Jim Swartz, Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Ltd and Chevron Mid-Africa Business Unit
Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigerian content development, stating that over the last 10years, the oil major has invested an estimated $1 billion annually on local suppliers.
According to Jim Swartz, “We do all this, not because we are compelled to, but because it is the right thing to do”.
Jim Swartz, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria and the Mid-Africa Business Unit, made these remarks during a panel discussion on The Next Frontier for Nigerian Content: Divestments & Offshore Opportunities at the ongoing 2024 Practical Nigeria Content Forum. The event is organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Nigerian content development is essential for the nation’s growth, particularly as it seeks to acquire oil and gas technology and build indigenous capacity within the industry.
Swartz emphasized that the Nigerian oil and gas industry, which thrives on partnerships with key stakeholders, is expected to continue prioritizing Nigerian content development and the growth of local capacity.
He explained that Chevron’s success in delivering affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy is closely linked to the progress and prosperity of the people and communities where it operates. “Our strategy is to leverage our strengths to safely provide lower-carbon energy to a growing world, with the primary objective of delivering higher returns, lower carbon, and superior stakeholder value in any business environment,” he said.
Having invested in Nigeria for over 60 years, Jim highlighted that Chevron sees the wide range of opportunities within the oil and gas sector as crucial for fostering economic development, provided the government enacts the appropriate policies, legislation, and regulations.
Chevron’s Nigerian Content policy, according to Jim, is driven by a vision to be recognized as the leading petroleum company that fosters competence and competitiveness among Nigerian indigenous contractors and suppliers. This is achieved through the company’s participatory-partnership model.
Jim further noted that Chevron had embraced the Local/Nigerian Content development philosophy as early as 1999, well before the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD Act) was enacted in 2010.
He concluded, “At Chevron, we are committed to Nigeria’s socio-economic development by building mutually beneficial partnerships and supporting the government’s policies on Nigerian Content Development. In addition to training Nigerians for skills acquisition, we offer contract and procurement opportunities, support asset acquisition, provide technical assistance, and collaborate on research and development with local community contractors.”
Jim affirmed that Chevron would continue to partner with the NCDMB to boost local capacities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. “We will continue our efforts in capacity building and training of the local talents, our support for research and development and facilitation of partnerships among local businesses”, he concluded.
