By Yemie Adeoye

TOTAL Premier Services Nigeria Limited, TPSNL, has concluded plans to invest $10 million (about N1.5billion) in the building of a modern welding plant at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, FTZ in Rivers State.

The proposed project is designed to consolidate $2.6 million investment initially made in the purchase and development of a 15,000 sq. metre pipe yard in the Onne FTZ, to stock, manage and maintain customer’s materials until called out to the rigs.

The proposed project being undertaken  by TPSNL in collaboration with  NOV XL Systems, in compliance with the Nigerian Content Act,  will result in the emergence of the first in_country double ended fabrication facility for large diameter conductor.

The Chairman of TPSNL, Mr. James Simmons, announced during interaction with newsmen in Lagos that the new investment will help to consolidate the company’s steady investment in the Nigerian oil and gas industry in the last nine years. He added that the welding facility will employ mainly Nigerians that possess the required skills.

Workers will include high level welding technicians, machine operators, NDT technicians, Field service engineers, Supporting requirements, plant manager, supervisors, Operations, administration, security and drivers among others.

“In recognition of the importance of the government campaign on empowering Nigerians, TPSNL has consistently maintained a 100 per cent team of Nigerian workforce without any expatriate and we value their competencies,” he said

Simmons said in support of the Nigerian Content drive the company periodically reviews its personnel resources and continuously makes strategic additions and necessary transfers based on project assessment, needed experience and skills. “ To fast_track technology transfer, the company  engages Nigerian qualified sub-contractors to carry out after sales technical services.