Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
UTM Offshore Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG), the first such indigenous company in Nigeria announced at the weekend that it is set to move to the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning (EPCIC) stage of the project.
UTM Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Julius Rone made this known during a working visit to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Felix Ogbe, at the board’s corporate office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Rone stated that his company has obtained all the necessary approvals needed for the EPCIC stage, adding that the required international standard was being adhered to at all levels of the project.
He also commended the NCDMB for providing all needed technical support in its field operation.
“Today, we are pleased to present to you Nigeria’s first floating LNG. It will please you to know this is the first indigenous company in Africa to develop a floating LNG. We are building the project in line with the international standard. I am happy to announce that we are moving to the EPCIC stage of the project.
“This project has received tremendous support from the NCDMB. They have been piloting and guiding us in all our processes. We have been working with your team all the way on this project and we’ve gotten all the approvals needed to conduct a prefill that supported us into the field.
“So, we deemed it fit to come and intimate you of the progress of the project; where we are and when we believe that this project will come on stream,” Rone said.
The UTM boss congratulated and commended the NCDMB executive secretary for his efforts in effectively piloting the content development of the oil and gas industry particularly in the area of research and development framework which continues to provide necessary support for home-grown innovations initiated by UTM.
Speaking at the event, the Ogbe applauded UTM for its courage in taking up the project, adding that the board will continue to support the project until completion
He said that in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, NCDMB under his leadership will continue to create enabling environment for companies like UTM FLNG to thrive in the general interest of the country.
“We are pleased with the results and level of work done so far. I know that it has not been easy as a local content group. Seeing a Nigerian with this type of ambition is an amazing thought and it gladdens my heart.
“I commend your company for taking the bull by the horn and you can rest assured of the support of this board to bring this project to completion. And that is what the president wants us to do – to create an enabling environment for companies like yours to thrive; to create jobs and to be able to deliver”, he said.
When completed the UTM FLNG is expected to leapfrog the national economy by producing an annual 1.5 million tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for export as well as 300,000 metric tonnes for domestic market aimed to lower and stabilise prices of gas, while creating thousands of jobs and investment opportunities in Nigeria.
