The disclosure followed the official commencement and exchange of documents between Dateline Energy Services Limited and NDL Dockyard, concretising the construction of a 4,000 metric ton LPG in Lagos.
During the signing, it was disclosed that NDL built three seaward defence boats (SDBs) in the last two decades, in addition to two others underway, as well as maintenance and repair of over 60 naval vessels during the period.
Yesterday’s ceremony was significant in the sense that it would strengthen and pave the way for further localisation of construction of other oil and gas vessels.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dateline Energy, Wilson Opuwei, said: “The relationship between Dateline and NDL is to kick off the concept that happened from the product of our brainchild.
We look at the opportunity around the maritime and the gas industry value chain, and consider the disconnect between producing companies and the challenges they face for evacuating the products, especially the ones that will go on to create processing units from natural gas to LPG. So, we thought of coming in and doing something that will be more beneficial.”
While we produce for export, we must also fulfill domestic market obligations by providing pipeline solution for the movement of gas resources within the scope of the gas to be convene by our fleets of barge which include LPG, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compress Natural Gas (CNG). This partnership is the first of its kinds in Africa. This venture will also include DSL investing towards developing storage facilities for LPG starters with waterfront location; we will be doing marine components and also locations we have vehicular terminals where vehicles can come and off-take the products being produced.
He added: “We have designed our barge to be of a shallow draft of 3.5 metres which, means that the barge can transverse all the way to the northern part of Nigeria. The first phase, we are targeting $200 million portfolio which will have us working in the facility for the next 20 years, create 16,000 jobs in the first phase and the next phase we will be able to engage another 20,000. The Nigerian economy we feel is open, but we need to have the right kind of conversation where it’s easier for investors to make their money and take their funds out upon the completion of such business and indigenous players bringing its own resources and make profits.
Speaking on how the partnership will affect the price of the project in the market, he said: “Once we have activities around the value chain, the market forces we determine the prices.
Speaking also, Superintendent, Naval Dockyard, Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu “The Naval Dockyard has been commerciallised since 2013 and the Dockyard has built three seaward defense for the Nigeria Navy; NNS Andoni; NNS Karaduwa and NNS Orji; these are warships so, NDL is well positioned, have what it takes to deliver this project. Everything will be done to meet international standards. Part of what we are trying to achieve is to showcase the competence of the yard and to also let Nigerians know that there is in-country capacity to do most of the things we do abroad. The Naval Dockyard is a force multiplier that can save the nation a lot of foreign exchange and the excess capacity we have can be used to serve the larger maritime community.
