GE starts fabricating subsea wellheads in Nigeria
US energy service firm, General Electric (GE) takes to manufacturing subsea wellheads in Nigeria. GE has been operating in Nigeria for over 40 years with varied businesses ranging from aviation and power generation to healthcare and oil and gas. The firm has also started harnessing local talents in expanding its capabilities.
According to GE Oil and Gas Chief Operating Officer (COO), Uzochi Nwagwu, GE is seeking to increase the competitiveness of the solutions for the Nigerian oil and gas industry, and thus, locally manufacturing subsea wellhead fabrication will give Nigeria-based operators the opportunity to buy locally, avoid delivery-related delays and save on cost while supporting the growth of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry
According to Nwagwu, Onne is a facility that was built back in 2002, the facility it is the first and only quayside facility of its calibre in Nigeria, with an exceptional safety record, and is a cornerstone in GE’s commitment to country’s oil and gas industry, which continually expanding capabilities, the site provides complete assembly, testing and life cycle service for subsea tree systems, subsea control modules, specialty connectors and pipe. The facility also includes a dedicated on-site training centre and offers broad business development opportunities for local suppliers.
Meanwhile, the new multi-model manufacturing and service facility in Calabar, a free-trade zone city in the coastal southeastern Nigeria, will serve as a regional hub for GE oil and gas as well as other GE industrial businesses, which include training facilities to enable knowledge transfer and career advancement opportunities for local talents, added Nwagwu.
Moreover, GE is collaborating with the Government technical college, Calabar to develop academic programnes to prepare students for opportunity to work at this facility.
Nwagwu said, GE has signed agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria to support the financing, design and building of infrastructure and capacity across key sectors of the economy, including rail, power and healthcare.