Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s drive to ramp up oil and gas production and deepen local content received a major boost as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, paid a working visit to Kaztec Engineering Limited’s Snake Island Fabrication Facility and Freezone in Lagos.
The facility, which was once forced to scale down operations due to stalled projects, is set for a revival following the Minister’s assurance that the Federal Government will prioritize indigenous capacity and revamp abandoned projects affecting local companies.
Ekpo said, “The Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to promoting local content and ensuring national energy security. We will do all that is necessary to revive critical infrastructure like this, which will ultimately help ramp up oil and gas production both for domestic use and exports.”
Ekpo was accompanied by former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and other key stakeholders.
He praised Kaztec’s patriotism, saying, “Your investment is a testimony to your belief in Nigeria. Government will not allow such effort to waste. We are here to partner with you to unlock full value.”
The visit comes amid broader efforts by the Ministry to address structural bottlenecks in the gas value chain and ensure effective implementation of the Decade of Gas agenda.
Kaztec Engineering Limited, a wholly indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Installation, Construction, and Management, EPIC-M company, has the capacity to fabricate up to 15,000 tons of steel annually and has previously employed over 2,500 direct staff, with projections to grow to 7,000 at full capacity.
Chairman of Kaztec, Sir Emeka Offor, stated that the company stands as a symbol of what Nigerians can achieve when given the right support.
“Kaztec is not just a facility; it is a vision for an indigenous-led oil and gas sector. At peak operations, this yard will be the largest EPIC company in Nigeria and the West African sub-region,” he said.
Offor also noted the yard’s potential to retain over $500 million worth of oil and gas project value in-country, stressing that a full revival of its operations would significantly reduce capital flight and create thousands of jobs for Nigerian professionals.
Kaztec’s facility houses advanced fabrication equipment and supports critical oil and gas infrastructure delivery, making it a strategic asset for Nigeria’s energy transition and industrial development.
The Minister’s visit is expected to catalyze further engagement between the government and indigenous oilfield service providers, aligning with Nigeria’s push to localize energy infrastructure and reduce overreliance on foreign contractors.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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