The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has launched an ambitious advocacy to promote sustainable local content development in Africa especially in Nigeria where the Association has made great progress in training local engineers.
The Association, an indigenous organization said it has built capacity and have developed the know-how as many of its members come from the industry and highly experienced.
National Chairman of PETAN, Engr. Wole Ogunsanye, said “We raise funds from Nigerian banks. We put those funds to use, and you are seeing what it is here. It is in Nigeria’s interest that this facility, all of the capacity that we have built, is utilized for Nigeria.”
As such he said companies operating in Nigeria must obey the local content law which came into effect in 2010.
Ogunsanya, said adherence to the law will help build capacity, enhance patronage, and improve the national economy.
He made the comment after he led a team on a facility visit and tour of Solewant Group Plant in Eleme local government area of Rivers State.
Solewant Group is an indigenous company that deals in pipe fabrication and coating.
He said, “We cannot afford to outsource these kinds of services that Nigerians have put on the ground to anybody, whether within or outside Nigeria. It is not in our economic interest.”
While referring to the speech made by the Group Managing Director of Solewant Group Ogunsanye said, “ The same factory in China is employing 14, 000 Chinese. We want this factory in the least to employ 5,000 Nigerians.’
While noting that PETAN is going to be advocating for the firm (Solewant) in that regard, he added, “We are going to be advocating for all PETAN members that have built capacity to make sure they we have the patronage.
“1The local content law that was passed in 2010 is a law of Nigeria and it must be obeyed. So, PETAN is at the forefront to make sure that we drive that”.
The PETAN national chairman further said the association will collaborate with Solewant to see to it that their products are exported to other African countries and beyond.
“We are not even stopping in Nigeria alone. We’re looking at the Sub-Sahara Africa countries. This company here, Solewant can produce for this same thing in Angola. They can produce it in Mozambique.
They can supply Ghana. They can supply anywhere there is oil business in the sub Saharan Africa, Senegal.”
Earlier, the Group Managing Director of Solewant, Solomon Ewanehi, assured of the company’s resolve to contribute its quota to the oil and gas industry.
Ewanehi stated, “We want to respond to the Presidential Directive that we must increase the production of oil and gas, and we want to support the regulators.