By AS Nigeria celebrates its 65th Independence Anniversary, Chevron companies in Nigeria are proud of their partnership and contributions to the nation’s social and economic development. Through over six decades of operations, Chevron Nigeria has continued to make significant investments that have helped generate socio-economic progress in communities across the country.
The Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Jim Swartz, explained the business perspective: “At Chevron Nigeria, we strive to build lasting relationships to help enable human progress now and into the future. Chevron has a long commitment to Nigeria. We have been making significant investments here for over 60 years, contributing to the country’s growth and development.”
According to Jim, “Chevron Nigeria produces oil and natural gas from various fields, supplying domestic and international markets, while utilising natural gas to produce diesel and naphtha. The joint venture between Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (the NNPCL/CNL JV) is one of the largest natural gas suppliers to Nigeria’s domestic market and remains a leader in maximising the supply of on-spec gas for domestic and regional markets.”
He highlighted Chevron Nigeria’s recent efforts to position itself for a new phase of sustained production and growth, which include:
· Committing to further exploration by converting its joint venture and deepwater leases under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
· Executing infill drilling programmes to improve the current production base.
· Signing a 20-year renewal for four deepwater leases.
· Planning infill drilling to mitigate decline in its Agbami and non-operated Usan hubs, and supporting the maturation of the Owowo development.
· Entering into Oil Prospecting License 215 to boost deepwater development opportunities.
· Completing seismic data acquisition across several deepwater leases to position for future exploration.
· Making a near-field discovery with the successful drilling of the Meji NW-1 appraisal well.
Jim added that Chevron Nigeria has successfully led and invested in major initiatives, including the Deep Water Agbami project, which has produced over one billion barrels of oil, and the development of the Escravos Gas Plant. This facility has enabled the reduction of gas flaring and includes the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) plant, which produces high-quality diesel. Furthermore, Chevron led the development of the approximately 700-kilometre West African Gas Pipeline, through which Nigeria supplies gas to Benin, Togo, and Ghana, boosting regional economic development.
“We prioritise local content and human capacity building, with over 90% of our workforce in the country being Nigerian. We also provide contract opportunities to Nigerian companies in all our projects. Chevron supports the PIA, and we commend the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the oil and gas industry for growth,” Jim stated.
Olusoga Oduselu, Chevron Nigeria’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, highlighted the company’s focus on community development in the Niger Delta through its legacy Global Memorandum of Understanding, the current Host Community Development Trusts, and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
According to Olusoga, “Chevron Nigeria’s social investment footprint extends beyond its areas of operation. Among other health initiatives, we built and donated a DNA molecular laboratory to the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, a facility significant for medical research in Nigeria. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we donated a PCR laboratory to Warri Central Hospital to support Delta State, in addition to other industry collaborations. We have also implemented health initiatives such as Roll Back Malaria, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, and awareness programmes for river blindness.”
In its deep offshore operations, Chevron Nigeria has continued to implement projects in health, education, and socio-economic development across Nigeria. For instance, Star Deep Water Petroleum Company Limited (a Chevron company) and its Agbami field partners have invested in the fight against Tuberculosis (TB) by constructing and equipping chest clinics. To date, twenty-eight such clinics, fully equipped with standard X-ray machines, wards, treatment rooms, laboratories, and GeneXpert machines, have been completed across the country. The Agbami partners have also donated nine mother-and-child healthcare centres and one medical diagnostics laboratory. Several of these facilities proved useful for the COVID-19 response during the pandemic.
Chevron Nigeria continues to support education in the Niger Delta and across the country through infrastructure development, capacity building, and scholarships. These include the NNPC/CNL JV’s national university scholarship, a community scholarship for secondary and tertiary students from its operational areas, and awards for visually impaired students. Over 23,000 people have benefitted from these programmes, which include post-graduate scholarships for community scholars at Nigerian and foreign universities.
Since the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professional Scholarship programme inception in 2009, over 16,500 students from every state in Nigeria have benefitted, with 715 graduating with first-class degrees. Chevron Nigeria and its Deepwater partners have also invested in education infrastructure, executing 39 science laboratory complexes and 25 conventional and hybrid libraries across the country. Furthermore, Chevron and its partners undertake a wide range of activities to encourage student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Chevron Corporation has sponsored global health and environmental initiatives that impact Nigeria. These include a contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which has provided antiretroviral therapy, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and supported TB case detection in Nigeria. As part of its environmental conservation efforts, Chevron Nigeria built and donated the Lekki Conservation Centre to the Nigerian Conservation Foundation in 1992. The 78-hectare facility has become a centre of excellence for environmental research and education, serving as a sanctuary for the rich flora and fauna of the Lekki Peninsula. CNL also sponsors the Junior Tennis tournament, the National Arts competition, and other cultural activities.
Chevron Nigeria is optimistic about the future of the oil and gas business in Nigeria. As the Chairman and Managing Director emphasised: “Chevron remains committed to our partnership in ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operations in Nigeria and delivering a reliable, ever-cleaner, and efficient energy supply for Nigeria, the West African region, and the world.”
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