The Executive Secretary of the Board, Simbi Wabote, revealed
this on the sideline of a media conference in Abuja announcing the 2023
Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair.
The yearly conference which will hold in Bayelsa State is
themed; ‘The Oil and Gas Industry: Catalyst and Fuel for the Industrialisation
of Nigeria.’
According to Wabote, the proposed 1.2 million gas cylinder
production annually is the Federal Government’s push towards achieving 70 per
cent local content in the oil and gas sector by 2027.
“Currently, Niygas been able to achieve 50 per cent local
content, and NCDMB and NLNG are currently partnering to grow it up to 70 per
cent in the area of local production of gas cylinders to curb importation,” he
said.
Although he did not mention how much fund has been set aside
for the project, Wabote stressed that talks were being ramped up to begin the
process as soon as possible.
The executive secretary added that it was able achieve 50
per cent local content with the NLNG’s Train 7 gas project, adding that the
proposed Train 8 would be another avenue through which the country would reach
70 per cent local participation.
He however added that it was impossible for Nigeria to
attain 100 per cent local content, as it would still have to depend on the rest
of the world for technologies that could not be sourced in-country.
Wabote said the board’s goal is to use the NOGOF conference
to promote, drive and showcase more business opportunities in the Nigerian oil
and gas sector.
“We believe that this year’s theme is important as it fuels
the need for industrialisation and development of the Nigerian economy.
“In the past, virtually every project in the oil and gas
sector was done outside the country, but as of today, we have been able to
retain 54 per cent of such projects in-country in terms of value and monetary,”
he said.
According to him, this year’s conference will include
technical and opportunity session, networking, and awards ceremony.