Solomon Ewanehi is the Group CEO of Solewant Group, a pipe/metals fabrication and coating company that provides Pipe, Metal and Field joints Coating services in support of Oil, Gas, Water, Chemical processing, Mining, refining, electric utility, transportation and marine industries. As a beneficiary of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, Mr. Ewanehi speaks with Majorwaves Energy Report on the impact of the Act on his business as well as recommended ways of improving on its implementation. Excerpts.

What is your assessment of the implementation of the NOGICD Act today?

I would say the implementation of the NOGICD Act is commendable; there is presently an increase in the volume and value of local companies’ participation in the oil and gas sector projects and contracts. Before now, indigenous companies could talk about these kind of opportunities that the present indigenous oil and gas industries have, but now our mettle have been shown in the services we have rendered in the industry by virtue of the NOGICD Act. The board has since 2013 tenaciously followed up on the guidelines issued by them to ensure the achievement of the goals of that law, and with the emergence of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) and other joint activities with stakeholders in the industry, the board looks set to achieve greater things

Can you recommend ways you think the NDCMB can improve on this mandate?

Well So far so good. However improvements will come as more awareness is created. Indeed the Act came into existence some nine years ago but not many of the players in the industry are aware of the full provisions. Awareness is a key component to improving the implementation of the Act by the NCDMB.

Are there challenges you face as a company and think government can look into to help companies in similar situation like yours?

It is important to note that the implementation of the Act is methodologically aimed at placing the ownership of key oil and gas assets in the hands of Nigerians but to some extent, this has not been so. This is where the NCDMB need to fully come in as the sole agency of government responsible to ensure broad compliance and dispel the fears in the industry that local content implementation is another toll gate so as to win the trust of industry stakeholders. We also need to keep the perception of this Act as that of support and assistance, so that every stakeholder in the industry, whether NCDMB or the indigenous oil and gas companies or even the IOCs would have a sense of belonging and own the Act.

What ways are you improving in capacity building at Solewant in order to take advantage of the opportunities unraveled at NOGOF?

Basically, NOGOF offers opportunity to meet with the IOCs and major EPC Companies and business opportunities pop up at the fair. We have always been participating and were one of the sponsors at the Akwa Ibom edition, as well as the one that held in Bayelsa state two months ago. We have an ultra modern multilayer pipe coating plant, Concrete weight coating plant and state of the art laboratory with a collection of international standard workforce made up of both local and expatriates personnel, experts in the area of the solutions that we offer to the industry. We also have satisfactorily executed and delivered major projects on schedule and within budget to project owners and we are ready for any opportunity that will come from the just concluded NOGOF.

What is the next big news we hope to hear from Solewant in the nearest future? What are your thoughts on regional integration?

Of course you are aware that we have installed an ultra-modern multilayer pipe coating plant, Concrete weight coating plant and Solewant state of the art Laboratory in Nigeria. We also have an LSAW pipe milling, to be installed and commissioned by EU plant equipment Manufacturers. The steel pipe manufacturing and metals fabrications projects are in our hands, which will manifest very soon. We have an ultimate goal of becoming a global pipe and metals solution partner to the Oil and Gas industry.
On the issue of regional integration, we have started putting out our feet in the continents as we cannot overlook the fact that we must get our services to the length and breadth of Africa as a way of supporting infrastructural development and capacity building. We have been engaging with the users and distributors of our products and solutions that we offer in sub Saharan Africa region.

Why do you think Solewant should be sought after by the IOCs and independents above other companies? What makes you tick?

We all know that successful Oil and Gas product management depends on identifying the needs and wants of the IOCs and other project owners. Presently, some upcoming deep offshore projects require high tech products and services because of the nature of the terrain where these pipeline facilities are being installed. We boast of very reliable and efficient solutions in a way that is even better than what our competitors offer.  Solewant Group is strategically positioned to provide Oil and Gas companies the unique pipes, metals, fabrication solutions and pipe coating solutions that help our clients deliver quality projects on schedule and within budget.
For instance, apart from our state-of-the-art pipe coating laboratory located at our industrial area, our multi-layer pipe coating plant is designed to provide pipe double joint coating solutions for deep offshore projects, first class EU manufactured plant equipment. The local content Act was enacted to bridge the gap in the inadequate local capacity in the Oil and Gas industry, particularly in the areas of in-country value addition and production in the Oil and Gas sector. Our ultra-modern plants in our industrial area provides a strong African presence as Nigeria is in the forefront of West African development whose major Oil and Gas facilities are presently being installed.
Tell us your human capacity plan/project in the next couple of years.
Solewant Group has a policy of training and retaining her workforce, we carry out customized trainings, capacity building and linkage programs. Our workers, because of our peculiar and proprietary services, are trained both locally and internationally to man our state-of-the-art coating plant; it is important that we have a workforce that is technically versatile and with regards to the requirements of the IOCs and other stakeholders, various international certification that are industry requirements are constantly updated to meet future requirements.