AOS Orwell Limited opens $100Million Base in Port Harcourt

The leading indigenous oilfield service company, AOS Orwell Limited finally launched her $100m facilities in Port Harcourt last week. The 56,000sqm base which is located in the precinct of Transamadi hosts the new corporate office and the entire drilling and wireline services provided by the company. Also, it harbours its API machine shop which is equipped with welding and fabrication capabilities. This shop was the first ISO 9001 certified Machine Shop in Nigeria in 1997 and the first to assemble drilling bits locally. The second base located within the same Trans Amadi proximity is a 7500sqm state of the art facility which will cater for local manufacture of data control cabinets under license from Emerson Process Management, the first of its kind in country. Equally, AOS Orwell houses the only Emerson accredited training centre in West Africa for process automation and equipment control.

Speaking at this event, the Special guest of honour, Engr.Chu Nwapa stated that the launch of this operational base once again demonstrates the confidence of AOS Orwell shareholders with the Nigerian content policy which assures that facilities within Nigerian are given first consideration in any work emanating from the Nigeria oil and gas industry. This investment has yielded immediate benefits as AOS Orwell is one of the main contractors on the Egina project- a $15 Billion offshore investment in Nigeria. He continued by stating that from the onset of local content implementation, “we have emphasized that Nigerian content is not about Nigerianisation or making oil and gas service delivery an exclusive preserve for Nigerian companies. What we are witnessing today is an indication that with structured mergers, alliances or partnerships between Nigerian and foreign companies we are better able to harness technology acquisition, local content requirements and people development into real local value creation and domiciliation of services in Nigeria. The Nigerian government firmly believes that any entity benefitting from work in the Nigerian oil and gas industry should develop legacy infrastructure within the country for enduring service delivery. This explains why I am here with my management team to rejoice with AOS Orwell on the launch of its operational base.”

In his own remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of AOS Orwell, Mr. Femi Omotayo attributed the rapid growth and heavy diversification of the company to the successful implementation of the Nigerian Content Act. In addition, he stated that the consistent world class service quality delivery of AOS Orwell matched with an indigenous status is what sets her apart from competition and has made her a partner of choice for several IOCs, NOC, Independents and OEMs operating in Nigeria. AOS Orwell has received several local content partner awards from a number of operators.

During his address, the Chairman of AOS Orwell, Mr.Azad Shivdasani recounted the several key ‘first’ achievements of the company and commended management for delivering value to all her stakeholders. Further, he assured of the Board’s commitment towards securing credible partnerships that will guaranty the continued successful running of the company.

“AOS Orwell has all it takes to become Nigeria’s first Original Equipment Manufacturer and an integrated oilfield service export to the outside world in the coming years” said Mr. David ‘Lekan Somorin, the company’s Sales and Marketing Director.

Other guests at the events included the representative of the Group General Manager of NAPIMS; the General Manager JV operations, Mrs Constance Moro; the representative of the Director of DPR, Controller for Port Harcourt, Mrs.O.C Sibeudu, the Crowned Prince of Rebisi Kingdom, Prince Alex Woluchem (Esq), several senior executives from the IOCs, NCDMB, NOC, Independents, OEM partners, the Nigerian Police, Customs and Immigration and service partners.

AOS Orwell Limited was formed in May 2011 following a merger between Africa Oilfield Services and Orwell International. Later, the new company acquired Equipment Controls Nig.Ltd, Oiltools Africa Limited and Titan Tubulars in 2011 and 2012 respectively.  Other subsidiaries owned 100% by AOS Orwell include Right Inspection Services, Kanfish International Training Centre and AOS Orwell Ghana Limited.