… Showcases Marconi’s Expansive Oil and Gas Capacity
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has described its recent media tour of oil and gas facilities as a groundbreaking step designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of industry operations and strengthen stakeholder engagement. The two-day tour, which offered first-hand exposure to major industry installations, was the first of its kind since the Board began its annual media capacity-building programmes eight years ago.
Speaking during the exercise at the Marconi NG EPC Ltd facility in Rumuolumeni, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the initiative represents a significant shift from traditional classroom-based training to hands-on engagement.
“For the past eight years, we have held media capacity-building workshops annually in Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja. But this year, we decided to take a step further—to bring the field to the media and the media to the field so journalists can merge theoretical knowledge with real-world experience,” he said.
According to him, the Nigerian Content Act, especially Sections 67 and 70, places strong emphasis on communication and effective media engagement. This mandate, he noted, makes collaborations with leading industry players such as Marconi NG EPC both strategic and necessary.
He added that the tour also fulfills a long-standing promise by the Board to broaden journalists’ capacity beyond lectures, enabling the media to understand not only policies but the practical realities that shape Nigeria’s oil and gas ecosystem.
Dr. Ezeobi commended Marconi for opening its operations to the media, describing the company as a shining example of local content advancement. “Marconi is a good example of local content success. Promoting Nigerian companies is not about marginalization—it is about celebrating homegrown capacity,” he noted.
He recalled that Saipem, the former operator of the facility, once struggled with effective operations in Nigeria’s swamp terrains. Today, under Nigerian ownership, the transformed Marconi NG EPC dominates onshore and swamp projects. “This is what happens when local content is nurtured—the value chain becomes stronger, and the results shine brighter,” he said.
A One-Stop Hub for Oil and Gas Execution
Established in May 2025 after acquiring the assets of Saipem Contracting Nigeria’s Rumuolumeni Yard, Marconi NG EPC Ltd has rapidly positioned itself as one of West Africa’s largest and most sophisticated fabrication and construction hubs. Spread across more than one million square meters, the facility boasts a 330-meter jetty and the capacity to fabricate over 25,000 tons of heavy structures annually.
Managing Director, Gian Fabio Del Cioppo, explained that Marconi operates a “one-stop-hub” model designed to enhance cost efficiency, streamline project interfaces, and reduce operational risks, including logistics, community issues, and security. The approach, he said, aims to ensure that project execution within Nigeria remains competitive with international standards.
Marconi’s operations span a wide range of services — from fabrication of topsides, jackets, decks, and subsea structures to maintenance of oil and gas facilities, site construction of pipelines, gas processing units, compressor stations, and electrical and instrumentation systems.
Its logistics base features cargo handling services, bunkering, vessel mooring, and inventory management, supported by a jetty with a +6m draft.
The facility also hosts more than 400 furnished accommodation units, equipped with leisure amenities including a gym, swimming pool, tennis courts, and sauna—designed to support both local and international project teams.
A Facility Built for Heavy-Duty Delivery
Marconi’s infrastructure includes extensive workshop spaces, such as a 15,140 sqm jumbo workshop, multiple blasting and painting shelters, prefabrication units, and a welding training school.
Its equipment inventory features automated CNC drilling and cutting systems, pipe profiling machines, hydraulic iron workers, band saws, and more than 20 overhead cranes ranging from 10 to 30 tons—demonstrating its readiness for complex EPC projects.
Shaping the Future of Industry Reporting
For participating journalists, the NCDMB tour provided a rare opportunity to observe how policies translate into operations, offering insights into fabrication processes, logistics, safety systems, and local content in action.
Dr. Ezeobi expressed confidence that such exposure will enrich the quality of reportage, bridge knowledge gaps, and enhance public understanding of the industry.
“This experience helps the media see the value chain firsthand. It strengthens collaboration, enhances accuracy, and supports our broader mission of deepening Nigerian content,” he said.
With the success of this maiden edition, the NCDMB says it hopes to expand the initiative, making practical engagement a core part of its annual media development programme.
