Mud Plant Operations Commences

Hamilton drilling fluids commences full operation of her drilling mud plant located at the federal lighter terminal, Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Govt raises hope on local content policy

The Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Hon. Henry Odein Ajumogobia,commissions Hamilton Technologies' Drilling Plant at the Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria....

The Federal Government said the review of the local content bill is aimed at addressing the fundamental hiccups that had continued to inhibit the full participation of indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector.

Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), who stated this in Port Harcourt, said though Nigeria has been a major player in the global energy business in the last 50 years, the industry is yet to impact positively on Nigerian companies.

Ajumogobia while commissioning an indigenous multi-million dollar Hamilton Technologies' Fluids Drilling facility, at Onne, Oil and Gas Free Zone, Rivers State, explained that as the industry intends to spent approximately $15 billion next year, the Federal Government would continue in its effort to drive the local content policy through legislation.

The Minister noted that the Nigerian oil and gas industry would only be deemed to have come of age when indigenous businesses in the sector are part of the appreciable part of the intended $15 billion investment.

He appealed to Shell Petroleum Development Company, Elf, Mobile and several other multinationals to encourage the implementation of the local content policy because the indigenous companies have over the years proven their competency.

Ajumogobia assured Hamilton Technologies Limited of Federal Government's supports. He lauded the Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Sobere Diri for his vision, foresight and determination in floating the company, which is in line with the Federal Government's local content policy.

The Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi used the occasion to appeal to oil companies operating in the state not to leave, as government was doing everything possible to make the environment more conducive for their operation.

He revealed the intention of the government to build an energy village, somewhere around Onne, explaining that the process of acquiring land for the purpose was in progress.

He explained that the proposed energy village will have an industrial estate and a abode for those living around the area, pointing out that it would be a beautiful city when completed.

The Managing Director of the company, Diri, said the goal of the company is to be a world class competitor in its chosen field, as well as add value to stakeholders and society at large.

He said the facility has dedicated brine storage; base oil storage, oil and water base mud storage in excess of 31,000bbs capacity with a plan to increase capacity to 45,000 barrels by 2008 and 60,000 in 2009.

Diri said the drive to effectively participate in the upstream activities coupled with government's local content policy, gave impetus to Hamilton extending its services to include mud engineering with the support from Scomi Oiltools of Malaysia.

He urged the Federal Government to sustain the local content policy as well as ensure its full implementation. He also called for payment of lump sum mobilisation to indigenous companies for capital intensive ventures like the liquid mud plant.

Culled from the: The Guardian Newspaper