The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commissioned the PE Energy Centre of Excellence in Port Harcourt, to provide services in automation, process and metering systems.

The ultra-modern centre, which was commissioned by NCDMB Executive Secretary, Mr Simbi Wabote, would also provide services in systems integration, valve assembly, valve actuation, pump, as well as compressor solutions.

Wabote, in a statement, issued on Sunday by Mr Obinna Ezeobi, Chief Supervisor, Media and Publicity, Corporate Communications, NCDMB, stated that the facility would equally offer services in instrument fitting manufacturing and service lines.

He said it would offer services in training and competence assessment, in addition to assembling early production facilities and mobile production units, which were essential to Nigeria’s aspiration of increasing its oil and gas production.

Speaking at the event, attended by government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international and local oil and gas companies, he commended PE Energy for contributing to the growth of the sector and Nigerian content.

“The industry is going into an era where massive adoption of technology and innovation will become the norm.

“From unmanned FPSO’s to carbon capture technologies to achieve net-zero emissions, from Big Data Analytics for seismic surveys to the use of augmented realities for human capacity development.

“The Board is delighted that Nigerian industry players are keen to adopt and deploy these new innovations,” he said.

Wabote described the Centre as an addition to top-notch facilities that could showcase the success of local content in Nigeria and enhance the journey towards the actualisation of the 10-year strategic roadmap that is targeted at achieving 70 per cent Nigerian content by 2027.

The NCDMB executive secretary also lauded PE Energy’s partnership with global brands in the automation and instrumentation industry, saying that such partnerships would enhance the acquisition of skills by the employees of PE Energy Ltd.

While commending the international oil companies for their continuous support to the successful implementation of Nigerian Content, Wabote noted that the centre would lead to cost reduction and enhancement of oil companies’ production facilities.

In his address, Mr Daere Akobo, Managing Director, PE Energy Limited, indicated that the state of the art facility sited on an area of 10,820 sqm was 100 per cent locally driven, from administration to technology.

He noted that the multimillion-dollar investment had positioned the company as an automation process and system integration company in the service of the critical process value chain in the Oil and Gas industry.

Reeling out its capacities, the Managing Director said the firm, which delivered projects across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya and Ghana, had acquired seismic detection technology and got approval from President Muhammadu Buhari to fly northern basin of Nigeria.

Akobo announced that the Centre of Excellence would consolidate the partnership between NCDMB and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), to focus on material substitution, which entails research and development in the use of raw materials for the formulation of drilling and completion fluids and additives.

He added that it would provide linkage between the industry and academia and contribute towards the creation of highly competent manpower, through hands-on training, in collaboration with the original equipment manufacturers.

In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Gabriel Tanimu underscored the Ministry’s contributions to the promotion of Nigerian businesses and partnerships.

Tanimu, while stating that the Ministry promoted the Nigerian Content Policy and canvassed for international companies to set up facilities for the larger market, charged oil industry operators to patronise PE Energy so as to spur investments. (NAN)