The following story was published by Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, July 11, 2013. To view the original publication, please click here. To view a photo gallery of the signing ceremony, please click here.
KAZTEC, Shell sign $84.5m Trans-Niger pipeline project
Written by Thursday, 11 July 2013
IN an attempt to provide lasting solutions to frequent attacks on Trans-Niger pipeline located along the creeks of the Niger Delta, Shell National Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria (SNEPCO) has awarded the contract to a leading indigenous engineering firm.
KAZTEC Engineering announced that it has officially signed the EPC TRANS-NIGER pipeline project with Shell worth $84.5 million.
The company made this disclosure in a statement signed by Mr Paul Abiagom, Manager, Graphics Design Trainee of Chrome Group and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, in Lagos.
The statement stated that KAZTEC formally signed package 1 of the EPC Trans-Nigeria pipeline loop line project for SNEPCO.
According to the statement, “this is the first major project to be executed by Kaztec Engineering Limited for Shell, the cost of the contract is $84.5 million and contract period is one year.”
The event took place at the SPDC office, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with high-powered delegations from both parties in attendance.
The objective of the project is to construct a 3-inch, 58-kilometre loop line from the Ogale manifold to Bonny Terminal, in the South-South region of Nigeria.
SNEPCO had been experiencing challenges of crude oil theft with the current Trans-Niger project.
Abiagom said that the project, which has been divided into three phases, was seen by SNEPCO and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) as a matter of necessity.
He said that Kaztec Engineering was to undertake Package 1, having been chosen on the strength of its recent track record in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kaztec Engineering Ltd, Ikechukwu Okpala, assured SNEPCO of on-time delivery and quality.
The statement said that the signing of the contract was done by the General Manager, Offshore and Shallow Water Projects, SNEPCO, Mr Toyin Olagunju; Executive Chairman, KAZTEC, Mr Emeka Offor; Mrs Chioma Ogunuka, the Contracting and Procurement Lead Pipeline Projects of SNEPCO, and the COO of KAZTEC, Mr Ikechukwu Okpala.
The General Manager, SNEPCO, Mr Toyin Olagunju, said that he looked forward to the successful completion of the project.
Olagunju called for world-class performance on all aspects of the project, with particular attention on health, safety and environment.
He advocated for zero-incident execution of the project.
In his remarks, the executive chairman of Kaztec Engineering Ltd, Mr Emeka Offor, declared that SNEPCO could rest assured of KEL‘s commitment to deliver on, and even surpass all expectations of the project.
He said he was glad to join the Shell family, and looked forward to a productive partnership in the years to come.
It may be recalled that Trans Niger pipeline transports 150,000 barrels of crude oil to Bonny terminal for export.
The pipeline has been a major target for pipeline vandals and it was re-opened on Friday after it was shut down when ruptured by vandals on June 07, 2013.
