PETAN Pays Courtesy Visit to Shell Companies’ Country Chair in Nigeria
A delegation from the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), led by Chairman Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, recently visited Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, at Shell’s office in Lagos. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen ties and explore opportunities for collaboration between Shell and PETAN.
During the meeting, discussions focused on potential partnerships, highlighting the expertise of PETAN-member companies and their capability to handle turnkey projects for Shell. Ogunsanya expressed gratitude for Shell’s continuous support of local content development and emphasized the readiness of PETAN to collaborate with Shell and the government to boost oil and gas production at reduced costs from onshore, shallow water, and deep offshore assets.
Ogunsanya also sought Shell’s backing for PETAN’s 2024/2025 graduate internship program and reiterated PETAN’s commitment to maintaining regular engagements through its Committee on Shell, one of PETAN’s 20 standing committees. He noted the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to address challenges posed by portfolio companies in the oil and gas sector. Additionally, he invited Shell to participate in PETAN’s 30th-anniversary celebration on December 13, 2024.
In response, Okunbor praised the role of PETAN in local content development, reaffirming Shell’s commitment to fostering local growth. He emphasized that local capacity development has been central to Shell’s operations since the 1990s and expressed the company’s willingness to explore mutually beneficial opportunities with PETAN members. Okunbor also noted that upcoming divestments in the industry would create new avenues for Nigerian service companies, including those under PETAN, to thrive. He urged PETAN members to maintain high standards to ensure continued business relationships with Shell.
As a token of appreciation, PETAN presented Okunbor with an Award of Excellence for his visionary leadership.
The visit was attended by senior representatives from both organizations, including Mr. Olanrewaju Olawuyi and Mr. Obi Onochie from Shell’s Nigerian Content Development team, and key members of the PETAN leadership, such as Engr. Obi Uzu, Dr. Okey Ukaegbu, Dr. Innocent Akuvue, Mr. Akin Osuntoki, and Sir Okezie Akwiwu.
This meeting highlights the continued efforts to strengthen local content and foster collaboration between indigenous oil and gas companies and international stakeholders like Shell.
