NCDMB Adopts Strategic Investment Plan on R&D, Energy Transition
By Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme
The Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCDMB) has developed a strategic investment plan to boost local capabilities on Research and Development (R&D), and operationalize the Federal Government policies on Energy Transition.
Speaking at the Capacity Building Workshop for Media Stakeholders with the theme “Sustaining Nigerian Content amidst Shifting Energy Landscape: The Role of the Media,” Dr. Ginah. O. Ginah, General Manager, Corporate Communications & Zonal Coordination, revealed that the Board is investing in local capabilities for Research and Development as well as getting involved in developing commercial oil and gas projects.
Dr. Ginah noted that the theme of this year’s workshop was chosen to draw attention to the Board’s activities in sustaining Nigerian content growth despite the rapid changes in the energy landscape.
As the world is building momentum on Energy Transition, moving away from fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption — including oil, natural gas, and coal — to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, as well as lithium-ion batteries.
He said the Energy Transition agenda portends a major challenge for the Nigerian economy which depends on revenues from oil and gas sales for sustenance.
He added, “Thankfully, a few other projections give a more cheerful outlook. Indeed, the International Energy Forum and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have insisted that fossil fuels would retain at least 50 percent of the global energy mix in the next three decades.”
Speaking further, Dr. Ginah stated that NCDMB has aligned itself completely with the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva that gas is Nigeria’s transition fuel going forward.
President Buhari’s administration declared a ‘Decade of Gas’ to reinforce Nigeria’s aspiration to leverage on its gas resources estimated around 206 trillion cubic feet (tcf) to develop the country’s national industrial, commercial and agricultural base.
“In our efforts to operationalize this declaration, NCDMB has made several interventions in the gas value-chain which span the development of LPG storage terminals and jetties, inland gas processing to produce LPG and propane, infrastructure for gas gathering and injection into gas pipeline networks, CNG facilities, and manufacturing of composite LPG cylinders.
“Two weeks ago, we commissioned Butane Energy Limited 100MT Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Storage and Bottling Plant in Kastina State, which will help address supply constraints in the domestic LPG market in the Northern part of Nigeria through its plant operations/bulk storage, transportation/ distribution, cylinder filling, and bulk retail.”
Dr. Ginah disclosed that other planned investments with the company in LPG storage and bottling plants would come up in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and the Bauchi States while six depots would be in Zamfara, Jigawa, Gombe, Plateau, Niger, and Nasarawa states.
He explained that the basis of NCDMB’s action is in line with Section 70 of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, which mandates the Board to assist local contractors and Nigerian companies to develop their capabilities and capacities to further the attainment of the goal of developing Nigerian Content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
According to him, most NCDMB partnerships are oriented to promote or realize strategic policies of the Federal Government in the petroleum industry. Its goal is to catalyze strategic Government policies and programs and exit once those businesses become successful.
He also revealed that another strategy the Board has adopted towards Energy Transition is Research and Development.
“We have consistently made the point that Nigeria needs to build up our local R&D capabilities in the oil and gas industry and come up with innovative solutions to drive our energy transition, otherwise the developed world would dictate to us what to do in this conversation.”
He emphasized that the workshop is part of NCDMB’s strategy to continually engage media stakeholders, build their capacities, and keep them abreast of the Board’s major initiatives as well as developments in the oil and gas industry and the journalism profession.
Ginah urged the media to continue its support on NCDMB to implement the Nigerian Content Act.
