Chevron CEO Reaffirms Commitment to Nigerian Content Development at PNC Forum
Jim Swartz, Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria and Mid-Africa Business Unit, underscored this during the 2024 Practical Nigeria Content Forum held by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Speaking on the theme “The Next Frontier for Nigerian Content: Divestments & Offshore Opportunities,” Swartz emphasized the importance of partnerships with key stakeholders to drive local content development. He linked Chevron’s success in delivering affordable, reliable, and lower-carbon energy to the prosperity of the communities where the company operates.
“Our strategy is to leverage our strengths to safely deliver lower carbon energy to a growing world. Our primary objective is to deliver higher returns, lower carbon, and superior stakeholder value in any business environment,” Swartz stated.
Chevron’s over 60 years of investment in Nigeria reflect its belief in the sector’s potential to spur economic development, provided the right legislative and regulatory frameworks are in place. Swartz highlighted Chevron’s pioneering role in adopting a Nigerian Content policy as early as 1999, well ahead of the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD Act) in 2010.
“Chevron’s Nigerian Content policy is driven by the vision to foster competence and competitiveness among Nigerian contractors and suppliers through a participatory-partnership model,” Swartz remarked.
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He detailed the company’s initiatives, including skills acquisition programs, contract opportunities for local suppliers, support for asset acquisition, technical guidance, and research collaboration. Over the past decade, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has spent an estimated $1 billion annually on Nigerian suppliers and service providers, a commitment Swartz described as morally driven rather than mandated.
Swartz affirmed Chevron’s ongoing partnership with the NCDMB to enhance local capacities in the oil and gas sector. He pledged continued efforts in talent development, research support, and fostering partnerships among indigenous businesses.
“Capacity building, training, and support for research and development remain central to our operations. We are committed to facilitating partnerships and contributing to the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s energy industry,” Swartz concluded.
