By Naija Enquirer Staff
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has described the commissioning of the Gravimetric Flow Metering Calibration Laboratory in Akwa Ibom State as a strategic breakthrough for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that for decades, critical calibration and metering services were executed outside Nigeria, leading to capital flight, extended project timelines, and limited knowledge transfer.
The world-class facility — the first of its kind in Africa — was recently commissioned at the operational base of Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATL) in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, with regulatory agencies and leading industry operators in attendance.
Enhancing Measurement Accuracy and Revenue Assurance
The laboratory is engineered to accommodate diverse flow regimes and fluid properties, ensuring accurate measurement of product transmission through pipelines. It integrates temperature and pressure conditioning, traceable reference standards, and automated data capture to address challenges related to flow meter factorisation and recertification.
In his keynote address, Ogbe stated that the Gravimetric Multifaceted Flow Metering Laboratory aligns firmly with the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, particularly in advancing local asset ownership, capacity building, and value retention.
He emphasized that accurate calibration strengthens transparency in hydrocarbon accounting, boosts regulatory compliance, optimizes costs for operators, and contributes to the industrialization of the Niger Delta.
Industry Support and Regulatory Backing
The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, described the facility as Nigeria’s “national standard,” assuring that flow laboratories across the country would bring their Master Meters for calibration.
She reiterated the Commission’s commitment to supporting technological advancement while maintaining global standards and reducing industry costs.
The Managing Director of Engineering Automation Technology Limited, Dr. Emmanuel Okon, described the laboratory as a vision conceived in 2020 under NCDMB’s Project 100 initiative. He acknowledged the foundational support of NCDMB, NUPRC, and National Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), as well as the partnership of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Energy Sovereignty
Representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) commended the initiative, noting that the facility enhances Nigeria’s capacity for accurate hydrocarbon measurement, regulatory compliance, and value optimization across upstream and midstream operations.
Industry leaders highlighted that the establishment of the in-country calibration laboratory reverses the long-standing trend of outsourcing technical services abroad, which previously resulted in foreign exchange outflows and lost opportunities for Nigerian engineers.
Stakeholders urged operators to patronize the facility and leverage it as a West African hub for flow calibration excellence, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and technological advancement in the energy sector.
With the commissioning of the Gravimetric Flow Metering Calibration Laboratory, Nigeria takes a significant step toward strengthening energy security, boosting local content development, and retaining greater value within its oil and gas industry.
