Gas supply threatened as firm defies court order

Area discovered that trouble started upon July 7 when the Property Area Manager of OB/OB, instructed that Plantgeria might henceforth take over the maintenance from the gas plants, a enquête that ran foul of the substantive court order, limiting all parties from further activity on the matter.

“We had been told that Plantgeria would certainly now be managing the guarana plant and we were restricted through the process gate. But as there is a court order requesting that the status quo be managed until the court decides on the situation, we have been coming to work, however they didn’t allow us to touch anything at all. We are restricted to our foundation within the premises, whatever the courtroom says when the matter pops up is what we will abide along with, ” an Arco recognized, who pleaded for anonymousness said.

Threat to fuel supply

Further investigations revealed that, Plantgeria has been fighting to maintain the gas vegetation since July. Some of the employees were seen moving around guarana and The Nation confirmed that this company has taken charge associated with gas maintenance at OB/OB. A source wondered the reason why a company, with its primary experience in auto mechanic, power generator repairs and equipment renting was could be hired with regard to such technical job.

“But Plantgeria does not have the required knowledge to handle the gas plant life and they have been having a difficult time. When we were in control, we maintain at 97/98 per cent but what we have now because Plantgeria took over is no more than 50 per cent. That is the reason for your black smoke and the massive flare that you see. It is far from supposed to be like this, ” the source said.

Though state could not be independently confirmed, another source alleged the community has not enjoyed electrical power supply since July. It had been learnt that the turbo creator, which generates power is not serviced by Plantgeria. Absolutely no official reason was given with this but many insisted that it was since the company lacked the competence.

The poor management of the OB/OB gas plant has led to environmental problems for the community. In addition to the unbridled gas flare that further threatens the country’s efforts at mitigating environment change, the development has additional dented iNigeria’s commitment in order to implementing the United Nations (UN) Strategic Development Goals (SDGs). The gas plant and several of the houses around this have blackened roofs as well as whenever it rains, dark soot drops on drinking water sources and homes in the residents.

This situation, it was learned, has forced Plantgeria to be able to poach Arco workers.

“We understand that NAOC told these to go and get Arco personnel if they want to succeed. They have got called for me and many of our own staff to come and join in. They are offering juicy bonuses but there is no way we might leave our company. They understand we have the experience and skills. We have successfully maintained this particular plant and the others even if the foreign companies abandoned the website due to militancy, we were right here working, ” a resource within Arco Group stated.

The OB/OB gas flower is strategic to Nigeria’s quest for a stable electricity provide, one of the cardinal promises regarding President Muhammadu Buhari. Based on the Nation investigations, the OB/OB gas plant has an typical capacity to produce 40, 000, 000 Metric Standard Cubic Feet (MSCF) of gasoline. The average monthly gas source to Nigeria Liquefied Gas Company (NLNG) Bonny is actually 28, 000, 000 MSCF.

“If you cannot maintain the indoor plants properly and it results in a break down, whatever gains Nigeria offers achieved in electricity era and distribution will be impacted and this will be against the programs of the federal Government, ” Bliktis Ayisire, Arco’s company admin said.

It was further collected that NAOC may pub Arco workers from getting into their own base inside the propane plant from October twenty. This, according to sources, would be to preempt the court judgment billed for October twenty six.

The disregard for the courtroom orders by the multinational essential oil companies will have dire implications for indigenous companies, that are being muscled out of the field by bigger players.

“Where is the local content legislation here which is supposed to safeguard an indigenous company such as Arco? The disregard regarding court orders and impunity which is being carried out in this article must be checked because it provides consequences for other native companies in Nigeria. If it is allowed, then our country indicates that local companies you don't have the support of their own federal government, ” Ayisire said.

Curvatura currently has about 131 workers working on the natural gas plants and over 400 in its payroll. According to a staff, if the company loses the actual battle, what will happen to Nigerians with the required skills that will be thrown into the marketplace?

“We will be affected, our own wives and children, the particular chain effect on the economy. What is going to be the lot of other ancient companies in this sector as well as others? What is the rationale for pressing us out, we have been those doing the job and we have not already been found wanting, ” the source mentioned.

When The Nation contacted the organization Affairs section of Plantgeria in the company’s headquarters on Danjuma Road, Trans Amadi Commercial layout, Port Harcourt, the organization declined comment on the matter. “We do not attend to such inquiries, ” the company said. Additionally efforts to get NAOC for you to comment were abortive, however in a previous interview, Taju Adigun, Manager, Government & Institutional Relations, said: “Why would you like to write about it. Are you aware the truth is in court? The values of journalism as I realize it stipulates you can’t talk about a case already in court docket and I think you should know that. ”

The fate of Meta and other indigenous companies when confronted with fallout with a multinational organization remained unknown. But as business watchers have noted, this is one case that will examination the resolve of Leader Buhari on cleaning up typically the oil and gas industry and strengthening competent indigenous firms.

www.yuchaiie.com