Solewant Group’s 25 Years of Audacious Innovation 

Suleiman Adeola

Every great legacy begins with a defining moment—a spark of ambition, a dream unshaken by the odds.The founder of Solewant Group, Mr. Solomon Ewanehi, had envisioned a company that would revolutionise manufacturing of steel pipe and pipe coating application solutions for oil and gas industries.

On June 6, 2000, Solewant Nigeria Limited was established with a clear mission: To contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s industrial sector through innovation and quality service delivery.From modest beginnings, the company steadily grew—driven by determination, resilience, and a commitment to excellence.

Solewant Nigeria Limited has established a reputation in delivering cutting-edge pipe/metals fabrication, protective paints and specialty coating solutions, and is today, celebrating 25 years of unwavering commitment to excellence in the oil, gas and energy sector.

From its establishment in 2000 to 2010, the company focused on translating its vision into tangible outcomes—investing in infrastructure, strengthening internal policies, setting operational standards, and building key partnerships.From acquiring its first set of painting and coating equipment to executing its first contracts for oil and gas operators, Solewant Group demonstrated what resilience looked like in practice.

By the end of 2010, Solewant Group had transitioned from a little-known startup to an established presence in the industry—positioning itself for the next stage of growth and expansion.Between 2008 and 2011, Solewant had built and operated a modular pipe and bend coating plant in Odukpani, Calabar, Cross River State and provided specialty coating application solutions on 18” X 127Km gas pipeline for East Horizon Gas Company Limited and Nigerian Gas Company Limited, NNPC, a project Solewant successfully delivered. 

With a solid foundation in place, Solewant Group entered the 2010s poised for transformation—evolving from a field coating service provider, providing asset protection from factories to factories, pipeline sites to pipeline project sites, into a diversified factory solution provider.

From building state-of-the-art manufacturing and pipe coating plant infrastructure to recruiting new talent and expanding service lines, this was a season of structured boldness and growth.The company invested heavily in modern technologies, including automated multi-layer pipe coating systems, Concrete weight coating plant, steel pipe milling and state of the art laboratory solutions.

It was during this time that Solewant Field Joint Coating Limited and Specialty Protective Coatings & Paints Limited, and Pipe and Metals Industries Limited were incorporated—each subsidiary born out of a need to specialize, standardize, and scale.By 2015, the world had begun to take notice as what was once local became continental in potential. By 2016, the company commissioned what is acclaimed the African Largest pipe coating plant.

Solewant Group today now operates diversified portfolios, namely – Solewant Nigeria Limited, Pipe and Metals Industries Limited, Field Joint Coating Limited, Solewant Specialty Protective Coatings and Paints Limited, as well as Solewant Energy Institute.Solewant’s multi-layer pipe coating plant is strategically located in Alode-Eleme- Onne, within Nigeria’s oil and gas corridor.

With over 156,000 square meters of operating space, the facility was designed to handle high-volume manufacturing, fabrication and coating operations—from fusion bonded epoxy (FBE), three-layer polyethylene (3LPE), and 3 to 5 layer polypropylene (3LPP) to concrete weight coating systems, field joint systems, insulation, Catholic protection systems and industrial training solutions.

Equipped with world-class Euro American technologies, from our Dutch partners, Selmers BV, of the Netherlands and KEMA Coatings (Canada), this commissioning didn’t just change the size of Solewant’s operations—it altered the landscape of Nigeria’s industrial capabilities.With Africa’s Nigeria’s largest pipe coating plant now operational, Solewant Group entered a new era  between 2016 and 2020, the heartbeat of the company was innovation.

The product line expanded to include advanced anti-corrosion systems, dual-layer fusion bonded coatings, and ultra-high-performance field joint applications. Solewant’s teams were no longer just applying coatings—they were designing them, innovating them, adapting them for harsh terrain and offshore conditions.

The company’s growing reputation led to a surge in contracts from key players like Shell, Chevron, First E&P, and NLNG. At a time when the world demanded more sustainable and efficient energy systems, Solewant Group responded with innovation, integrity, and impact.

In 2022, this insight gave rise to a vision beyond pipes and coatings—a vision of education, empowerment, and transformation. The Solewant Energy Training Institute, known today as SETI, was born.SETI was a national response to the need for skilled, industry-ready professionals in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. At a time when the country faced a widening talent gap, Solewant Group chose to build not only products—but people.

What began as an industrial group was now also a knowledge institution. Behind every great company lies a network of powerful relationships. For Solewant Group, strategic alliances have always been more than business decisions—they’ve been blueprints for transformation.

Among Solewant Group’s most significant partners is Seal For Life Canusa CPS, a member of the Henkel Group, the world’s largest provider of advanced pipeline field coating systems and the legacy of Shawcor—home to twelve global leaders including Bredero Shaw, Socotherm, and DSG-Canusa.

Through this partnership, Solewant Group became Nigeria’s only authorised representative of Canusa CPS pipeline products and services.From KEMA Coatings Limited in Canada, Solewant adopted advanced abrasion, chemical, and temperature-resistant protective coatings.

KEMA’s trust empowered Solewant to bring industrial-grade resilience to Africa’s pipeline network.With Raychem RPG of India, Solewant Group accessed industry-standard cathodic protection systems—critical for pipeline longevity in corrosive environments.

Manufacturing partners such as TPCO and Baosteel of China provided seamless access to world-class steel pipe materials and bending technologies. With Selmers BV of the Netherlands, Solewant Group secured automated coating and handling systems—elevating safety, consistency, and speed.

From North America to Europe, Solewant Group established working relationships with specialized coating application equipment manufacturers—ensuring that every machine in its line meets or exceeds international benchmarks.

But Solewant Group’s alliances were not just technical. The company also prioritized regulatory alignment—registering and complying with the International Standards Organization (ISO), with NIPEX and securing Nigerian Content Equipment Certifications for its plants.

Solewant Group’s coating facilities are certified to IOCs including Shell’s highest standards, a testament to years of investment in quality assurance and compliance.Over the last 25 years, Solewant Group has served a robust portfolio of industry leaders.It has long-standing collaborations on 3LPE applications, concrete coating applications, field joint coatings, 3LPE applications, and pipeline corrosion control services, with Shell (SPDC).

Projects ranging from 18” fusion bond epoxy and concrete coating CWC coating, to subsea support on major field developments, have also been executed for Chevron, while pipeline coating and protective systems for gas export infrastructure have been delivered for NLNG.

The company has also delivered specialised services supporting offshore pipeline integrity for Addax Petroleum and ExxonMobil/Subsea7, and coating and rehabilitation of pipeline assets for the Nigeria Gas Processing and Transportation Company. For Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and ELCREST, the company has provided pipeline component coatings and logistics support.Turnkey 3LPP coating projects for subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines (SURF), have also been provided for First E&P / Westfield. Across over 100 successfully completed projects, the company has maintained near-perfect client satisfaction scores.

It is on record that Solewant and her Seal-for-Life (now Henkel Group) provided the Heat shrink sleeves for the 40” X 608Km NNPC/AKK gas pipeline in Nigeria. Solewant Group is hosting the 9th Energy Summit in Onne, themed, “Emerging Technologies and the Future of Sustainable Energy Development in Africa,” on November 27 and 28, 2025.In recent years, Solewant Group has continued to break new grounds.In 2021 and 2022, it was awarded ‘Best Oil & Gas Contractor of the Year’ by News Direct.The company was recognised as ‘Best Indigenous African Oil and Gas Contractor of the Year’ by Offshore Africa Oil & Gas Magazine, in 2023.

In 2024, it hosted the Solewant Group 8th Energy Summit, at her industrial park, focusing on sustainable energy development in Africa.Earlier in 2025, it unveiled the ‘Solewant Group Roadmap Plus’, a 10-year strategic vision emphasizing technological innovation and contributions to Nigeria’s industrial development and energy transition.The upcoming commissioning of an automated bend coating plant, a new multi-layer pipe bend and fitting coating factory at the Solewant Industrial Park in Onne, Rivers State, will take place in June 2025.

Solewant Group showcased industry-leading innovations at SAIPEC 2025 in Lagos, presenting cutting-edge pipeline coating solutions, metal fabrication, specialty paints, and training solutions for Africa’s energy and infrastructure sectors, on February 13, 2025.On May 20, 2025, Solewant Group featured prominently at NOGOF 2025 at the NCDMB Headquarters in Yenagoa, unveiling its 10-year strategic roadmap plus focused on sustainable local content growth.

From May 5 to 8, 2025 – Solewant Group exhibited her products and services in the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, USA, reinforcing its global presence in advanced energy solutions and technology transfer.Solewant Group is celebrating its 25th Anniversary at its Industrial Complex in Onne, today, June 6, 2025, marking two and a half decades of innovation, impact, and industrial excellence in Nigeria.

It will also launch the Solewant Journal of Energy Innovation, Volume 1, Issue 2—a biennial, peer-reviewed publication focused on breakthrough technologies and sustainable energy solutions for Africa in June 2025.These milestones reflect Solewant Group’s unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and industry leadership in her 25 years of technological innovation and excellence.

.Suleiman, an oil and gas analyst, writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

QUOTE

“The company has also delivered specialised services supporting offshore pipeline integrity for Addax Petroleum and ExxonMobil/Subsea7, and coating and rehabilitation of pipeline assets for the Nigeria Gas Processing and Transportation Company. For Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and ELCREST, the company has provided pipeline component coatings and logistics support.Turnkey 3LPP coating projects for subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines (SURF), have also been provided for First E&P / Westfield. Across over 100 successfully completed projects, the company has maintained near-perfect client satisfaction scores.”