By: Joy Odor/Abuja
The Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has paid a visit to the facilities of Waltersmith Production Company, Ohaji Egbema, Imo State.
The visit was an immediate follow-up to a courtesy call by the Board and Management of the company to the Governor earlier led by the MD/CEO, Abdulrazaq Isah.
Speaking, the Governor urged the company to pay deeper attention to training and manpower development for members of the host communities.
He also told Mr Isah to ensure that they do more by providing access road, water, electricity and other social amenities to the host communities and most importantly incorporate off-grid power distribution dedicated to Imo State in their development plans for the 300MW power plant.
He urged Waltersmith to consider partnering with IMSG in the revival of the technical and vocational schools in the State.
According to the Governor, this is in view to setting up curriculum that meets the needs of the company, promising that a technical team would be assembled to work with the company to ensure that the mutual benefits of their laudable projects are achieved.
Governor lhedioha assured them of the governments support, especially in their request for export free zone, securing of certificate of occupancy, and overall creation of a safe and secure environment for investors to operate.
In his remark, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Simbi Wabote said Waltersmith is a case study of the positive outcome of the drive to build national content in the industry by promoting local participation in marginal field development.
“Waltersmith is an upstream oil and gas production company currently producing 7,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and lready in the construction phase of building a 5,000bpd refinery, with plan to build a 300MW gas fired power plant as well as an industrial park within the same vicinity
“Over the next 48 months, the project which includes expanding the refinery capacity to 25,000 bpd, aggregating feedstock from neighbouring gas fields, is expected to be completed.
Others in attendance were Deputy Chief of Staff, Barr. Chima Nwanna, The Chief Technical Adviser, Barr. PGU Madu, Senior Special Assistant Strategic Planning, Mr Chinedu Okpareke, the SSA- Youths Development, Ogechukwu Iruno, among others
