Saipem at 50: Kachikwu urges Nigeria to look beyond oil

Managing Director, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Massimo Insula (left); Executive Director, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Monitoring Board, Engr, Simbi Wabote; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Global Chief Executive Officer, Saipem, Stefano Cao and Managing Director, Saipen Nigeria, Guido D’aloisio at the 50th Anniversary of Saipem in Nigeria at Eko Hotel in Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

We are fit for the future, says Stefano

Saipem, the engineering, procurement, project management and construction outfit has promised more contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth, as it marked 50 years anniversary.

At the event graced by many business moguls, including Aliko Dangote, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, Chairman Saipem Nigeria, Justin Olabode Emmanuel, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources , Ibe Kachikwu, Minority Whip of the Nigerian House of Representatives who represented the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, The Deputy Managing Director Total DeepWater District Ahmadu-Kida MUSA, Secretary of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, Gbolahan Lawal, among others

Kachikwu who was one of the speakers, said: “There is a huge challenge for Nigeria and we must learn from the Gulf country, which began nicely with oil and then moved away to begin to carve new world for future generation. But countries like Nigeria, which are still producing every oil they find, without leaving any reserve must take a cue from that.”

Companies that are able to situate there businesses here and look into tomorrow and show us how to produce oil in the ways that is extensible, and where technology can drive businesses for tomorrow must be commended for doing a great job.

“Saipem was a reoccurrence decimal while I was in a in private sector oil industry and whenever we bead, there were some worries that Saipem turn out to be the winner of those contracts but the reality is that the bead system allows for efficiency, it recognises capacity and the ability to raise financing, and in some of these areas, Saipem has been outstanding. I look at the work the company is doing at Dangote refinery and i am absolutely fascinated and also enthused in term of the possibilities that exist.

Urging the firm to diversify and consider assisting Nigeria refine its crude oil, the minister said, “we are calling on Saipem to move from contracting to exploration and production, to invest more on facilities that are essential to the growth of Nigeria and also continue focus on training the people within the oil producing communities. The reality in the last two year is that, unless you are able to manage the oil producing communities and putting in sufficient number of investment to calm the nerve of people around that area, oil production will continue to suffer. We have managed to calm the nerves, but we still have a lot to do in one and half year to come and we must also continue to bring development to the Niger Delta and calm the nerves of those who believe they have entitlement to the resources. He said

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Saipem, Stefano Cao who referred to Nigeria as the fundamental base for the company, said, “Our commitment to development, training and continuous improvement for the last 50 years have remained solid. We have consciously executed number of projects with the deliberate and progressive involvement of Nigerians in all aspect.

Currently, we employ over two thousand Nigerians with different expertise. For us and the future of the company, we must continue to be the organisation that cares about both the young and old people who have been creating the base for our growth and the success of the company in Nigeria and in other countries.

Saipem relationship with Nigeria has been more than beautiful; we see ourselves as a part of the family.

On the current crisis in the oil and gas industry, he said “We must take advantage of the current crisis in the industry, not letting it to defeat us. We have to change our mentality and ways of doing things by developing new technologies. We have to make the development of the oil and gas resources possible at a much lower cost to the advantage of our client and the oil industry.

Speaking with The Guardian, Managing Director of Saipem, Guido D’Alosio said, “I am very glad, grateful and very proud because it is not usual that a company manage to stay running for 50 years; Saipem is really part of the history of the oil and gas business in Nigeria, I say this in a very humble way and also in a firm mind because we really think that we have contributed to the development of this country and we are grateful to Nigerians for their hospitality since we began in 1957.

He added, there is a lot we can say about what we have done and achieved in this country. Along the line, we have made a lot of friends here and people have been able to feed their families through their work with Saipem.

We have the second or third generation of people working with us; they have become part of our family. Today, even after this long period of crisis, we still represent an important part of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria so, for us; these are distinctive element of proudness.

Moving forward, he said, “we have two distinguishing element in our business model; we have a lot of investment in Nigeria, we have the major fabrication yard in Rumuolumeni, Port-Harcourt and we have human capital, the expertise working with us; in a sort of mixture and exchange of information across cultural exchange between Nigeria and foreigners, this is representing the major asset for us. As we look ahead, we are going to leverage on the success to make sure at the moment the crisis start moving a step further, we would be ready to play as usual our important role in this business.

We’ve been building power plant, refineries and continue to be part of major offshore project in Nigeria so, our strength is in our investment and mainly in our people. And our business model which is not the model of hires and fire; our motor for the past 50 years has been ‘here to stay’ because we are here to serve our client. We manage to grow beyond the challenges. We have faith in Nigeria, in our capability and client.

“At Saipem today, we are fit for the future. Always ready for new challenges. We are very much proud of how far we have come. But at the same time we are prepared to take on any future challenge,”

The Business development coordinator of the firm, Ugochi Ayodele, said “we have come so far and 50 year in the life of individual and corporate entities is a milestone so, we are celebrating the struggle, challenges, the success, we are also celebrating Nigeria for all the support we’ve gotten and most importantly, our staffs.

On Saipem plan for another fifty year, she said, “As a theme of this year ‘Fit For The Future’ it means we are fully ready for the future; in terms of technology, in terms of portfolio of our services, and in terms of what we stand for in Nigeria as of today, and in oil and gas industry as a whole, Saipem has positioned itself for the next fifty years and more to come.

Secretary of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, Gbolahan Lawal, said “ We are celebrating Saipem for their strength, focus and for supporting local content and the their host communities: And for their resilient for fifty years: I wish them another 50 year ahead. We believe that the project they have done so far had a great impact on local capacity and the infrastructure they have in this country speaks well about the company that it’s ready for the future.