An indigenous firm, Bunorr Integrated Energy Limited, has lauded the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its commitment in the promotion of indigenous production and employment of Nigerians to oil and gas multinationals and other firms in the country.
The Managing Director of Bunorr, Ikechukwu Okeke, made the assertion on Tuesday, when NCDMB officials led a media tour to Bunorr’s facility in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, in Rivers State.
Describing the NCDMB as a critical partner in the success of the energy firm, Mr Okeke said the Board backing gave them credibility before vendors, financial institutions, and other stakeholders.
He said the contribution made it easier for the company to attract technical partners and negotiate for materials and support.
He said the NCDMB had given the company $3.6 million equity fund to begin it’s operations and that has helped them to add value to the supply chain in the country.
Speaking on governance and compliance strengthening, the Bunorr MD stressed that “NCDMB’s periodic engagements helped us improve our operational standards, enhance safety culture, and adopt best practices in the recycling and lubricant recovery industry”.
Okeke who led the Journalists and NCDMB staff round the production plant and other facilities, explained that Bunorr Integrated Energy Limited is an indigenous energy company focused on recycling of used engine oil, producing based oil and other by-products.
He said “Our operations directly support Nigeria’s commitment to energy circularity, environmental sustainability, local content development and import substitution”.
On host community and social benefits, Okeke said the energy firm has direct employment of 37 Nigerians, with plans to increase the number as production volume grows.
He however, urged the government to connect Omagwa axis of Rivers State to the national grid for the plant to have access to the power from the Port Harcourt Electricity Company (PHED) in order to reduce the cost of running diesel for production.
In his remarks, General Manager, Corporate Communications of NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, said the tour was to build the capacity of the board’s media team and also see what the company is doing.
Represented by Mr Teddy Bai, Chief Supervisor, Government Relations in NCDMB, Ezeobi stated that the NCDMB will Continue to support local competitions, but will not compromise competence.
Ezeobi stated “At NCDMB we encourage local content capacity building and local competition. We don’t play down on competence. Like you have heard from the managing director of the company, what we have here is world class regardless of the location and that’s what local NCDMB also stands for. We also pursue excellence.
“Also, at NCDMB we talked about clean environment, we talked about clean energy and we have some environmental activists here to help drive that. Let me also say that pollution is not what our brothers do alone in the creek, those, of us who have four to give cars, we service our cars every month and we waste that used oil, we are also polluting our environment. Also that used oil can generate money for us”, Ezeobi added.
Blessing Ibunge
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