Samsung Heavy, NLNG buoy local content in oil, gas sector

Poised to ensure realisation of the local content policy of the Federal Government in the oil and gas sector, Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHI) and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), have trained about 57 Nigerian youths at the SHI shipyard in Geoje, South Korea.

The youths, who arrived Nigeria on Sunday, were taught naval architecture, ship design, fabrication and fittings, electrical installation, mechanical and maintenance, erections and scaffolding among other areas, at Samsung Heavy Industries’shipyard at Goeje, South Korea.

The General Manager, Samsung Heavy Industries in Nigeria, Frank Ejizu, who officially welcomed the beneficiaries at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said the company is determined to grow local capacity through an intensive training programme expected to re-shape the local engineers.

He however noted plans are in top gear to gather another set of 60 Nigerians for the next round of training in South Korea by July this year.

Samsung Heavy is an industry giant and a world leader in the building of Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs), LNG FPSOs, production platforms, Drillship Rigs and other special offshore vessels.

He said: “Samsung in December last year in collaboration with Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) decided to train some Nigerians in ship building and all aspect of ship development. Since then, they have been in South Korea for the training and we came here today to welcome them after a successful training,”

Noting that the training has contributed immensely to improving their knowledge, he said, “because it is purely a capacity building exercise, now that they are back home, we will assist to absorb them into various aspects of the job,”

Lamenting the huge capacity gap in the industry, Ejizu said Samsung and NLNG decided to fill the gap through the training programme and expected to do more of such trainings to encourage more Nigerians in the oil and gas sector.

He however described it as a pre- training, adding that many more people will be trained in Nigeria when the planned training centre in Nigeria is completed.

Meanwhile, the NLNG said the training came as one aspect of Nigeria LNG’s inclusion of a local content clause in its contract with shipbuilders Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for the building of six new vessels costing $1.6billion for Bonny Gas Transport (BGT), NLNG’s shipping subsidiary.

The Team Leader, Jamiu Suleiman, said: “Technology of welding over there is not far fetching in Nigeria, and we thank God that we achieved our training objectives and even surpassed expectations.

“We have been certified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Our trainers did not hide anything from us on structural engineering in ship building, so we can deliver services to international standards now,” he said.

Noting that the facility is a world-class system, he expressed optimism that such facility is also established in Nigeria.

Gladys Alex Hart, appreciated Samsung and NLNG for the rare experience and promised to utilise the skill to the benefit of the industry and the country at large.

Gladys, however appealed to the authorities to engage them in the industry, so that the precious skill does not fade away.