In International Shipping News 13/07/2016
Source: The Nation Online Magazine
Five of the six ships ordered by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) Limited have arrived in the country, it has been learnt.
The vessels, including the one yet to be delivered, will help boost maritime trade.
The ships, findings revealed, were bought for $1.6 billion. They have increased NLNG’s fleet to 23, the highest by any company in the country.
The acquisition, according to a Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT) official, is imperative to the realisation of the objective of the Local Content Act.
According to the official, it is lamentable that despite being the largest producer of crude oil in Africa with a capacity to produce 2.5 million barrels per day, Nigeria does not participate in the exploration, development, production and shipment of its energy products.
“This is mainly due to lack of developed shipping infrastructure and fleet, a situation that the NLNG is set to correct,” he said, adding that Nigeria is the only oil-producing country that does not have its own fleet “whereas Angola, which recently joined the oil producing countries, has a fleet.
The official said the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Cabotage and Local Content Acts were sufficient to reverse the trend.
“We all know that there is urgent need for this administration, through Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and NIMASA to take a bold position on indigenous participation in lifting of crude oil,” he said.
The government, he said, may use Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), such as the NLNG Model to own and control at least 25 per cent equity in vessels handling Nigeria’s oil and gas export.
“This is economically expedient and will reduce the country’s total dependence on foreign vessels to freight her cargoes to customers across the globe,”he said.
NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Mr Tony Okonedo, confirmed the vessels’ delivery, saying:
“All 23 LNG vessels will be utilised on an integrated scheduling. They will load at NLNG’s terminal in Bonny for ex-ship deliveries to buyers in the Middle and Far East, Asia, Europe, South America, and Gulf of Mexico, including ports in Mexico and the United States (US). The LPG vessel is utilised for LPG delivery in the Nigerian markets.
“Training of Nigerians in the acquisition of Dual Fuel Diesel Engine (DFDE) vessels experience commenced in 2014 and included cross-posting to companies managing this class of vessels, shipboard experiences on board DFDE vessels, and deployment to shipyards.”
Sixty Nigerians, Okonedo said, were involved in the ship building process. He told The Nation that Samsung built four out of the six while Hyundai built two for the NLNG.
He said: “They are Nigerian ships, ordered and built for Nigerians. The Nigerian Content Act is very important to us. The ships are part of the new generation ships and their acquisition would make Nigeria a big time maritime player.
“What we want is the rapid development of the nation’s maritime industry and NIMASA is expected to assist in that direction.”
The NLNG, he said, could produce 22 million metric tonnes of liquefied gas yearly. The firm purchases its gas supply from the upstream oil companies and liquefies it for export.
Source: The Nation Online Magazine
