House at Onne Free Zone, lauds INTELS’ high operational standards

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Relocation has commended the management of INTELS Nigeria Limited for building an oil and gas Free Trade Zone and sustaining high standards in its operations.

Ibrahim Isiaka, chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee, who led 12 members of the Committee on a tour of INTELS facility at the Onne Free Zone in Rivers State recently, expressed satisfaction with the facility at the zone.

“I am impressed. This is an environment I lived and have seen a lot of improvement especially in the expansion of the oil and gas Free Zone. I am highly impressed with the facility on ground, the newly acquired Big Mama Crane, the mother of all cranes you have for lifting operations; so all we need do is to gain back the confidence in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria so that all these idle vessels, idle hands, idle facilities will become operational again.”

According to Isiaka, the Ad-hoc Committee was set up to prevent the relocation of SPDC from Rivers State because of the potential negative impact such move could have on the Niger-Delta region and the national economy as well.

“Nobody should be talking about any major oil company leaving Rivers State because the consequences can be severe. It has a negative implication, so no one should think about it. No one should think about leaving an environment like this. They should just look at grey areas and have them resolved. And that is why the House is going to intervene,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Chibuisi Onyebueke, head of Administration and General Services of INTELS, who conducted the lawmakers round the Onne Free Zone, said the company developed a “One-Stop-Shop” concept to provide top class logistics service to operators.

Onne Free Zone, he said, which was developed by INTELS, provides a wide range of services needed for all kinds of drill and exploration projects in the oil and gas industry in the sub-Sahara Africa. He listed the services to include pipe coating and modifications, sub-sea installations, logistics, accommodation, catering and helipad, even as it proposed to build an airstrip.

Onyebueke said INTELS also provides port services and have attracted much needed investment into Nigeria in addition to creating thousands of jobs for Nigerians.

“We operate with the highest global safety and security standards that are obtainable in the industry such that all INTELS’ facilities are fully compliant with provisions of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

He said that INTELS, has an edge over other oil and gas free zones on the African continent because of its wealth of experience that spans over three decades, and they include proximity to concessioned blocks for oil and gas exploration, strategic location to serve as a regional hub and highly trained and skilled workforce.

“Onne is the only port in the country that has the capacity to provide series of oil and gas logistics services all at one place. The service include clearing and forwarding, drilling support, support vessels and working boats, tubular stocking and machine shop, pipe coating, cement and drilling fluids services, wellhead and subsea equipment, environmental services, dry dock/ship builders, machinery and catering services and among others,” he explained.

Onyebueke assured the House Committee that INTELS implements the most reputable international standards that include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ABS Quality, which are unmatched in the maritime and oil and gas industries.

He also told the lawmakers that in line with the Local Content Act, INTELS is fully committed to maximising the use of Nigerian human resources, materials, equipment and services in its operations without compromising the company’s values, quality, health, safety and environmental standards.

“INTELS has continued to enhance the participation of Nigerian businesses and local contractors in its operations in compliance with the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010.

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie