Samsung Receives Best Offshore Oil & Gas Development Facilities Company Award at NIES

In addition to winning Forbes' Best of Africa Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities Development Award at the prestigious 7- star Burj Al Arab, Dubai, Samsung Heavy Industries' construction of the SHI-MCI Yard, West Africa's most advanced fabrication and integration yard involving an investment of 300 million dollars was reaffirmed once more as it was declared as the winner of the Best Offshore Oil & Gas Development Facilities Company Award at Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) Award.

This award was conferred on the company at the fifth NIES held on 28th February in Abuja by Mr. Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, Niger Republic's Minister of Petroleum, Energy, and Renewable Energies.

The representative of SHIN, David Inglis passed on SHIN's appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria and its Agencies for their effort to support foreign investors. He also noted that the company is fully focused on resuming a full operation in the Yard and forecasted that the future is well lit for Samsung in Nigeria and Africa in general with all major and exciting oil and gas projects expected to come on stream in the coming years.

David also noted that Africa's first fabrication and integration of topside modules for Egina FPSO was carried out at the SHI-MCI yard for the first time in Nigeria. 'The delivery of the Egina FPSO is the largest ship to ever enter any African port, it has established Africa as the host to one of the world's largest oil and gas projects for the first time, with the Egina oil field producing 200,000 barrels of oil per day, close to 10% of Nigeria's total oil production.'

He added that over 6 years, SHIN has trained over 600 Nigerians from disadvantaged backgrounds in a comprehensive welding qualification program, in Samsung's Welding Qualification Centre at SHI-MCI. In addition, SHIN had employed over 2,500 Nigerians during the peak of the Egina project. This has moved the dial in practical terms- with the local contribution levels rising from sub 1% to over 25%.

In total, SHIN has provided an economic contribution of 1.6 billion USD which along with the yard allows it to fuel the local economy, creating an eco-system by also catering for the local existing small and medium manufacturing suppliers in Nigeria.

David said that the Award is proof that various shipbuilding and offshore projects can be carried out at the Yard and Samsung will be able to invest further in future projects in the coming year. He emphasized that SHIN remains committed to continuing to create and deliver mega marine projects in Nigeria.

According to David, the company also believes in, “a future where the combination of Korean efficiency and expertise, fused with Nigerian talent and passion, presents limitless possibilities for the future of shipbuilding, repairing and maintaining high value-added ships to serve the needs in Africa and beyond.”