The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would revamp the shut Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) plant to save about 1,000 jobs.

This comes as the NCDMB applauds the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) for awarding the contract for the provision of a new build Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) ship to a fully indigenous company, E.A. Temile Development Company.

The vessel will serve as the chartered ship by which the NLNG will deepen the delivery of LPG, commonly known as cooking gas into the domestic market for improved availability and scale.

In line with the contract, E.A. Temile Development Company signed an agreement in London with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, South Korea for the construction of the new LPG vessel.

The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, who was a guest at the ceremony described NLNG’s award of contract to the local firm as a confidence building move and a bold endorsement of local capacities and capabilities.

Wabote highlighted that NCDMB has commenced discussions with some investors to address challenges around accessibility to LPG.

He added: “We are looking at initiatives around bulk storage depots and establishment of LPG cylinders manufacturing companies including provision of support for re-opening of moribund ones.”

He noted that one of such in-country facilities have an installed capacity for the production of one million 12.5kg LPG cylinders per annum and 400 gas cookers daily and can provide 1000 jobs at full capacity, yet it was shut down, leading to a deluge of imported cylinders and accessories, saying, “we will play our part to reverse this trend.”

The NCDMB boss added that the development was a manifestation of the progress that had been made in the local content journey and challenged other industry stakeholders to come up with similar initiatives.

“I expect several operators and service providers to get inspirations from this milestone event and see the possibilities in our local content practice rather than the difficulties.”

He also congratulated E.A. Temile Development Company for clinching the important contract and breaking the stereotyped glass ceiling that had often stopped indigenous companies.

He further charged the company to keep within the terms of the contract and deliver safely.