Nigeria is losing huge revenues running into billions of naira from the mining sector, due to weak mining regulations and policies and inefficiency of government agencies that should be responsible for collection of royalties, taxes and levies from mining companies operating in Nigeria, a Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report once revealed.
According to the report, mineral titles in Nigeria are issued by the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) to many companies, but only a few pay their annual fees and other fees as stated in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
Increase in mineral exploration activities arising from the creation  of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), which had done a geophysical survey of the country’s mineral abundance, led to the creation  of  the  MCO, which is  charged  with  the  administration  of  miner-al titles  on  a  first-come-first-served and use-or-lose-it basis, and resulting in increase in mineral title acquisition by both local and international mining operators.

As such, all companies operating in the solid minerals which engage in exploration or mining operations are to pay royalties, as stipulated in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, section (33). Royalty payments are supposed to be collected by the Mines Inspectorate Department (MID), on behalf of the federal government.
But whether this section of the Mining Act has been adhered to by mining companies in the country, or if they have taken advantage of government lapses in enforcing these laws remains debatable.

According to the approved 2002 royalties price list by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Nigeria was losing an average of N1,960 and N2,960 from royalty payment for every ton of granite at the outdated price of N40 per ton. This translates into an aggregated revenue loss of N4.05 billion to the Federation Account, arising from price variations in the payment of royalty on granite, laterite and sand by companies.

The NEITI report, which covers 2007 to 2010, showed that earnings from the solid minerals sector by way of royalties, tax and levies totalled N3.655bn.

Another NEITI/CBN report puts total revenues from the solid minerals sector at N31.449bn in 2012. The revenue stream from the solid minerals sector is composed of 84.18 per cent of taxes received by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Mining taxes received by the MID and MCO represented 3.48 per cent and 2.24 per cent respectively.

The report said, “At the beginning of the reconciliation, the total amount reported by the Government Entities of Nigeria from the Solid Minerals Sector amounted to N49.759bn.

“We note, however, that the total net difference between the amounts declared by reporting companies’ and those of the government entities amounted to N6,53bn (13 per cent). At the end of the reconciliation, a total amount of N27.560bn was reported to have been received by the government between January 1 and December 31, 2012. A net difference of N2.bn (7.3 per cent) remained reconciled.

According to the data collected from the solid minerals companies, we have calculated the royalties that should be paid to the MID based on quantum reported during the reconciliation work. The difference between amounts really paid and those calculated amounting to N12,089m, representing 1.4 per cent of the total royalties as declared by the MID.”

The inability of states to exploit the resources in their domain can also be partly traceable to the 2007 Mineral Act, which vests the ownership of solid mineral on the federal government.

Alhaji Sani Shehu, president of the Miners Association of Nigeria, said until mining laws are adequately strengthened, the nation will continue to lose huge revenue to the companies which evade payment of royalties and other levies.

“Government laws need to be strengthened to curb activities of illegal miners as they are the major tax evaders. Most of them have only exploration licences and don’t have mining licences, yet they carry out mining activities which is illegal and completely negate the provisions of the Minerals Act,” he said.

Unfortunately, there are no clear official records from the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development on the actual volume of minerals exported out of Nigeria within the period under review. However, the few records available relate to transactions that were done by the formal players as they passed through the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Export Promotion Council.

A solid minerals consultant Mr. Oluchi Nwoko, attributed the non-remittance of royalties and levies to the decapitation of the Mines Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
According to Nwoko, due to the poor funding the Ministry receives, it becomes difficult for so many of the agencies and department under it to function optimally.

“Some corporate companies live up to their responsibility by paying their taxes, royalties and other levies. They have to because it normally forms part of their annual reports to NEITI. It is very possible as well for some of them to evade tax, which is a natural tendency in any endeavour. But most especially, the smaller companies and illegal ones are the major culprits.

“Due to the inadequate funds the Ministry receives, the Mines Inspectorate Department, which is saddled with the responsibility of enforcing payment of such levies, find it difficult to even move around to some of these mining sites which are mostly in the interior parts of the country. Until more funds are allocated to the sector, I’m afraid we would just be going round in circles,” Nwoko said.

For a country that has millions of metric tonnes of raw solid minerals yet untapped, Nigeria has no business not reaping bountifully from mining levies and royalties.

Eni has announced a new discovery of gas and condensates offshore Congo, in the exploration prospect Nkala Marine, located in the Marine XII block, about 20 kms from the coast and 3 kms from the Nene Marine field, already in production.

The finding, realized through the Nkala Marine-1 well, is expected to have a potential of 250-350 million barrels of oil equivalent in place. During the production test, the well provided over 300,000 standard cubic meters per day (sm3d) of gas and associated condensates. The well, drilled in a water depth of 38 meters, encountered a major gas and condensates build-up in the pre-salt clastic geological sequence of lower Cretaceous age, crossing a hydrocarbon column of 240 meters.

Eni will be starting the evaluation of Nkala Marine through new delineation wells. Meantime, together with the joint venture partners, the company will start studies for its commercial development which is framed in a context of optimized exploitation of the oil and gas discoveries in the Marine XII permit.

The exploration of the pre-salt sequences continues to deliver new discoveries all along the West Africa’s margin and confirms Eni’s exploration technologies effectiveness, given the technical complexity of these plays.

Eni estimates the resources in place of oil and gas discoveries made in the pre-salt Marine XII block to be approx. 5.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe). The production of the block, begun last December, is increasing and it currently stands at around 15,000 boe per day.

Eni, through its subsidiary Eni Congo, is the operator of Marine XII block with a 65% stake. The other partners are New Age, with 25% stake, and the Congolese state company Societé Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), with 10% stake.

JV partner FAR reports that JV partner Cairn Energy has spudded the first appraisal well to be drilled on the SNE oil field located 100km offshore Senegal. The SNE-2 well will be drilled in approx. 1,100 metres of water and drilled to a TDVSS (total vertical depth subsea) of approx. 2,770 metres before an evaluation program including logging, coring and flow testing is undertaken.

Three evaluation wells, SNE-2, SNE-3 and BEL-1, will be drilled back to back in a program that is estimated to be completed in mid-2016. Both SNE-2 and SNE-3 appraisal wells will be logged, cored and flow tested.

The aim of the appraisal program is to progress towards proving a minimum economic field size for the SNE discovery, which FAR estimates to be approx. 200 million barrels of oil. In addition, the BEL-1 well will drill the Bellatrix exploration prospect which will evaluate the untested Buried Hills play. BEL1 will also appraise the northern portion of the SNE oil field (refer Figures 1, 2).

For reasons of operational efficiency, the top hole of SNE-3 was drilled prior to the spud of SNE-2 (to a depth of 1,750 metres) by the Ocean Rig Athena (refer ASX announcement 2 Nov 2015).

Drilling of the SNE-2 well is expected to take approx. 5 weeks after which the logging and flow testing program will commence. On completion of the operations on SNE-2, SNE-3 will be re-entered and drilling and evaluation will be carried out on SNE-3 before commencement of the BEL-1 well.

FAR and its joint venture partners will be operating a tight hole policy, and therefore FAR  does not anticipate making any further announcements regarding the drilling program until the SNE-2 well has reached TDVSS.

A heavy glut of crude oil in the Atlantic basin kept differentials of Nigerian crude oil under pressure recently, with more than 60 million barrels of November and December cargoes available for purchase.

Differentials of competing light sweet crude oil from the North Sea were also weak and high freight costs made exporting to the Americas and Asia less attractive.

Also hampering exports of the country’s oil to India and China, typically among the biggest buyers, was a high premium of Brent to Dubai benchmarked crudes DUB-EFS-1M. This made Nigerian oil less competitive relative to Middle Eastern grades.

A sharp fall in futures prices and strong refining margins for gasoline in the United States was seen supporting demand for light sweet Nigerian oil, traders said, though this had yet to be seen in the physical market.

Nigeria’s NNPC said late on Tuesday it had cancelled bidding for new crude oil swap agreements and will instead directly sell crude oil to refiners, and purchase refined oil products from them.

Reports show that around 15 cargoes of November-loading crude oil are still available for purchase, traders said, a high number for this point in the trading cycle. There were also around 50 million barrels for sale for December loading, traders said.

Qua Iboe was being offered at dated Brent plus $1. A trader said that a cargo for prompt delivery sold for around dated Brent plus 50 cents.  Exxon sold a cargo of Qua Iboe for 5-6 December loading, a trader said.

Ghana would ensure a significant inclusion of renewable energy in its energy mix to deal with the power supply challenges confronting the country, Minister for Power, Kwabena Donkor has said.

The government envisages a shift of the country’s electricity generation from excessive dependency on large hydropower towards other renewable energy technologies, which do not produce greenhouse gases, offers the opportunity to provide electricity services while balancing the carbon sink.

Kwabena Donkor The minister said these when he opened the Ghana Renewable Energy Fair at the three-day 4TH West Africa Clean Energy and Environment (WACEE) Exhibition and Conference here on Tuesday.

Energy demand in the West African country grows by 10 percent to 12 percent annually, as the country’s economy has seen significant expansion in the last two decades.

Hydro power generation which had been Ghana’s main source of power for over the past 50 years, has gradually reduced in capacity due to climatic conditions and increase in demands, forcing Ghana to add a significant amount of thermal generation to its energy mix.

The West African country has embarked on an aggressive development of thermal power plants through both public and private sector initiatives with a proven natural gas reserves of 22.65 billion cu m (cubic meters), as of January 1 2013, (sourced from Mundi Index), to end the shortfall in power supply.

“The future however holds the threat of high emissions of greenhouse gases as the country transits to a dominant thermal electricity generation based on fossil fuels regime,” the minister cautioned.

He added that the inclusion of renewable energy held the key to mitigating the threat posed by the new sources of fossil fuel based power production.

According to him, the government, has identified renewable energy based mini-grids and standalone renewable energy solutions as the most promising cost effective option to extending clean electricity to such as communities.

To do this effectively, the minister added that government has also counted the cost and are determined to accelerate the development of the value chain of renewable energy innovatively.

Donkor expressed the hope that the lowering prices of solar especially in United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil and Uganda, with the price of solar electricity falling far below the price of electricity generated from some of the cheapest conventional sources would also affect the sub-region of West Africa.

“Our strategy therefore is to increase the contribution level of renewable energy at the most cost effective manner. He added.

Ghana’s renewable energy policy targets to make renewable energy at least 10 percent of total national energy mix by 2020.

The theme of the three-day fair is “Renewable Energy Technologies for Sustainable Development.”
German Ambassador to Ghana, Rudiger John noted that just as the global economic development must become more sustainable, so also can growing energy needs of developing countries such as Ghana not be covered by fossil fuels alone.

“We have to use more sources for our energy supply; solar, wind, biomass, recycling of waste; these are the solutions of future,” John stressed.

Beyond helping to meet Ghana’s short-term energy supply needs, the ambassador believes there are more renewable energy sources Ghana can tap into to make the medium to long term sustainable power generation and availability, secured. Enditem.

Source: Xinhua

Hess Ghana Exploration Limited has, in conjunction with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), awarded scholarships to 125 ‘brilliant but needy’ students, under the fourth edition of its annual ‘Hess-GNPC Scholars Programme’.

Announcing this at Nsein Secondary School in the Western Region last week, Ms. Sandra Gentile — General Manager Hess Ghana Exploration Limited, said the number selected for 2015 marks a 25% increase over the previous year’s; and brings the total number of beneficiaries to date up to 396.

The scholarship fully covers the entire government-approved costs (boarding fees, administrative fees, books, kits, uniforms) and other auxiliary costs including: trunk, chop box, mattress, sheets; and pocket money for three years of Senior High School, and Vocational Training or Health Training (Nursing) depending on the applicant’s choice.

Ms. Gentile emphasised that the sterling performance of the first batch of scholars, who have just graduated, motivated the company to increase this year’s intake as a reward for blazing the trail. Beneficiaries will begin their respective programmes this month in six partner institutions: Half Assini Senior High School, Nsein Senior High School, Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School; St. Martin de Porres Hospital, St. Theresa’s Vocational Institute, and Kikam Technical Institute.

“The size of the first year’s class, 71, was based on the need to develop the programme efficiently and measure success. Now that this has been tested with commendable results, we are pleased to increase the intake and expand the beneficiary districts to create more room for other prospective students. We hope the achievements of the first students will spur their compatriots on to greater heights,” Gentile said.

Alexander Mould, Chief Executive of GNPC, noted that: “Our frontline communities are dear to our hearts and we ensure that our social investments are well-targeted to achieve the best outcomes. The scholarship is supporting the most disadvantaged in coastal districts of the Western Region.”

Minister for Petroleum Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah — in a statement delivered on his behalf by the Director of Petroleum, Mr. Willieson Shamo — said government is keen on building a robust oil and gas industry and recognise this scholarship scheme as very essential in augmenting efforts toward achieving that goal.

‘Hess-GNPC Scholars’ was developed in response to a study of health and educational needs in Ghana, and the coastal Western Region in particular, to identify potential areas where the companies could make a measurable and sustainable difference. The scholarship initially targeted students in three districts — Nzema East, Jomoro and Ellembelle — with emphasis on girls’ education.

This year, two additional companies — Fueltrade Ltd. and Lukoil Overseas Ghana Tano Ltd. — have joined the partnership, and the scholarship programme has been extended to include the Shama and Ahanta West districts.

The scholars were selected through a process supported by the District Education Directorate (DED), which distributed and received applications via its supervisors. Each district was given 150 application forms to distribute. Criteria for selection were based on BECE examination results, a personal statement, chosen programme, gender and household income, so as to balance the level of need with academic achievement. Shortlisted candidates were all interviewed individually by a committee comprising District Representatives, Hess Corporation management and GNPC.

Gentile added that scholars are provided with counselling and mentoring on a regular basis throughout their studies, and through a Memorandum of Understanding partner institutions are also regularly visited and monitored for compliance. She appealed to parents and the community at large to provide maximum support for the scholars in other, diverse ways to ensure there is no deviation from the chosen academic and leadership path.

Courtesy: Bftonline.com

By Margaret Nongo-Okojokwu

Ghana has pushed upstream prospects in oil production, Mr Theo Ahwireng, Acting Chief Executive of the Petroleum Commission has said.

“Considering the impact of the depressed oil prices on project cuts in the industry, it is without doubt that Ghana has come out strong with its key projects such as the TEN project, which is still on course, the Sankofa-Gye Nyame project also in progress, and the expected submission of the PoD for the Greater Jubilee project, having gone through FIDs (final investment decisions),” Mr Ahwireng stated.

A statement by Mr J Ato Kobbie, the Senior Media Relation Officer, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), said, Mr Ahwireng made the remark in Cape Town, South Africa, on where Ghana stood on the global exploration and production (E&P) landscape at the just ended Africa Oil Week Conference.

“The Petroleum Commission led Ghana’s petroleum industry leaders on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 to put up a case for why Ghana should be the preferred investment destination of oil finders on the continent at the 22nd Africa Oil Week Conference.”

The conference showed many projects elsewhere had stalled because of the low world oil prices and lean investment capital.

Speaking on the topic “Ghana: Offshore Acreage, Ventures and Developments in Oil & Gas,” at the week-long conference, Mr Ahwireng said low world oil prices had not affected key E&P activities in Ghana, as many more companies continue to show interest.

He told the gathering of more than 1,400 delegates, from national and international oil companies, including the super major ones that projects such as Jubilee, TEN, OCTP, and that of Hess are still on course.

He invited investors to show interest in the huge offshore acreages still available and take advantage of Ghana’s stable investment climate plus a very attractive fiscal regime and invest.

“There are 15 offshore licenses awarded to 14 IOCs covering 20,342 sq. km., whilst 42,212 of open acreage still exist.

“With the increased interest and investment in E&P activities, the offshore acreage may potentially be expanded up to the 3,000-metre water depth,” Ahwireng disclosed.

The statement said Mr Ahwireng also spoke on the on progress on Ghana’s local content developments, and disclosed that strides have been made in the growth in that area.

He said compared to Jubilee, TEN had delivered a lot with OCTP initial indication that much higher local content would be achieved.

He observed that components of the TEN projects FPSO were fabricated in Ghana, before they were shipped to be mounted on the vessel.

He said Ghana’s resolve to monetise its gas has resulted in the construction of a gas plant that is allowing for the processing of indigenous gas for power generation.

“The landscape of Ghana’s upstream sector is good with clearer indications that the TEN FPSO will join the Jubilee FPSO next year, to be followed by the Sankofa-Gye Nyame FPSO by 2017”, Ahwireng stated.

Investment opportunities existed in the areas of: exploration; construction, fabrication, transportation; and support services, he told participants.

Some of the specific areas he outlined included: joint venture with GNPC, farm-in opportunities (e.g. TEN project), support services, financing for gas infrastructure, investment in power generation, fabrication and construction, and construction of pipelines.

Others are bulk storage facilities for gas, special haulage trucks/distribution facilities, power generation, inspections, classification and certification, medical support services, air surveillance and emergency response services, waste treatment and management services, hospitality and catering services, and real estate.

Acting Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Alex Mould and GNPC’s Director of Operations, Thomas Manu, Chief Executive of the Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, General Manager, Tullow Ghana Limited Charles Darko and Tutu Agyare, Director of Tullow were also at the conference to push the Ghana agenda. Tullow is currently seeking investors to farm into the TEN projects, in which it holds close to 50 per cent interest.

The week-long conference attracted many oil and gas players across the globe, including investors scouting for prospects.

Some members of the Parliamentary select Committee on Mines and Energy, namely: Dr Stephen Nana Ato Arthur, Michael Coffie Boampong, and Mathias Kwame Ntow, also attended the conference.

Other countries that featured on the opening day and made cases for investments in their countries were: Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Gabon, and Angola.

New patented SunStream products provide access to portable energy for millions

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 17, 2015/ — World Panel Inc. (http://www.World-Panel.com) today showcased its latest products at AfricaCom and announced a deal with Vodacom as a key retail partner to sell its new SunStream™ in select stores.

Executives from both companies were on the floor of the Cape Town tradeshow to unveil the products that directly connect mobile phones to a clean and reliable energy source.

World Panel products are the first to stream electricity from the sun directly into mobile devices and they require no chipsets or PC boards. The SunStream™ and SunStream Plus™ charge mobile phones at or near the same speed as a wall plug. SunStream™ products have been built to international standards using industrial grade materials, allowing them to withstand harsh conditions and can even charge while submerged in water.

“I originally visited Africa with a solar prototype for household purposes and was consistently asked by residents whether it could charge their phones. I’ve returned with a product that is essential for anyone who owns a mobile phone but who has limited access to dependable energy sources,” said World Panel CEO John Anderson.

Anderson said, “We are honored that Vodacom has joined us as a retail partner and are looking forward to reports on how the SunStream™ is changing lives and delivering energy independence across the African continent.”

Speaking on behalf of Vodacom, Suraya Hamdulay, Executive Head for Vodacom Sustainability said: “World Panel created a buzz at AfricaCom two years ago and we are proud to carry the SunStream™ products in our South Africa stores.”

“This is a game changer for many because mobile phone users from every walk of life can now benefit from reliable and portable access to renewable electricity,” Hamdulay said.

World Panel secured a U.S.A. Utility Patent earlier this year on the core technology inside the SunStream™ product line and now holds 20 design patents worldwide, including those in India, Japan, Europe and China. All SunStream™ products are made in the U.S.A. at World Panel’s new production facility in Colorado with capabilities to scale up to 10 million units annually.

The World Panel SunStream™ is built to provide the highest performance in the most challenging real world conditions. It is the first technology in the world that combines USB charging standards with international solar panel standards.

It is water submersible, even continuing to operate while under water. Drop tested up to two meters, it is made with a shatterproof glass face and a polymer case which is UV stable and remains cool to the touch in extreme heat. The patented technology circumvents chipsets and PC boards which are notorious for breaking on typical solar charging devices. SunStream™ carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of R199.

Rwanda is committed to providing electricity access to 70% of the population by 2018 – up from only 23% this year – through a wide range of renewable resources

KIGALI, Rwanda, November 12, 2015/ — Rwanda and the Climate Investment Funds (http://www-cif.ClimateInvestmentFunds.org) are today celebrating the endorsement of that country’s renewable energy investment plans under the CIF’S dedicated fund for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries Program. (SREP)

SREP funding of $50 million (USD) will help develop financially sustainable long-term markets for the private sector provision of off-grid electricity services in the East African country.

Rwanda is committed to providing electricity access to 70% of the population by 2018 – up from only 23% this year – through a wide range of renewable resources.

Senior SREP Coordinator Zhihong Zhang says, “Rwanda has a very ambitious target of electrification through both on-grid and off-grid solutions. SREP support will target the development of off-grid energy markets to help bring electricity to unserved communities in rural areas, create employment opportunities and generate income.”

“SREP funding can act as a catalyst,” he says, “and will help improve the enabling environment conditions to unlock and systematically scale-up private investments.”

“About 1.5 million Rwandans are expected to benefit from the SREP program,” he added.

Robert Nyamvumba, Director of the Energy Division from the Ministry of Infrastructure in Rwanda says, “This endorsement will help to unleash the potential of the private sector to provide off-grid energy solutions using renewable energy sources.”

“SREP funding will mean many Rwandans living in rural areas will have access to energy and improve their lives through development activities as well as create an enabling environment for businesses in the communities, he added.

About the Climate Investment Funds

The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) is providing 72 developing and middle income countries with urgently needed resources to mitigate and manage the challenges of climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The CIF allocates financing through four funding windows:

• The $796 million Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries Program (SREP) (https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/srep) is helping to deploy renewable energy solutions for increased energy access and economic growth in the world’s poorest countries.
• The $5.3 billion Clean Technology Fund (CTF) (https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/node/2) provides middle-income countries with highly concessional resources to scale up the demonstration, deployment, and transfer of low carbon technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transport.
• The $785 million Forest Investment Program (FIP) (https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/Forest_Investment_Program) supports efforts of developing countries to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable forest management that leads to emissions’ reductions and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD +).
• The $1.2 billion Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) (https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/ppcr) is helping developing countries integrate climate resilience into development planning and offers additional funding to support public and private sector investments for implementation.

The annual Powering Africa: Tanzania investment conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro hotel from 3-4 December 2015

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, November 17, 2015/ — The annual Powering Africa: Tanzania investment conference (www.PoweringAfrica-Tanzania.com) will take place at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro hotel from 3-4 December 2015.

The meeting will focus on the future of Tanzania’s power sector following the recent elections, identifying opportunities for investment and building crucial relationships between private and public players in the market.

Recent confirmations from January Makamba, Member of Parliament Bumbuli, Tanzania, representatives from the President’s Delivery Bureau (PDB) ,the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Gas Supply Company (GASCO) demonstrate the on-going commitment from the public sector towards accelerating energy access in Tanzania as a springboard for economic development.

To date, 37 unique companies from the private sector are confirmed to attend including Tanzania Investment Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Mitsubishi Corporation, Citibank Tanzania Limited, BVI Consulting, Liquefied NG Tanzania Limited, Statoil and Sunfunder.

The agenda will focus on topics such as Tanzania’s commitment to energy reform, sector growth and gas development, procurement strategies for Tanzania’s public sector companies and the importance of electricity for agriculture and captive power industries.

Following the recent $5 million worth of funding from the IFC enabling Tanzania to explore mini-grid power capability, the programme will also look at the options for delivering renewable energy to Tanzania and the opportunities for solar, wind, geothermal and hydro power development.

Unveils the Opening of Customer Experience Center (CEC) in Abu Dhabi, designed for Oil and Gas Industry 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 2015: 3M Gulf announced today its debut participation at the upcoming Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). The science-based multinational company will showcase nearly 30 solutions that improve productivity for the oil and gas industry, protect and extend the life of critical assets, and protect people and the environment in which they operate.

“With current situation in the oil industry, more and more oil and gas companies are looking at solutions that improve productivity and lower operational costs,” said Deba Sen, Global Business Director for 3M Oil and Gas Solutions. “At 3M, we understand the challenges the industry is now facing and as thus we work closely with the oil and gas companies to help them conserve resources by doing more with less. Our technologies and products, which exceed 10,000 solutions for the oil and gas industry alone, help these companies solve complex products across the industry’s upstream, midstream and downstream segments,” she added.

To encourage live interaction with its existing and potential customers, 3M will feature its new LifeLab, an interactive in-booth experience to give attendees an opportunity to test and experiment with 3M technologies and materials. Attendees for example will be able to see how 3M Glass Bubbles make cement float and how 3M Ceramic Sand Screens mitigate the risk of erosion in downhole equipment.

“We are delighted to participate for the first time at the region’s leading oil and gas industry event. With global volatility in the Oil & Gas market, we believe that the demand for innovative solutions that increase efficiency and lower costs is at its peak these days,” said Wajid Abbas, Leader of 3M Gulf’s Oil and Gas Solutions. “We are also very excited to announce that our Customer Experience Center will be officially opened in Abu Dhabi within the next few weeks. Dedicated to the oil and gas industry, this center is among the very first 3M customer centers of its kind in the region.”

3M Gulf established its Oil and Gas Solutions in Abu Dhabi in September last year to oversee the markets of the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. Over a span of one year, the company’s oil and gas solutions business in the region witnessed a growth of almost 25 percent, mainly driven by the company’s close proximity to its customers through one customer-facing entity.

3M offers more than 10,000 products that are used at all points in the oil and gas industry – from exploration, production and refining, to transportation and marketing. Capitalizing on the company’s 46 technology platforms, 3M’s solutions are mixed and matched in seemingly unique and uncommon ways to create products for the industry’s most pressing needs.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) on Friday performed the ground breaking of a mini industrial park, taking a major step towards the attainment of Nigerian Content goals.

The event took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and featured three original equipment manufacturers (OEMS) utilised by Shell for its operations-Alcon, Fiddil, Prime Atlantic-each getting a land space measuring 1800 square meters within Shell’s Industrial Area to build their facility and domesticate some of their services.

The Shell promoted industrial park was in furtherance of the NCDMB’s Equipment Components Manufacturing Initiative (ECMI) introduced in 2011 to encourage OEMs and their representatives in Nigeria to set up facilities for manufacturing of spare parts and accessories of equipment required for oil and gas operations.

In his speech, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe explained that the event re-affirms Federal Government’s vision to use Nigerian Content as an instrument for the industrialization of the Nigerian economy, listing targets of the initiative to include transformation of representatives of OEMs from “marketers to manufacturers and maximize retention of industry spend within the economy, on procurement of equipment, manufacturing, supply, installation and after sales services.

He identified other targets to include reversing the trend of equipment rentals by Nigerian companies by encouraging Nigerians to acquire equipment for activities such as drilling services and construction.

Kentebe further explained that “in a bid to achieve the ECMI policy thrust, the Board introduced the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) as a Local Content Requirement (LCR) for participation in bids connected to supply or utilization of equipment in the oil and gas industry. “This was to ensure that the full capacities of local manufacturers or owners of equipment are exhausted before any equipment can be imported.”

He commended Shell for being one of the first stakeholders to embrace the ECMI, having proposed and obtained approval from the Board in 2012 for the OEM domestication program. He enjoined other stakeholders of the industry to embrace such collaborative efforts in a bid to jointly develop the local supply chain.

The Executive Secretary reiterated that domestication of local manufacturing holds the key to real Nigerian content growth and provides the platform for value adding activities such as research and innovation, processing of local raw materials and establishment of ancillary services; all of which create employment and empowerment for the nation’s youths and contributes to the national gross domestic product.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Country Chair of SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor described the initiative as a key intervention of the Shell Companies in Nigeria to support Nigerian Content Development, adding that it would improve cycle time, enhance service delivery and engender other long term economic benefits including employment opportunities for Nigerians.

He listed other key objectives to include increase in control, simplicity and potential for long term cost saving.

The MD who was represented by the Project Director, Mr. Toyin Olagunju recalled that the OEMs and their Nigerian Local partners were issued the NCEC by the NCDMB in 2012.

He maintained that Shell Companies in Nigeria remained committed to supporting Nigerian Content and all other strategies aimed at increasing the participation of Nigerian businesses in the Oil and Gas industry.

According to him, “SPDC supported a Nigerian manufacturer, Egba Split Clamp Nigeria Limited to refine their product with hydro and pressure tests. Egba clamps are now approved for use in SPDC operations and we are working towards the full deployment of these clamps in our operation. We also continue to support other manufacturing initiatives including pipe mill development, development of drilling fluids and production chemicals.”

Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy announces the signing of an MoU that significantly expands the scope of the planned Bioko Oil Terminal project

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, October 30, 2015/ — The Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy, representing the Government of Equatorial Guinea, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with three companies to build a crude oil and petroleum products storage tank farm on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.

In an expansion of the previous project plan, the Bioko Oil Terminal will incorporate a significant amount of crude oil storage space, as well as storage for associated petroleum products. It will serve the Gulf of Guinea region and facilitate processing and export to consumers regionally and globally. The MoU establishes the terms of cooperation among the Ministry and the three companies.

The Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy of Equatorial Guinea, Taleveras Group, Gunvor Group and the Strategic Fuel Fund will jointly participate in the Bioko Oil Terminal development. The tank farm will be operated by the Strategic Fuel Fund, which operates Saldanha Bay in South Africa, one of the world’s largest petroleum storage facilities.

Upon announcing the new MoU, Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima stated: “The Bioko Oil Terminal will serve the enormous demand for storage in the currently underserved Gulf of Guinea region. This is a definitive step forward for our nation’s petroleum industry and economic diversification agenda. We are proud to announce that the national bank of Equatorial Guinea, BANGE, will be involved in the financing of the project.”