By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has authorised four firms to supply the barites required for any drilling project or contract in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
The four barites processors are Nishan Industries Limited located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Delta Prospectors Limited in Lafia, Nasarawa State; Ana Industries Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Baker Hughes Company Limited at Onne, Port, Rivers State.
The Executive Secretary, Mr Simbi Wabote, gave the approval as contained in a list released by the board called Public Notice on Procurement of Barites for Oil and Gas Projects.
According to the board, all project promoters in the Nigerian oil and gas industry are to ensure that Barites required for any project must be procured only from the approved Nigerian Barites processing companies with Category A Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC).
It listed 10 other companies that “have also been identified and shall be upgraded to Category A NCEC, as soon as they meet the requirements of the Guideline for the Utilization of Locally Produced Barite and Drilling Fluids in Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.”
The agency further informed operators, contractors, service companies and other stakeholders of the availability of in-country processed barites that meet the specifications of the oil and gas industry.
It said the NCDMB is “mandated to develop the capacity of the local supply chain through Direct Capacity Development Interventions or support to investors to set up facilities and has a key responsibility to ensure that these investors are protected in line with the intents of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.”
The policy intervention by the board to encourage such investments is to mandate stakeholders to prioritise the utilisation of manufacturing facilities in the procurement of barites.
It stated that the board would be expecting quarterly reports from operating companies confirming the procurement of barites and other related chemicals through Purchase Orders (PO) given to these companies.
The agency warned that consequences of violating the public notice will include refusal of the board to issue Certificate of Authorisation to the operator, project promoter and contractor, and refusal of the board to participate in the operator`s tender or issuance of Nigerian Content Compliance Certificate (NCCC).
Also, it warned that another consequence of the violation of the public notice would be the denial of the issuance of the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate for the production and supply of locally produced barite and drilling fluids in the Nigerian oil and gas industry for a period to be determined by the board.
The board could also initiate the penal sanctions provided in section 68 of the NOGICD Act, invoke administrative sanctions in line with section 70 (i) and (p) of the NOGICD Act or apply other penalties deemed fit in line with the provisions and aspirations of the NOGICD Act, it was further stated.
Modupe Gbadeyanka