Representatives from the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) have traveled to Nigeria to engage with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in order to glean insights on how Uganda can benefit significantly from Nigeria’s expertise in local content development.
During a meeting held in Yenagoa, the director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Abdulmalik Halilu, warmly received the UNOC delegation and emphasized the potential for collaborative efforts in the oil and gas sector between Nigeria and Uganda.
Highlighting the substantial hydrocarbon resources across African nations, he stressed the importance of fostering a structured partnership to maximize mutual benefits. Halilu emphasized the necessity of a pan-African approach to local content, proposing a “local content value proposition for Africa”to enhance regional integration through optimized value chains.
Moreover, he acknowledged the industry-specific challenges that need to be addressed, underscoring the urgency of developing appropriate technologies for value addition in oil and gas operations through research and development. Halilu also emphasized the significant investment required for marine vessels, particularly in Nigeria’s deep offshore activities.
To facilitate African countries in owning essential assets, Halilu proposed the creation of a financing model. He envisioned knowledge exchange opportunities between the UNOC and NCDMB officials during the visit, expressing optimism for future collaboration and exchange programs between training institutes of both nations, supported by their respective political leadership.
Expressing gratitude for the warm reception and insightful engagements, Jessica Kyeyune, the national content specialist of UNOC, highlighted Uganda’s status as a newcomer in the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the importance of learning from Nigeria’s regulatory framework on local content. She expressed eagerness for collaboration and strategic partnerships as suggested by Halilu.
The presentations by key NCDMB personnel covered various critical aspects of the Board’s operations, including an overview of the structure and operations, local content best practices, incentive structures, financing models, and community content guidelines.
A tour of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOPaPS) aimed to familiarize the UNOC officials with NCDMB’s strategy to promote local production of equipment and tools, minimizing capital flight in the industry.
The UNOC delegation, comprising representatives from various departments, continued their engagements with NCDMB by visiting companies and project sites in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that have benefited from the Board’s intervention programs.
Uganda recently commenced drilling operations at the Kingfisher Development Area in the western region, with the first oil output expected in 2025 from the Kingfisher oil field operated by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
