NCDMB, Dangote Group collaborates on refinery

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Dangote Industries Limited have begun to collaborate towards ensuring maximum utilisation of local capacities and capabilities in the construction of the company’s 650,000 barrels per day petroleum refinery plant.

The company also pledged among other things, to utilise certified Nigerian service companies for the fabrication of modules, pipe coating as well as the supply of paints and cables.

In addition, the two organisations will hold technical meetings and undertake a tour of the project site to examine extensively other Nigerian Content opportunities that can be utilised on the project.

The collaboration was agreed in Lagos after the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr Simbi Wabote led a team from the Board to meet with the management of Dangote Group, led by the President, Alhalji Aliko Dangote.

Responding to the presentation made by the Wabote outlining existing Nigerian Content capacities and capabilities and how they can contribute to the refinery project, Mr Joseph Makoju, the Honorary Adviser to the President, Dangote Group, confirmed that “there are a number of opportunities for collaboration. We want to partner with you and we hope to have mutual beneficial relationships.”

Makoju noted that the company planned to set a record on Local Content accomplishment with the petrochemicals plant, which would be biggest single train refinery in the world.

He identified the Dangote Academy as another platform for collaboration, especially as the institute’s focus will be expanded beyond the cement industry, to include the petroleum industry and other key sectors that the Group operates.

Earlier in his presentation, Wabote commended the President of Dangote Group for investing in manufacturing across various sectors of the economy and creating employments for thousands of Nigerians.

He expressed confidence that the company’s foray into the downstream sector of the petroleum industry would revolutionise the sector and reverse the nation’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

The Executive Secretary informed the Dangote team that the implementation of Nigerian Content Act in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry had developed huge capacities that should be leveraged for the refinery project.