Competency among indigenous oil servicing companies attracts American accreditation

Competency among Nigerian oil servicing firms is growing and attracting international accreditations, especially from American institutions, providing room for greater global competiveness and access to big ticket projects in country and offshore.

Acquiring those  accreditations  emboldens them to   launch  out  and  compete  for  jobs outside Nigeria without fear of being seen as  lacking  competency  to do the  jobs.

Some   of the companies that have  been accredited by the  American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)  stand tall among  the local  fabrication yards in the country  because they are now qualified to go to Europe, America and Australia to mention a few, to  get  jobs in the oil and gas industries in those area.

Companies that have achieved such feat in the country are not many.  There are six companies in the country that are in this category. These include MG Vowgas limited, Nestoil, Dorman long, NigerDock and Globe Star.  Getting accredited by ASME is a show of the confidence international organisations has in respect of the quality of works or jobs Nigerian companies can do.

Of all these companies, MG Vowgas Limited has a unique experience in getting accredited in the sense that it is the only indigenous company without any technical partner or expatriates to get accredited. All those that worked towards getting the accreditation are Nigerians.

The new status creates job opportunities as this puts the company in good standing to secure more projects from both oil and gas operators and even beyond the industry. With a sound technical presentation and the recent addition to its profile, companies that would need the services of the MG Vowgas  would have their confidence reinforced in its ability to carry out jobs in the area of fabrication  of pressure vesels and other  industrial needs to the desired quality and standards.

Generally, the accreditation reassures clients that the companies so accredited have been tested and that if the job is given to them they would do it according to specified standards.

From the design to the material list there are simple procedures that must be followed using the ASME manual, aside from this there is a third party that is called authorised agency which must certify the processes. The agency is authorised by ASME board which gives them stamps and also certificate to regulate whatever the companies that get the accreditation are doing.

MG Vowgas limited is now an internationally acclaimed manufacturer of pressure Vessel which is very critical to the operations of oil and gas companies. It also has the capacity to build boilers that can be used by power plants, breweries, refineries and Beverage companies.

Another important dimension to this is that the company can also fabricate Dish head press that no company in the country has ever done.  Most time Dish head press are imported and configured into pressure vessel after they must been fabricated in- country. This is in addition to the welding technology that is automated that company has acquired.

According to Godwin Izomor, group managing director of MG Vowgas limited, “Nigerians must believe they can make it. I believe that Nigeria will be great because we have what it takes but the support of the government is needed and this can only happen by putting in place infrastructure, security and electricity.

According  to certificate of authorisation which was signed and authorised on June 29, 2018  and which was presented to MG Vowgas  Limited by the  National  Board of  Boiler and Pressure Vessels Inspectors states  thus: the named company is authorised by the American Society  of  Mechanical Engineers ASME)  for the scope of activity below in accordance with the  applicable rules of  the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. It expires on June 29, 2021,

The use of the certification marks and the authority granted by the certification of authorization are subject of the provision of the agreement set forth in the applications.  Any construction stamped with the certification mark shall have been built strictly in accordance with the provision of ASME Boiler and Pressure Code.

Godwin Izomor said the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) should identify Nigerian companies that are doing well and  ensure they are given jobs. He said the company cannot continue to borrow from banks to pay salaries about 50 per cent of ZabaZaba and Bonga Southwest  projects he said should be handled by indigenous companies.

To help the NCDMB achieve $14 billion planned to be retained in the country in the next 10 years using local resources to develop local content in country, indigenous companies must also be given the necessary support, he said.

Olusola Bello