The Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman has given her nod for the development of facilities in Phase 4B, Onne Port Complex, Rivers State.
The Phase 4B project area was designed to handle FPSO integration and other construction and industrial activities in the Onne Port Complex. It is a public private partnership Project (PPP) initiative led by the Federal Government that is aimed at upgrading port facilities in the Onne Port Complex and further positioning it as the foremost integrated logistics centre of world class standard in the country.
THISDAY checks revealed that when completed, the Phase 4B project will effectively double the existing land size of the Onne Port Complex and rollout unprecedented capabilities, including new facilities to support deep water operations.
Usman expressed hope that barring any unforeseen hitch, the facility will soon be put into commercial use.
Apparently impressed what she saw, the NPA boss dropped the hint after her maiden tour of facilities at the Phase 4B project.
Her words: “I have inspected Onne 4B and we are thinking of what we need to do within the shortest possible time to ensure that whatever government has invested in the project will be put to commercial use. We (Federal Government) have deployed millions of dollars to the project which is about 24 per cent completed.
That 24 per cent completion phase needs to be used commercially while decision is taken on the steps the government will take to complete the project’’.
The General Manager of Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tonye Apiafi in his presentation said that Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited, as concessionaire and investor, is investing over US$ 2.7 billion in Phase 4B of the Onne Port Complex.
According to him, the project includes the dredging and reclamation of a total of 600 heacres of swampland, construction of 2000 metres of Jetty for berths 12 to 19 and construction of over 3500 metres jetty for port facilities including fabrication and construction yards. In addition, the Phase 4B project includes the construction of an inner channel and turning basin for vessels, stacking areas, a 6000 cubic meters capacity water distribution system and construction of roads networks in in excess of 15,500 meters.
Continuing, Apiafi said: “A portion of the jetty includes a 50 ton/super heavy load platform (SHLP) in preparation for fabrication, construction and FPSO integration activities’’, which is available already today. When completed, the Phase 4B project will also provide jobs for tens of thousands of Nigerians”.
Apiafi stated that these [developments] are clearly to take on serious industrial engagements in the oil and gas supply chain that will transform the Onne Port Complex into Africa’s first full oil and gas industrial city and one of the strategic assets in the country which can help the country emerge as a leading oil and gas industrial nation.
Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited is an international infrastructure development company established to play a pivotal role and lead the growth of the economy, through the development of critical infrastructure creating in the process, customer trust and an enviable reputation for itself.
According to its website, it has identified gaps and unsatisfied industrial needs in Nigeria for world-class fabrication and construction facilities that will meet the growing needs of the oil and gas Industry and the industrial capacity of Nigeria. With the primary focus of setting the pace for customer satisfaction, the firm is set to make a mark and create a niche for itself as an industrial pace maker in the Nigerian oil and gas service sector. To achieve this feat, the it has commenced work to establish exemplary industry facilities unrivalled in Nigeria geared towards top class service that will tower above its competitors.
