Soaring like an eagle in the Nigerian oil and gas sector is Vandrezzer Energy Services Limited. A first encounter with the name seems to speak of a German root but, VANDREZZER is a Nigerian company which has passionately embraced the local content initiative which has imbued it with the vision to excel.

VANDREZZER, which started business in 2005 sits on an expansive property which includes a fabrication yard and an office facility. In the fabrication department, scores of men kitted with the company’s orange coloured coverall, safety boots and hard hats decode and put together iron and steel in a manner that meets the clients’ need.

It is one of the country’s first indigenous engineering-procurement-construction-installation (EPCI) companies with a great wealth of experience in upstream projects for the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and West Africa. It has developed in-country capabilities to handle Turnkey EPCI projects.

Its expertise spans from conceptual studies, FEED and detailed engineering design; through procurement, fabrication and installation of pipelines, production facilities and Wellhead Jackets in onshore and offshore locations. In fact, VANDREZZER prides itself as the first indigenous company to develop a well head jacket from conception to finish-engineering design, fabrication, construction and installation.

Speaking at a ground-breaking event of the company in Port Harcourt, its CEO, Mr. Joe Udofia  had this to say: ‘ this occasion marks five years of our astronomical growth which also reflects our vision, passion and dogged determination to excel against all odds  highlighting our cutting-edge facilities, equipment, techniques and above all our extremely competent workforce of highly skilled professionals.

For this astronomical growth, he gives credit to the Nigerian Content Development Initiative, a Federal Government policy established through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to positively reposition indigenous companies among which VANDREZZER is not only a beneficiary but also a leading brand.

At the moment, VANDREZZER is the sole contractor for handling of the OML-90 Field Development Project. On this achievement Udofia said: ‘We must collectively acknowledge as an industry that this is the first time an indigenously owned Nigerian company is solely handling an EPCI project of this nature –  from FEED and Detailed Engineering Design, through Procurement, to Construction, which is the stage we currently are,  and to the forthcoming Installation.

He continued, ‘The Wellhead Jacket are testimonials for VANDREZZER’s competence and credibility as an indigenous EPCI service provider with proven capabilities. Indeed, it is a breakthrough for our Local Content Initiative.

It is a great feat that the entire energy, oil and gas industry and by extension the whole of Nigeria should celebrate because, as a matter of fact, it clearly signals that amidst our trials and challenges, there is a great hope for our beloved country Nigeria. VANDREZZER has demonstrated that as Nigerians we can do it and do it with excellence in total quality, safety and social responsibility.

The OML90 Field Development Project included the design from FEED to the construction of a Wellhead Monopod Jacket and a 6” x 15km Concrete-coated Pipeline Installation that is 10km from Akepo-1 Well to the beach-approach at a water-depth of 27 feet; and then running 5km from the beach-approach to the Benigboye flow station. This is a project that has been executed with excellent attention and care given to the health, safety and security of both our human resources and the environment.

And it also proves our high performance in corporate social responsibility considering that as typical of all our projects and practices, we have carried the various communities along as and when due such that we have neither recorded any incidence of crisis nor conflicts with the communities where we have performed our operations, nor are we likely to face any as we forge ahead in our future endeavours.

In addition, We have just launched a youth development initiative as part of our CSR commitment towards the development of youths in all our host communities. VANDREZZER believes that our youths are future leaders, the future of our nation.

On growth landmarks, he said ‘we were selected by SPDC in 2009 to attend the Shell/UKTI Engagement Programme in London as part of her commitment towards the development of promising indigenous contractors. This opportunity and exposure proved to be a key stride in our growth profile and spurred us on towards greater achievements.’

Speaking on local content, Udofia had this to say ‘it has been an integral, sustainable part of our brand DNA. It empowers the stakeholders especially our respective host communities. As a reputable brand of ECPI-service provider operating in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region as well as a market-leader in the maximization of the Nigerian Content Development Initiative, we are glad to seize this occasion and assert that indeed: Local Content Initiative Empowers Nigeria and Nigerians!

It was not only Joe Udofia who spoke and applauded the strides made by Nigerian companies towards achieving full Nigerian Content goals. Mr. Ernest Nwapa, CEO of Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board [NCDMB], while delivering a key-note address at the occasion, said he was awed by the vision and passion that VANDREZZER has brought to the quest to realize the full potentials of Nigerian Content, citing what he has witnessed at both Abuja, Lagos and Warri by Nigerian companies.

The encomiums on VANDREZZER continued when Igo Weli, GM, Local Content at Shell Petroleum & Development Company [SPDC], corroborated Mr. Udofia’s statement, regarding SPDC’s recognition of VANDREZZER’s capabilities, while Seyi Adeleye, representing SOGENAL/OANDO/EXILE RESOURCES [SOE JV], the principal on OML-90, informed the gathering that, it was VANDREZZER’s co-operation, that ensured the JV to achieve the feat witnessed by all.

In VANDREZZER’s employment are about 50 professionals and 250 support staff, Nigerians, recruited across various professional fields.