Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited says more than 90 per cent of the contract value in its operations will be delivered by Nigerian companies, in line with its commitment to building a sustainable energy future for the country.

SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, made this known at the opening of a panel session during the recently concluded Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Council of the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Lagos.

He reaffirmed Shell’s dedication to advancing Nigeria’s energy objectives through the adoption of sound policies, cutting-edge technology, efficient supply chains, and the development of local human capital.

“The question is no longer whether Nigeria will play a key role in the future of energy, but how quickly and effectively we can harness our potentials to deliver affordable, secure, and increasingly cleaner energy for Nigeria, and the world,” he stated.

Speaking on the Bonga field, Adams noted that Shell is leveraging predictive analytics, integrated data systems, and proactive maintenance to maintain record-high plant availability, almost two decades after first oil.

“That’s performance built on foresight, technology, and a commitment to excellence,” he said. In recognition of the role of an efficient supply chain, he said, “SNEPCo is taking steps to ensure that over 90 per cent of the contract value in its operations is executed by Nigerian companies as it continues to grow the capacity of indigenous contractors in the supply of goods and delivery of services.”

However, he observed that Nigeria still lacks comprehensive end-to-end industrial capacity, often making it necessary to split project scopes between local and foreign execution — a situation that increases costs and leads to delays.

To address this gap, he stressed the need for greater investment in local fabrication and manufacturing facilities, regional standardisation and certification, as well as improved access to capital for local vendors. Adams also urged sustained policy reforms to create a stable, investor-friendly fiscal environment.

“A lot more needs to be done to scale up local competence. End-to-end industrial capability is limited in Nigeria, which means project scopes often get split between in-country and overseas, increasing cost and, in some cases, delaying delivery. To bridge the gap, there is a need to invest in local fabrication and manufacturing centres, regional standardisation and certification, and access to capital for local vendors.

“We will continue to stress the need for sustained reforms to ensure stable and investor-friendly fiscal environments that reduce uncertainty. A sustainable energy future for Nigeria and Africa will not emerge by chance. It must be built intentionally, collectively, and courageously,” he stated.