Tuesday, 08 Feb 2011
It is reported that Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board and China's major welded line pipe maker Jiangsu Yulong Steel Pipe have agreed to implement a schedule that will lead to the setting up of a 250,000 tonnes per annum longitudinal submerged arc welded pipe mill in Nigeria by September 2012.
The schedule which comprises six key activities and timelines was agreed on during a five day visit to Jiangsu Yulong's facility in China by an NCDMB team led by the executive secretary Mr Ernest Nwapa in January 2011.
The visiting team which included Mr Bola Akano representative of the MD of Addax Petroleum, a member of Sinopec Group, inspected Jiangsu Yulong's Longitudinal Submerged arc welding pipe mill, Helical Submerged Arc welding pipe mill and the High Frequency Resistance Welding Pipe Mill.
The visit was a follow up to the meeting held in September 2010 between NCDMB and representatives of Jiangsu Yulong at the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa in Bayelsax State.
The Board's efforts are geared towards meeting the targets set for the industry by Ms Diezani Alison Madueke minister of petroleum resources during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the NCDMB by President Mr Goodluck Jonathan in September 2010.
The minister had declared that the steadfast implementation of the Nigerian Content Act will in the next four years lead to the establishment of three to four new pipe mills and other ancillary manufacturing plants to service the demands of the oil and gas industry.
In his remarks during the visit, Mr YongQing Tang the Chairman of Jiangsu Yulong reaffirmed the company’s commitment to set up in Nigeria and confirmed that 80% of the equipment for the production line dedicated to the Nigeria project had been manufactured and is awaiting testing and shipment.
Mr Tang who informed that the basic design of the proposed mill had been completed, added that the visit had demonstrated the commitment of the Nigerian Government to establish pipe mills in Nigeria and develop local steel pipe production.
According to him, Jiangsu Yulong looks forward to partnering with NCDMB, local companies and other Chinese companies like SINOPEC, operating in Nigeria which is familiar with the environment. He however, requested the Board to provide guarantees that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and other major operators will patronize the LSAW mill when operational.
In his comments, Mr Nwapa assured Jiangsu Yulong that the Federal Government is actively promoting foreign direct investments, particularly in the energy sector and will provide all necessary support, approvals and incentives to the company. He said the Federal Government is committed to using locally manufactured pipes in the construction of Nigerian Gas Master Plan infrastructure which involves over 2000 kilometers of large diameter pipeline.
He noted that the Nigerian Content Law protects investors in any facility established in Nigeria to manufacture industry inputs and the NCDMB has demonstrated its ability to enforce this by ensuring that oil majors now source applicable line pipes from SCC Mill, which is the only manufacturer of pipes in Nigeria today.
He further assured Jiangsu Yulong that when the pipe mill becomes operational, NCDMB will not allow any operator in the industry to import longitudinal submerged arc welded pipes until the capacity of its facility and any similar plant is exhausted.
He further assured the company of the Board’s resolve to ensure that the intendments of the Nigerian Content Law as it relates to domiciliation for line pipe procurement is achieved, adding that the law is already being implemented and evidence of local production or concrete plans towards local production is prerequisite for the short listing of companies for contracts.
According to the project implementation schedule, Jiangsu Yulong will work with NCDMB between March and December 2011 to achieve critical milestones including land acquisition, permits, environmental impact assessment, detailed engineering and early site works preparatory to moving the mill. Both parties are also to organize training and attachment of Nigerian operators to ensure that a sizeable workforce is available when the plant is ready for testing.
A Chinese Contractor has already been engaged by Jiangsu Yulong, with the mandate to partner an experienced indigenous construction company in Nigeria for the construction of the plant between November 2011 and August 2012.
The Chinese Contractor and the senior executives of Jiangsu Yulong are expected in Nigeria in May 2011 for preliminary engineering work.
Mr Tang and Mr Nwapa thereafter inaugurated the project team for the Nigeria Pipe Mill which comprises personnel from NCDMB and Jiangsu Yulong as well as a consultant. The project team has since commenced work.
(sourced:vanguardngr.com)
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