in the past will understand that whenever we have complaints, we go back and address the issue, and there is no special pressure from any quarter. When we did the fixed charge removal, the Discos complained and we had a public hearing and we started the process of review. So if a major complain arise from customers, our business rule makes it mandatory to attend to it within sixty days. It does not mean

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Dr. Sam Amadi

whether the commission was wrong or right.If the complaint appeared to be significant it might be heard through a public hearing and we go back to fix the problem following the procedure; so we are not under any pressure. These complaints could be from the providers; it could be consumers or special interest or any other stakeholders that challenge the process. We would then do our internal review, if we discovered that there are overriding public interest, we then take appropriate measures.

Some stakeholders at the forum accused NERC of trying to rob Peter to pay Paul, having freezed tariff increase for R2 (residential customers) who are exempted from the upward review for a period of six months, only to later announced upward review of MYTO 2.1 at the detriment of manufacturers.

That is not true, if you look at the tariff;

Orient Energy Review March 2015

the tariff for R2 customer is still high even as it is frozen. So the increase for R2 customers would have happen together. It wasn't that after it freezes, we pass it on to them. What really happened in the case of electricity consumers is that it was not activated, so the increase is the level of the losses that we allowed and we go back to reduce that level of losses. The freezing of the R2 consumers' tariff was strategic because of level of complaints from consumer groups. Commercial and consumer groups have the capacity to pass their cost to end users and it is better for you to avoid it; some of the cost could be legitimate but it was frozen to see electricity improved then it can be recycled back. You may also have a legitimate increase in tariff, which the regulator may allow to happen; but the regulator is asking Disco to have short recovery for a short period of time, it is a balance of interest until much later when things are better off.

INTERVIEW

Why then is the MYTO 2.1 heating up the polity?

The freeze is a different matter on its own, and the only people that can complain are the Discos. This is the normal increment that can happen to commercial consumers and they are now saying the increase is too high, and it may be too high in some cases.

So, we went back to the issue and trying to find out where the increase would have come from. It wasn't that there would be no increase.

Was there no level of consultation or agreement with stakeholders ahead of the review?

Tariff is not about an agreement. We only consult with stakeholders to get their input.

But many of them complained they were not carried along.

We can't go to people house and drag them out to attend forum; this is not a National Population Census.

We normally publish public announcement both in the newspapers, national radio and televisions. If you don't come how will you know when decisions are taken, but other stakeholders came and issues were discussed. First and foremost, NERC does not make tariff by consensus, it is our right to determine what the right tariff for the industry are. But in doing that we first and foremost get stakeholders input to know how their businesses are faring and would be affected. Tariff is not a thing of consensus where a communique is signed to indicate agreement, buyers and sellers cannot agree on the same price. Major stakeholders are the Discos, they are expected to consult their customers and get their feedbacks. The only concern of the regulators is to find out if they are over-recovering or if their profiteering, both actions are not allowed; but the consumers should probably be active to check the cost and make their case known while the

regulator may discount some of those cost.

On that note, there was clemency visit to NERC by Manufacturing Association of Nigeria to officially make their case known. How far has NERC gone in addressing their issue?

Before they came, we (NERC) have already started the process.

When they left, we had our technical committee meeting which we tabled back to the regulator, and by Wednesday we are meeting with Discos to show them what we think should happen.

How true is the allegation that Nigerian electricity tariff is the highest in the whole world?

It is not true, not even the highest in Africa, it is even probably the lowest in Africa.

The CAPMI initiative introduced by the commission has been adjudged laudable.

So far, what is the level of improvement on metering?

The level of improvement is still

inadequate and we are working on that. It is still inadequate due to financial constraint that set in on the path of the Discos.

In that regard, the CAPMI idea is akin to 'heaven help those who help themselves' for consumers to key in and be better metered.

But is public awareness adequate enough?

May be it wasn't enough, the Discos are in positions to adequately meter their customers but it all depend on funding, but in the coming weeks and months there will be more focus on metering.

First and foremost, NERC does not make tariff by consensus, it is our right to determine what the right tariff for the industry are. But in doing that we first and foremost get stakeholders input to know how their businesses are faring and would be affected.

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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GHANA REPORTS

2015 Budget Likely To Be Reviewed Next Month

F

Fourth field development sanction since 2009

Ghana: MTA Development To Be Submitted In 2015

K

osmos Energy reports that “a plan for the full field development of MTA is expected to be presented to the Government of Ghana in 2015”.

MTA refers to a cluster of fields, including Mahogany, Teak and Akasa (MTA), discovered in the West Cape Three Points Block offshore Ghana.

If approved, it will be the Ghanaian Government's fourth sanction for deep-water field development since 2009.

The country's flagship field, Jubilee, was sanctioned for development in July 2009; the

TEN development was sanctioned in 2013 and is on course for first oil in mid-2016; the Sankofa development was approved in 2014 and expected to deliver in 2017.

Kosmos says that the appraisal for Mahogany, Teak and Akasa discoveries, which are located within the Greater Jubilee area, was completed in December 2014 as scheduled.

“The results of the appraisal will be combined with the partnership's views on additional phases of development at Jubilee”.

Source: Africa Oil & Gas Report

inance Minister Seth Terkper is likely to turn to Parliament in April to seek approval to revise the 2015 budget estimates.

This possibility has come about due to a $700 million decline in government's revenue from the slump in crude oil prices in the international market.

The review of the budget estimates will result in significant cuts in government expenditure.

Government will have to spend less than the GH¢44 billion it was hoping to do.

Some analysts say there are likely to be aggressive cuts in subsidies, which means for the most part of 2015 consumers of petroleum products, for instance, would be required to pay for the full cost of the commodity.

Also, initial budgets for some projects will be slashed to make up for the new figures in the revised budget.

However, the Finance Minister would have to deal with a legal hurdle before seeking approval of the legislators in Parliament House.

This is because the laws of Ghana permits the minister to present a Supplementary Budget to Parliament for consideration when new revenues come in, but not a 'Revised Budget' - or one that cuts spending.

Government last year prepared the 2015 budget when crude oil prices stood at $99 a barrel.

Government was hoping to make about $1.2 billion by the end of the year to enable it to meet a revenue target of GH¢34 billion.

Courtesy: myjoyonline.com

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Orient Energy Review March 2015

GHANA REPORTS

Ghana State Oil Company Close To Signing $700 Million Loan

S

tate-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is close to signing a $700 million, five-year loan from private commercial lenders led by commodity trader Trafigura to help fund its expansion, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Alex Mould told Reuters in an interview that GNPC had already concluded due diligence for the deal, the company's biggest loan since the West African nation started oil production in late 2010.

GNPC, which holds a 13.64 percent stake in Ghana's Jubilee offshore oil field operated

by Tullow, started negotiations last year with Trafigura and some banks for the loan, which will have an interest rate of below five percent. 'We got responses from 18 of the leading global lenders both banks and commodity traders and we are working with the prospective lenders to close the deal soon,' he said in Accra.

Through an accelerate growth strategy, GNPC aims to become a stand-alone operator in oil and gas exploration and production by 2019 and a 'world class operator' by 2026, Mould said. 'The strategy hinges on replacing and growing reserves, local content development, efficient capitalisation and boosting institutional capacity,' he added.

In addition to Jubilee, GNPC has significant stakes in Tweneboa Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN), with reserved estimates at more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), and the gasdominated Sankofa Gye Nyame

(SGN) project, believed to hold at least 420 million boe. TEN is on schedule to start production next year while SGN is expected to begin oil production in 2017, to be followed by gas in 2018. Mould

said the reserves were likely to increase as there were new discoveries undergoing appraisal.

He said the recent slump in oil prices did not affect GNPC's ongoing projects. 'Our investment profiles are long term ...Thus, we and our partners are committed to investment decisions already made regarding our upstream operations,' he said. However, GNPC is taking measures to increase efficiency. 'We will cut costs and realign activities even as we remain steadfast with our strategy,' he added.

GNPC expects to lift more than seven million barrels of oil this year as the country's share of Jubilee production, similar to the 7.68 million barrels last year.

Jubilee, which also has Kosmos Energy, Anadarko and PetroSA as shareholders, has produced around 128 million barrels of oil by December since it came on stream in late 2010.

Source: Reuters

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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PHOTO GALLERY

Some Shots From Offshore West Africa 2015

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Orient Energy Review March 2015

PHOTO GALLERY

Canada High Commissioner visit to Tolmann Allied Services Co. Ltd Port Harcourt, along with his Deputy

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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CORPORATE PROFILE

Embee Jay Global Services: Our Focus Is On Nigerian Content Training –- Eje

Engr. Fred Eje

T

he Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Embee Jay Global Services Limited, Engr. Fred Eje who is also a Nigerian content professional. In this exclusive interview with Orient Energy Review South-South Bureau Chief, VIVIAN OSUJI ISRAEL in Port Harcourt , he excitedly speaks on the tremendous success Nigerian content has made in the Industry within the period the Act was enacted into law including his company's efforts in developing Nigerian content via various training. Excerpt.

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Having been in the Industry for Eighteen years what can you say about Human Capacity Development?

From my experience in the last Eighteen years in the Industry I see human capacity development as a measure weapon to play in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry, if you have human capacity, you control and if you don't have then you line up behind those in control. For years I saw how the expatriates were controlling because they had people that were qualified to be project managers for example, but within the first three years in the Industry I saw opportunities, one for myself and also for a group of Nigerians to develop capacity and that has changed the game plan, that has helped put Nigerians like myself to take over within a year of joining a major company.

What is your experience in Human Capacity Development I had an opportunity of being developed right from when I joined one of the major expatriate company “ABB Sohemi” I have the opportunity of exposure, I was trained and when I joined the biggest Nigerian company “ Adamac group” at that time, I had much more opportunity of development both within and outside Nigeria, and as the group tender manager, I had about thirty people

Orient Energy Review March 2015

working with me; about 20 of them were Nigerians while 10 were expatriates and I also had a mandate, apart from my own passion to train Nigerians, so I had opportunities to assign Nigerians and experienced expatriates especially in the area of preparing proposals. I also had the opportunity of sending some Nigerians abroad to participate in the joint bid preparation with International companies in France, Italy, UK and the good thing we had then was that as a group we had a fabrication company in UK, so a lot of Nigerians went there to participate in Jacket design, jacket fabrication that were later brought to Nigeria.

Today those Nigerians, having been trained, are in positions where they manage activities from project management, Engineering to commissioning and these projects in different places around the world are dominated by Nigerian especially now with Local content, most of these jobs are done in Nigeria.

At what point did you join the industry as a player?

I joined the Industry specifically in June 1997 in ABB Sohemi as a proposal engineer and that really exposed me.

What boosted your interest?

Ok, I would say it was really divine arrangement because when I joined, I was assigned to the commercial

CORPORATE PROFILE

department but I resisted it because I wanted to go to the field, but of course they said that was your opportunity, so I stayed; and at a process I saw it was like a school, we saw everything about the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry, different tenders were read and we were taught how to prepare tenders so from that position I saw the whole of the value chain; then I started liking it, reading, knowing a little about virtually everything and that boosted my interest, capacity, from day one it was training, training and when I came to Adamac, I had the opportunity of not just traveling abroad but also of going there and interacting at very high levels.

How can you assess government efforts of boosting Human Capacity Development in the industry?

Yes, in fairness to the government, I will say they are doing it especially with Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, that organization has become a game changer and the government also did the right thing by appointing somebody that is so passionate “Engr. Ernest Nwapa as first Executive Secretary he has done so well, you know it is unbelievable looking at the level of achievement within these four to five years of implementation of the Act backing the organization.

Do you think government has made some level of impact in Human Capacity Development?

We are not doing this because of profit but because of passion and we believe this is the only way Nigerians can take charge of the Industry.

Yes, it's getting better and better; the first NCDMB supervising training that I was involved in just lasted about three to four months, but the government through NCDMB is trying to make it a minimum of one year or during the project, whichever one is longer.

So if the project is two years, these guys will be trained till the end of the project. I think its a new thing which the government has introduced and its very good. Another thing I believe they are planning to do is, upon completion of training they will absorb you to the project so that once you are selected to participate for training you will just go all the way from the training- I mean at the training they will put you on the project somewhere and somebody that has been trained you should not allow the fire to go down.

As a product what are

your efforts in Human Capacity Development Ok, we are not doing this because of profit but because of passion and we believe this is the only way Nigerians can take charge of the Industry. We do trainings now as a core area of service, we provide NCDMB sponsored and supervised trainings by the Grace of God. We have done NCDMB organized training, we have also done trainings in the area of Induction, we have equally done short trainings in our areas for this year, and we actually have lined up training programmes in November.

What was your involvement in the Nigerian Content Act before it was implemented?

Ok, well I had the opportunity of being at the beginning way back 2004,2005,2006 mid of 2000 we were invited by NETCO an NNPC subsidiary to start the local content efforts, I went there as a representative of my company 'Adamac group� I was in the Engineering sub-sector so we were there and attending monthly meetings. Shortly after that, NNPC upgraded Nigerian content to a division and appointed the first General Manager and we were also there up till 2009 before the Act was implemented. We were part of the yearly Nigerian content Consultative Forum, NCCF. How would you compare local content between the period of 2000 and 2015?

I would say that we have geometric improvement, I mean if you scale it; it used to be five percent then, but is like seventy percent now. It s unbelievable and the success we have recorded is huge.

Can you please explain how

Orient Energy Review March 2015

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CORPORATE PROFILE

the Nigerian Content Act has been of benefit to Nigerians?

In fact like I said it's a revolution because there were initial resistances but thank God it has succeeded, it has helped a lot of companies to start springing up initially some people did not believe it but when they saw some Nigerians getting opportunities they quickly jumped in. For example, in the marine sub-sector there is this vessel classification thing and as we speak if a Nigerian vessel brings in a vessel made in Nigeria he will have the first opportunity of consideration, he is guaranteed that his vessel will have work, secondly, if you look at Engineering before now, you could do your Engineering design abroad but right now you must do it hundred percent in Nigeria. So a lot of Nigerian Engineering companies are busy working in Nigeria with Nigerians some of course you have to do it outside Nigeria but some go to the extent of everybody working on it are Nigerians not you have to bring an expatriate.

When did Embee Jay Global Services commence business operation?

Ok, we started actively in 2013 with a contract to train people on NCDMB sponsored training on projects.

today is training and also we provide Nigerian content and related support services to our clients.

Who are your clients?

For now our clients are major EPC contractors who have projects and we handle the training aspect, Deck Oil and Gas Company limited, Morpol Engineering limited, IGPES who provide contracts procurement, Asbury International Company limited, Elshcon and so many others.

What other kind of business does your company do?

We are essentially into Oil and Gas and in the Oil and Gas industry right now our major focus t are raining, support services in the area of Nigerian content contract procurement and in the area of contract administration, we are also looking at providing specialist services bordering maintenance because we are passionate about maintenance, we are developing capability in rope access technology; these are the areas of maintenance, and in the area of painting as well as all areas of inspection and certification. We believe they are core area of maintenance. In maintenance standard, we want to be part of those Nigerians who want to ensure that our standards are not lowered, simply because we are Nigerians.

What motivated you to establish your company?

I saw opportunity for Nigerian companies.

Do you have plans for business expansion?

Yes, we want to have monthly general training and with time we could extend it to other Oil and Gas cities like Abuja, Lagos, Warri. We would be doing monthly training especially in contract procurement, Nigerian content contract administration, quality and safety management to run from February to November this year.

What is your company's major focus?

My company's major focus

What is your training aimed at?

One thing that we are aiming at is to have opportunity to impact on

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Orient Energy Review March 2015

Nigerians, am happy because the last training we did for twelve Engineers at related disciplines am happy today seeing this twelve Engineers participating in the industry at various levels.

What is your membership strength and who are your partners.

The company is a member of OGTAN, we plan to become a member of PETAN in future because we believe that they are doing the right thing and we have other local and International partners, we have partners in Engineering design, International partners in the areas of Marine, we equally partner with BV for International certification in the area of quality management, PM for success and their UK partners in the area of International training and certification. We are planning to partner with EMN, Nigerian Institute of Welding and we are currently in the process of developing more partners.

You earlier mentioned commencing your corporate monthly training, when will this commence?

Yes, our training is commencing in this month of March and we are looking at Nigerian Content because we want people to understand what Nigerian content is all about so that they can avoid fatal flaws and take a complete advantage of the opportunity, secondly, we are looking at contract procurement, contract administration/project management, quality management safety, Entrepreneurship development.

Embee Jay Global Services Limited (RC 861043)

2015 Training Programme Nigerian Content Series INTRODUCTION Since April 2010 when the Nigerian Content Act was signed into law, tremendous milestones have been recorded to date from the implementation of the Act in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry. Indigenous Operators have benefitted from the promises of the Act and have been successful in expanding local capacity in various facets of upstream, midstream and downstream operations. However, some challenges still exist, including lack of knowledge, a dearth of skills and inadequate support.

The above challenges are what this series of Nigerian Content training has been packaged to address.

TRAINING TYPES NCDMB / Operator-Specified in Projects Client Sponsored / Specified General Monthly Training MODULES FOR GENERAL MONTHLY TRAINING 1. Nigerian Content I a. The Act Explained b. The NCDMB Structure Explained c. NOGIC JQS Registration (Staff & Company) d.Registration of Professionals e. Schedule & Its Review f. Enlightenment Channels 2. Nigerian Content II a.Training of Nigerians b.Nigerian Content Plan (NCP) c.Nigerian Content Execution Plan (NCEP) d.Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) e.Nigerian Content Compliance Certificate (NCCC) f.Engagement of Professionals 3. Nigerian Content III a.Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF) b.Programme for Research & Development (R&D) c.The Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) d.Expatriate Quota Application Endorsement (Fresh / Renewals) e.Nigerian Content Performance Report f.NCDMB & NIMASA TRAINING SCHEDULES FOR 2015 GENERAL MONTHLY TRAINING IN PORT HARCOURT Dates: Apr (21st), May (19th), Jun (16th), Jul (21st), Aug (18th), Sep (15th), Oct 20th), Nov (10th) Time: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm, Each Module, Each Day Fee: N20,000.00 Per Participant, Each Module, Each Day Training Fee covers Certificate of Attendance, Training Materials in CD, Morning & Afternoon Tea / Coffee / Snacks, Lunch, Group Photographs Please ask for: Fantastic Incentives for Companies sponsoring up to 5 Candidates.

Schedules & Other Details for Other Venues (Lagos, Abuja and Warri).

EXPECTED ATTENDEES Contracts Administrators Chief Executives / Directors Commercial Advisers Project Managers Legal Advisers Tendering / Proposals Managers / Officers Document Controllers Nigerian Content Managers / Officers Project Engineers

4.Entrepreneurship Education & The Oil & Gas Industry I a. Entrepreneurship Education b. The Oil & Gas Industry i. The Regulators (DPR / NCDMB / NipeX) ii. The Operators (IOCs / Indigenous & Marginal Field Operators) iii. Investment Opportunities iv. Associations 5. Entrepreneurship Education & The Oil & Gas Industry II a. Contract Procurement i. Business Development ii. Tendering b. Contract Administration c.Project Management TRAINING VENUES As required for NCDMB / Operator-Specified Projects As desired for Client Sponsored / Specified Trainings Port Harcourt / Lagos / Warri & Abuja for General Monthly Trainings

LEAD TRAINER Engr Fred Eje, mnse Seasoned Contracts / Techno-Commercial Specialist Over 18 Years of Solid Post-Graduation Oil & Gas Exposure & Experience Proven Nigerian Content Resource Person OGTAN-Registered Trainer COREN-Registered Engineer Member, NSE Member, Institute of Appraisals & Cost Engineers

Embee Jay Global Services Limited FOR REGSTRATIONS / ENQURES, PLEASE CONTACT:

Suite 304, Ohahuru Plaza, 44 Oroazi Road, Oroazi, Port Harcourt, P.O. Box 10387, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Phone: 234-803-342-0021 / 234-805-345-5005 Email: info@embeejayglobal.com, embeejay2@gmail.com Website: www.embeejayglobal.com Facebook.com/ Embee Jay Global Services Limited LinkedIn.com/Embee Jay Global Services Limited

FROM THE NIGER DELTA

Niger Delta Indigenes Protest Non-Payment Of Compensation By Mobil

A

ngry indigenes of coastal communities in the Niger Delta on recently protested against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (now ExxonMobil) over $16bn compensation for oil spill allegedly owed them by the oil multinational.

The victims of the spill that occurred 16 years ago between January 12 and 17, 1998, threw caution to the wind and barricaded the Mbiama end of the East-West Road for hours.

The protesters who began their agitation early in the morning were there up to 10am about five hours.

The development caused heavy traffic jam on the busy road that links all the states in the South-South. Drivers and travellers were held hostage for over five hours by the protesters who called for the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Some of the placards read, “Chief James Jephta, we want our money”, “Exxon Mobil, you are playing games with us”, “Niger Delta people want 1998 oil spill compensation”, “Barrister Wills, Niger Delta youths want their money.”

The protest, which was peaceful, was coordinated by clan heads of the Ijaw Youth Council, Ijaw National Congress, Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationalities and the Ijaw Survival Movement of the Niger Delta. Elderly men, women, youths and chiefs from various communities of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers states participated in the protest.

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In a statement signed by leaders of the protesting communities and groups, the victims wondered why their situation was different, saying that coastal communities in Lagos State which suffered the same 1998 spill had since been paid their compensation.

Reading the statement on behalf of the victims, Mr. Jonathan Robert, said despite being the main victims of the spill, they had been left to languish in pains and penury 12 years after the incident. He said in pursuit of their compensation, the affected communities instituted various cases in different Federal High Courts against the oil company.

He, however, said after about eight years of litigation, the communities agreed an out-of-court settlement at the instance of ExxonMobil. Robert noted that the victims later employed the services of Octopus Clan Nigeria Limited owned

by Mr. James Jephta as their principal attorneys to handle matters of the compensation on their behalf. He said after waiting in vain for over six years

Orient Energy Review March 2015

to get the compensation promised them by the company, they decided to confront the company to know the reason for the delay.

He said, “The mission yielded a great surprise. At a meeting of all stakeholders held with Mobil authorities at the office of the Director of Department of State Security in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mobil said all due payments concerning the spillage of January 1998 had been duly settled and payment made to Octopus, the officially recognized principal attorneys of the claimants.

“Mobil also insisted that no information other than what they have told us could be released to us as pertained evidence of payment.” He, however, said all efforts by the victims to reach the legal firm and Jephta had been unsuccessful.

*Punch

By Jolly Adjevwe Port Harcourt

SPECIAL REPORT

Unleashing Manufacturing Using 1% NCDF Deduction

By Pita Ochai

T

he long term desire of the Nigerian government to industrialise its oil and gas sector may be in the right direction with the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF).

The fund which has grown to about $350 million as at last year is designed to help achieve the aims and objectives of the Local Content Act. It is to be accessible to local operators to enhance local content in the oil and gas industry with the central aim of developing indigenous skills across the value chain, promoting indigenous ownership of assets and use of indigenous assets, promoting the establishment of support industries and creating customised training and sustainable employment opportunities.

According to Mr. Ernest Nwapa, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the NCDF which is a one percent of the value of every contract awarded in relation to any

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“project, operation, activity or transaction in the upstream sector,” has been accessible to operators. “The money is meant to facilitate funding agencies to give money to indigenous operators. That is the way the fund is designed, at least at this phase. You remember that this fund came in as a zero fund. So, we designed it such that in the first five years of the fund, it will only be a fund that people will see as a guarantee, believing that it will grow,” he said.

While the fund keeps growing, some industry stakeholders have applauded efforts made by NCDMB in building capacity in the oil and gas sector especially in the area of manufacturing. Recently, the board made it known that it plan to spend between $100 million on a larger scale for the development of the proposed Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks geared towards boosting the manufacturing of oil and gas components. Nwapa made the disclosure during the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme training programme held recently in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He made it known that at the onset, over $10 million would be spent on each of the parks in the

Orient Energy Review March 2015

first phase while the second phase of the project will gulp $50 million. Giving estimates of the project, Nwapa stated, that “in terms of cost for each of the parks, we will start from $10 million for the phase one to $50 million and $100 million depending on the focus of each park.” He explained that the Board embarked on the development of the parks to bring Local Content practice closer to the grass roots and integrate oil and gas based entrepreneurs into manufacturing as well as support the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through mentoring by international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and other multinationals. “The scheme is specifically for industrial activities and for us to succeed, we have to build it in such a way that it will be accessible to rural dwellers. That is the distinction between this and other parks. We will structure it in such a way that it will grow organically so that over a period it will come to maturity,” he stated.

The Executive Secretary further

SPECIAL REPORT

explained that the Board had a budget approval of $10 million for each of the parks from the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF). Stressing the importance attached to the parks, Nwapa said, “even if it takes 10 years, whatever amount that comes out of the fund in 10 years will be dedicated to the parks.”

To him, facilities being developed at the parks will attract original equipment manufacturers and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

He stated, “we are confident that if we drive the development properly and sequence our activities that we would get onto that fast lane that required assuring that implementation steps will be planned properly to ensure that the scheme comes to life and does not fail like some government projects.”

Another area the board is making effort to improve local content in the oil and gas sector is in the manufacture of gas cylinders. According to the board, efforts are being made in conjunction with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Oando Group, Sahara Energy and other key players in the gas industry to promote local manufacture of gas cylinders.

During a recent meeting organised by the NCDMB at its headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, stakeholders in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), otherwise called cooking gas, set up a committee that will develop a strategy that will drive the manufacturing of cylinders, deepen utilization of gas and address challenges that might hinder the plans. In that meeting Nwapa, said that President Goodluck Jonathan's administration was promoting manufacturing in all sectors of the economy, particularly in the oil and gas industry because of the potentialities of creating thousands of jobs, retaining spend in-country and developing technology.

He described gas cylinder manufacturing as a quick win, noting that local service companies now fabricate complex structures for the oil and gas industry and several companies were investing millions of dollars in setting up facilities and acquiring assets even before securing contracts.

According to him, “Once key persons in leadership on the government and industry side agree on the framework, it will work. Today, investors have put down their funds on assets that

depend on long term contracts. Gas cylinders are tied directly to a huge market; the opportunities are there, even across the Gulf of Guinea.”

Nwapa confirmed that once local manufacturing of gas cylinders begin, the government would ban the importation of gas cylinders and insist that LPG producers like NLNG and Exxon Mobil deliver gas only to facilities that comply with extant policies.

He clarified that the push for local manufacturing of gas cylinder would be integrated into President Jonathan's Gas Revolution agenda and complement government's drive to get all Nigerians to adopt gas as the preferred fuel for cooking.

Nwapa suggested during the meeting that NCDMB could use a part of the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) to support companies that are committed to go into gas cylinder manufacturing.

He also expressed hope that the Federal Government through the Bank of Industry, Ministry of Petroleum, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Board would work together to provide enablers for the scheme.

Speaking in support of the move, Tony Ogbuigwe, the Managing Consultant of PEJAD Nigeria Limited, said that NCDMB's gas cylinder manufacturing scheme was supported by Section 53 of the Nigerian Content Act which prohibits the importation of welded steel products. According to Ogbuigwe, the plan to encourage local manufacturing of gas cylinder is a welcomed idea because it will improve gas utilisation in the country. He said that only five per cent of the 26 million Nigerian families currently use LPG as their cooking fuel, though the NNPC, Oando, Sahara and other stakeholders were implementing several initiatives to grow consumption.

He explained that about 2.5 million cylinders were estimated to be in the country and if 10 per cent of the 26 million families in Nigeria were to use gas, with each owning two cylinders, the demand for gas cylinders will grow to five million.

“20 per cent using LPG will generate a demand for 10 million cylinders; 30 per cent using LPG will generate

a demand for 20 million cylinders. With about five years safe life for gas cylinders, “assuming that 30 per cent of the cylinders will become due for replacement each year, it implies a demand for manufacturing of three million cylinders per year. Six gas cylinder manufacturing plants at 500,000 capacity each will be required,” he explained.

The implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the oil and gas industry recorded a milestone in July last year when an indigenous oil servicing company, PEM Offshore Limited began to test-run its Offshore Simulation and Innovation Centre (POSAIC) in Lagos. It was said to be the first of its kind in West Africa. The first phase has been set up and when other facilities are put in place, the centre is expected to have a full suite of offshore anchor handling simulation equipment, dynamic positioning, power management and crane simulation systems and support the training of local and foreign offshore personnel involved in the oil and gas operations.

It is also meant to meet the growing demand for highly competent and qualified personnel for the highly sophisticated and safety driven industry.

Speaking at the opening of the centre, Senior Vice-President, PEM Offshore Group, Mr. Philips Eze Matthew commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for stimulating investment in marine crew training facilities through the marine vessel utilisation scheme.

He also acknowledged the financing arrangement put in place by the Board under the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) model, which provides 30 per cent guarantee on loans accessed and 50 per cent interest rate rebate and elongated tenure for loan facilities. On the operations of POSAIC, Matthew explained that the company entered into an agreement with Kongsberg Maritime -- the original equipment manufacturer for the supply and technical support of the simulation centre.

“PEM Offshore has secured a fiveyear commitment from Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and Agip Energy to utilise POSAIC facility in actualising CNL and Agip annual scholarship award programme to train Nigerian seafarers.

The CNL and Agip programme is expected to commit an annual sum of $200,000 that will amount to $1,000,000

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SPECIAL REPORT Unleashing Manufacturing Using 1% NCDF Deduction within the first five years,” he said.

He revealed that the company was also in talks with several other international oil companies, drilling firms and the Nigerian Navy, adding that he was confident that these organisations would patronise the company to reduce capital flight, sustain the local training facility and stimulate more investment in establishment of training centres of excellence.

In his remarks, Nwapa lauded PEM Offshore for bringing the project to fruition, despite the challenges it experienced while accessing funding from Nigerian financial institutions. He noted that such investments by Nigerian companies have removed doubts about the capacity of Nigerians to own and operate key assets in the oil and gas industry. Nwapa said indigenous ownership of key assets was the best guarantee that the implementation of the Nigerian Content policy would endure, adding that when Nigerians own assets, they would insist that provisions of the Act must be implemented with regards to domiciliation of industry work.

On his part, the General Manager, Nigerian Content, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Raymond Wilcox disclosed that Chevron supported the initiative from the onset because of its total commitment to Nigerian Content agenda. He assured that Chevron would rally round other international operating companies in ensuring that the facility operates optimally as the preferred center for training seafarers.

Raymond further thanked NCDMB for showing the way and encouraging Chevron to invest in critical capacity development initiatives that will deepen capabilities of the local supply chain.

Explaining how the fund works for operators, Nwapa said that the NCDF is growing and it has grown to the point where the board is looking at remodelling. He said for now, there is cash in that fund but it will never be a fund that people will treat as grant. It is something that people will take in a structured way. Many of the banks that are funding operations are funding because that fund is there. The fund is there as a collateral sitting in many banks and the banks are linking the loans they are giving to stakeholders to that fund. “So, if you expect the

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NCDMB to have a vault somewhere so that when you want to do something, you will come and the Executive Secretary will approve $10 million for you, it does not work that way. The banks are designed to give those monies out. The NCDMB is not a bank. The Bank of Industry (BoI) is managing the funds. We are an agency of government that is holding contributions of oil industry stakeholders in trust for them. We have to put the contributions in a bank; we have to use banks that understand financing to administer the fund,” he said.

Adding that NCDMB was not set up to administer funds; it is only set up to make sure that people pay the money into an account as designated by the law. The usage of the money has been structured two legs.

The 30 per cent leg is for direct interventions as you know, where if we find a project to do, we promote it and pay for it. If we find a scheme that trains our people, we pay for the training. If we find things that people are reluctant to fund because they are not sure it is beneficial, we pay for it as a pilot. But if you have a business venture and you need a loan to execute that business venture, especially if it is a capacity developmentrelated venture, the fund gives your bank comfort to give you a loan because the fund is a guarantee from us.

According to Nwapa, the oil and gas industry is so structured that before you get a major contract, you have gone through a lot of screening and beyond that, the law states that if a product is being manufactured in Nigeria, it must be used before you import.

So, I would as a bank manager, be very keen to loan money to somebody, who is going into manufacturing because the product he is going to manufacture already has a market and is therefore, going to be used. It demonstrated the will and the strength and authority to make sure those things are manufactured in Nigeria. So, we keep telling the banks to be a little bit more liberal with their requirements because the fund has given them further underpinning. It is important that you understand this because I have seen some reports in the media that the fund is not accessible.

The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 (the “Local Content Act”) was enacted to enhance local content in the oil and gas industry and its central aims of developing indigenous skills across the value chain, promoting indigenous ownership of assets and use of indigenous assets, promoting the establishment of support industries and creating customised training and sustainable employment opportunities currently seem to

Orient Energy Review March 2015

be well on track.

With contract award and local participation provisions as central tenets, much rests on the oversight of the Local Content Act by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (the “NCDMB”), whose goals are to ensure continuous and measurable growth of Nigerian content in all oil and gas projects, operations and transactions. The NCDMB has demonstrated commitment to making the Local Content Act work and has received praise from the Minister of Petroleum Resources (also recently elected president of OPEC) who, towards the end of 2014, announced that the Local Content Act had enhanced job creation and indigenous expertise, and had grown local content generally from 3-5% to a significant 12-18%. Further figures released by the NCDMB suggest that $5 billion of new investments have been made by Nigerian service companies in the last 4 years and that tens of thousands of jobs have been created. The NCDMB also recently announced that it would be assisting Kenya and Congo-Brazzaville in putting together their own local content laws. Nigeria appears increasingly committed to securing the financial future of local industry through the Nigerian Content Development Fund (“NCDF”), established by the Local Content Act to assist Nigerian companies operating in the oil and gas industry with finance and liquidity issues.

In 2014, the NCDMB issued an overview of the operating model for the NCDF. Broadly, the NCDF comprises 1% of the value of every contract awarded in relation to any “project, operation, activity or transaction in the upstream sector”. As such, the system works as a withholding to be made by the awarder of the contract and subsequently remitted to custodian banks for the programme. The funds in the NCDF are used for guaranteeing lending to Nigerian service companies and for infrastructure and training investment led by the NCDMB.

By Pita Ochai