Shell’s initiatives to enhance Nigerian content have facilitated increased involvement of indigenous companies in crucial contracts within the country’s oil and gas sector, both onshore and offshore.
At Bonny Terminal, indigenous contractors utilized automated tank cleaning technology for The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC). Moreover, locally manufactured stud bolts, nuts, flanges, and sand screens are now employed in well operations.
During the Bonga Turn Around Maintenance, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) successfully engaged a team comprising 87% Nigerian-owned companies, delivering the project eight days ahead of schedule and minimizing downtime.
Shell has actively supported the goal set by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to achieve 70% overall Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry by 2070. In 2022, Shell awarded contracts worth over $1.9 billion to Nigerian-registered companies, with 61% being indigenous firms holding at least 51% Nigerian ownership.
To contribute to the NCDMB’s vision of having 50,000 indigenous oil and gas professionals with postgraduate qualifications by 2027, Shell and its partners are implementing the Niger Delta Post Graduate Scholarship. This initiative has provided over 106 beneficiaries with opportunities to pursue master’s degree programs at leading universities in the United Kingdom.
Speaking at a panel session on Nigerian content during the 8th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos, Shell’s General Manager of Nigerian Content Development, Lanre Olawuyi, emphasized the company’s commitment to building the capacity of Nigerian contractors for key contracts.
In recognition of its contributions, SNEPCo received the International Oil Company of the Year 2024 award at the 2024 SAIPEC. SNEPCo’s operations, including the Bonga project, have significantly contributed to the Nigerian economy through tax remittances, royalty payments, and the development of local contractors and service providers. The Bonga project has played a crucial role in creating a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals, with 97% of the SNEPCo workforce being Nigerian.
