What key projects is Ponticelli working on in Nigeria?
We are continuing our EPCC work on the Ubeta field, which is a complex project. Each day brings lessons, particularly in managing community relationships, which are always evolving.
Alongside this, we’re finalising the construction of a 5-MW solar plant for TotalEnergies in Obite. That project is about 95% complete and should be commissioned very soon. The objective is to reduce reliance on gas turbines. That way, the gas can be redirected to NLNG, which currently has a high demand for it.
On top of that, we were recently awarded the subsea package for Bonga North by TechnipFMC. This includes building the mudmats and well jumpers. To support this, we are establishing a new fabrication yard in Onne, scheduled to open mid next year. This site will be central to our Bonga North operations and future projects involving large subsea structures and jumpers.
How will the new Onne fabrication yard enhance your project delivery capacity?
The fabrication yard in Onne is expected to be commissioned between May and June 2026. One of the key features of the site is its quay-side access. This means we can fabricate large structures and load them directly onto vessels without needing overland transport, which is often a bottleneck due to road size constraints.
The first structures to be fabricated there will be the Bonga North well jumpers, but this facility also allows for topside modules and even larger structures in the future. We’re looking at significantly increasing the range of what we can fabricate locally. In parallel, we continue our collaboration with Shell. We’re currently executing the Minox [compact water-deaeration] package for the Bonga FPSO, which is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
What role does Ponticelli play in supporting Nigeria’s gas projects?
For us, whether the project is gas or oil, it makes no difference from a fabrication perspective. A pipe is a pipe, regardless of what flows through it. That said, we are involved in key gas projects such as the HI and Ima offshore gas developments, which both include offshore platforms tied back to Bonny, where supplies will feed Nigeria LNG.
Both HI and Ima feature a substantial onshore package, and such projects require local contractors. These platforms need hook-up, commissioning and installation work – areas where Ponticelli is well positioned. We’re also among the last international companies with a foreign shareholder presence in fabrication in Nigeria. All our competitors today are fully Nigerian, so this dual identity gives us a unique position in the market.
How do you maintain a competitive edge against fully local companies?
We offer something many local players can’t: a high level of financial and operational guarantees. This is because we’re backed by our parent company in Paris. If a local player defaults, they can shut down, and the project halts. In our case, if there’s any default, our headquarters steps in to complete the job. That’s a strong assurance for clients.
In terms of resources, we can also mobilise international expertise when necessary. Our ability to recruit from abroad and bring in skilled labour is another strength. While 51% of our company is Nigerian-owned, the remaining 49% is French, and that partnership is at the core of our resilience. We use it to support each other, bringing the best of both worlds.
What are your priorities for Ponticelli in Nigeria for the coming years?
We’re looking at long-term sustainability. In recent years, local content regulations have been very strict, which caused a shortage of reliable contractors. The IOCs are ready to sanction projects thanks to fiscal incentives, but then you hit a bottleneck – there simply aren’t enough competent contractors.
We’ve been in Nigeria for nearly 30 years and have invested more than USD 20 million in our assets. We’ve built a fabrication yard, which we consider to be a strategic investment based on deep understanding of the country’s needs. One area we’re looking to expand into more heavily is maintenance. Unlike greenfield or brownfield projects, which rely on fluctuating capex, maintenance work offers more stability.
We’ve seen a shift among customers who now recognise the need to sustain their production capabilities. That’s where we can come in with our experience and infrastructure. It’s a space that aligns perfectly with our capabilities and long-term strategy.