Bayelsa State
Government has indicated its readiness to provide the enabling environment for
the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas Project to achieve its set objectives.
Governor Seriake
Dickson stated this while exchanging views the Board and management team of
BLNG, who visited him at Government House, Yenagoa.
Describing the
project as a centre of gravity for the development of the state, the Governor,
who was represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd)
expressed confidence in the team and called for enduring partnership between
all critical stakeholders in the project.
To demonstrate its commitment
to the project, Governor Dickson noted that his administration is prioritizing
the Nembe-Brass road and the development of a deep seaport in the state.
According to him,
the design of the road will make provision for the construction of a railway on
the long term to connect the state to commercial centres such as Onitsha.
Governor Dickson
who identified lack of communication as the cause of hostilities between some
oil majors and their host communities called on BLNG not to concentrate all of
its activities especially fabrication facilities in Brass Island.
Commending the
company for its training programmes, Hon. Dickson urged the BLNG to complement
his administration’s efforts at giving specialized training to more youths in
areas such as underwater welding with a view to making them relevant for the
project.
The Governor
acknowledged BLNG’s recognition of the relevance of the Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board, pointing out that the activities of the board
could lead to a multiplier effect that would actually accommodate grievances
that might be expressed by some of the host communities.
Speaking earlier,
the Chairman of the Board of Brass Liquefied Natural Gas, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki
expressed hope that the project would take-off on or before the end of the
first quarter of 2013.
According to Dr.
Gaius- Obaseki, the final investment decision (FID) will be taken soon even as
he called on all stakeholders to collaborate effectively to achieve this
target.
In his
presentation, the Managing Director of BLNG, Mr. Lorenzo Di Lorenzo said
contracts for the construction of Gas Trains Engineering and Procurement,
Onshore and Offshore works including loading facilities have been awarded to Bechtel.
Mr. Lorenzo listed
the shareholders of BLNG to include NNPC (49%), Eni (17%), Conoco Philips (17%)
and Total (17%).
The Managing
Director noted that the project when operational, will not only provide
sustainable development for local communities in the Niger Delta, but also
complement Federal Government’s gas flare-down policy and buy into global Kyoto
Protocol Objectives.
According to him,
BLNG has so far trained over 125 technicians at the Petroleum Training
Institute, Effurun, warri in Delta State as well as built a community
information centre and a health facility at Twon-Brass as part of its corporate
social responsibility.
While calling for
support from all shareholders, Mr. Lorenzo suggested that a team to be led by
the Chairman and GMD of BLNG will meet with the Minister of Petroleum Resources
with the aim of resolving all outstanding upstream and downstream related
issues.
Daniel
Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press
Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
06/09/2012
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