TotalEnergies Reaffirms Commitment To Local Content Development
By Naija Enquirer Staff
TotalEnergies has reaffirmed its commitment to continuously improve initiatives aimed at strengthening local content delivery in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the 9th Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES 2026), Mr. Cyprian Ojum, Deputy General Manager, Nigerian Content at TotalEnergies, emphasized that local content is a strategic priority, not just a compliance checkbox.
“The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 is very clear: every operator must treat local content as an operating philosophy, focusing on retaining value locally,” Ojum said. “From the moment a project is conceived, the key question becomes: what quantity of value will be retained locally at the end of this project?”
He explained that TotalEnergies engages early and continuously with the Standards Development & Local Content Division (SDLD) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to ensure project designs maximize in-country value retention.
Ojum noted that the Act covers 17 service categories and over 300 subsections, each with defined minimum and maximum local content thresholds. “Whether the activity involves fabrication, construction, procurement, installation, transportation, drilling, mud services, or other operations, there are specific percentages that must be achieved,” he said.
Beyond compliance, Ojum stressed that local content drives capacity building and expertise development. He cited the Agena project as a prime example, highlighting that approximately 200 Nigerians were trained in critical skills deployed across the industry today. “Today, Agena contributes nearly 10 per cent of TotalEnergies’ global production, underscoring the scale of value created in Nigeria,” he said.
TotalEnergies’ approach includes three main pillars:
- Human Capacity Development: Training Nigerians in critical skills aligned with industry needs and sustainability.
- Value Retention: Prioritizing in-country value creation through local supply chains.
- Collaboration: Working with local contractors and NCDMB to meet local content thresholds.
Ojum also highlighted the success of the IKAN project, which achieved 95 per cent Nigerian content, and noted that the Ubata project will further push local content boundaries.
He concluded: “Nigerians can deliver complex oil and gas projects to international standards. Our commitment is clear: build expertise, retain value, and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s energy industry.”
