NCDMB praises Brentex for $50 million steel pipe project, offers support

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has praised Brentex Petroleum Services Limited for the progress made on its Steel Pipe Induction Bending and Coating Facility at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne Port, Rivers State. They called it a landmark project that shows Nigeria’s growing position as a key player in oil and gas logistics, engineering, and manufacturing.

The Brentex Facility is a $50 million investment aimed at providing steel pipe induction bending, heat treatment, testing, and coating services for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. So far, the project has attracted over $26 million in investments and is set to be Africa’s first fully integrated plant for steel pipe induction bending and coating for sizes between 2 inches and 48 inches when finished.

During a tour of the facility at Onne Port on Thursday, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, congratulated Brentex Petroleum Services Limited on this achievement. He also assured stakeholders that the Board is committed to building local capacity, promoting industrial growth, and increasing Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.

Ogbe commended Brentex Petroleum Services Limited for its bold investment and commitment to local development. He said the company’s steady progress on the facility shows that Nigerian firms can deliver top-notch oil and gas infrastructure and engineering solutions.

The Executive Secretary, represented by Mr Esueme Dan Kikile, the Director of the Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (MED), said the Brentex Steel Pipe Induction Bending and Coating Facility is a clear response to the need for local capability in specialized pipeline engineering. He added that this project will help Nigeria retain value, create jobs, and strengthen its position as a key energy services hub in Africa.

Reflecting on the history of the company and the project, Ogbe said, “We’ve been on this journey with Brentex for over a decade. Today, we’ve seen what you are doing on ground. And that’s actually the whole idea about the equipment component manufacturing initiative of the NCDMB, in-country value addition, and you have been steadfast.”

The NCDMB boss encouraged Brentex to keep up the good work on the project and maintain high standards of quality and safety. He noted that the facility could become a leading Nigerian Content asset and a reference point for specialized pipeline engineering services throughout Africa.

“I’d like to express the Board’s deep appreciation for your investment in our country and to assure you that you have our support,” he said. He added, “Whatever we can also do to get the industry to patronize this investment, we’ll do that, because it’s very important that the industry take advantage of what we have in-country.”

In his opening remarks, Mr Chidi Nzerem, the Managing Director of Brentex Petroleum Services Limited, thanked the Executive Secretary and the NCDMB team for their visit. He described it as a strong show of confidence in the project and its role in growing local capacity.

He acknowledged the Board’s support over the past 10 years, saying their help has been crucial to the success of the facility. He added that the facility was designed to support the goals of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

Nzerem expressed hope that the Board will keep supporting them, mentioning that the facility is set to be fully operational by the last quarter of 2027. When asked by Ms Tassalla Tersurgh, the General Manager of Downstream, about the facility's contribution to human capital development, he said they would work with NCDMB after certification to create training programs that align with the Board’s mission.

He noted that the facility is expected to employ about 200 engineers and technical workers, creating job opportunities, training, skills transfer, and capacity building. The long-term goal is for the facility to be entirely operated by trained Nigerians.

Discussing the facility's importance, Patrick Anaje, the Project Manager at Brentex, said it is the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to change pipeline engineering services by providing Nigeria’s first complete local solution for steel pipe induction bending and coating. He mentioned that Brentex is also involved in the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline project, where their new capabilities will be very useful.

He added that since about 95 percent of steel pipes are currently imported, the facility will allow operators to find specialized pipe induction bending, coating, and repair services locally. This will cut down on reliance on foreign suppliers, reduce delays and costs, and improve operational efficiency in the oil and gas industry. He also stated that the project will help the national economy by keeping industry value in Nigeria.

The event was attended by top officials from NCDMB, executives from Brentex Petroleum Services Limited, industry stakeholders, project consultants, contractors, representatives from the Onne and Ogu communities, members of the Community Liaison Committee (CLC), and the media, who all witnessed the significant progress made on this important Nigerian Content project.