…spends $40m annually on CSR
By Etuka Sunday
The Managing Director, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Mike Sangster yesterday said, the company was actively pursuing digital technologies, saying that in Nigeria, it has launched a Digital Transformation Project to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Mike Sangster said, the company did that by leveraging its experience in Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Big Data and machine learning.
“As we look forward, Total is actively pursuing digital technologies and here in Nigeria we have launched a Digital Transformation Project to improve our efficiency and reduce our costs by leveraging our experience in Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Big Data and machine learning,” he said.
The MD said, the company has robust Corporate Social Responsibility portfolio that includes youth empowerment; health care delivery, education, sports, and infrastructure development in communities across the length and breadth of Nigeria, adding the company spends annually in excess of 40 million USD.
Speaking on sustainability, while giving his remarks at the ongoing Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, the Total Boss said, “there are many aspects to sustainability:
The classic definition which of course relates to reducing the impact of our activities on the environment.
“In addition to reducing the carbon emissions from our oil and gas activities, we are also investing in solar projects in Nigeria.
“Sustainability also refers to how we work with communities and contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.
Typically, last November, we commissioned various projects in all parts of the country, and especially in the North East to alleviate some of the deprivations caused by insurgency in that part of the country.
“Another aspect of sustainability concerns the business environment in Nigeria. Total has demonstrated its commitment to Nigeria with significant investments over recent years on our JV assets (OML58 Upgrade and Ofon Phase 2 in particular) in addition to the much acknowledged Egina,” he said.
According to him, the theme of the conference, Widening the Integration Circle: Technology, Knowledge, Sustainability, Partnership, was especially appropriate given the current challenges facing the oil and gas industry globally.
He said, NIPS has become a veritable platform for policy makers and industry players to come together and share experiences and ideas on contemporary issues facing the industry while charting a path for the future.
He expressed confidence that at the end of the conference better particpants are benlightened on the various avenues through which the industry’s integration circle could be widened.
On partnership, he said, Total was proud to have been a reliable partner to Nigeria for over 60 years and actively involved in downstream, midstream and upstream sectors.
He said, the company has 577 petrol service stations spread across the whole country, thus meeting the energy needs of millions of Nigerians.
He said, “in midstream, we are a shareholder in NLNG, where the company has recently taken FID on Train 7.
“In upstream, we have significantly increased our production with the startup of the deepwater Egina field with a production capacity of 200kb/d.
Technology: With our presence in 130 countries around the world, we are able to bring to Nigeria our experience and technical capabilities.
“Egina was a game changer in terms of technology transfer and local content with over 46 million manhours worked in Nigeria, including 6 FPSO topside modules being built and integrated in Nigeria, a 1st for Africa.
“We are keen to continue to invest in Nigeria and to contribute constructively to the ongoing debate about the Petroleum Industry Bill.
“We welcome the efforts being made by the authorities to define a long term framework for the Oil and Gas Industry that provides clarity & certainty, provides competitive terms and a win/win solution for the country and investors.
“We support the desire of the Honourable Minister to modernise Petroleum Legislation, and welcome the opportunity to engage with the authorities.
“A progressive PIB could be the catalyst needed for a new wave of investment in Nigeria instead of other countries and hence contribute to the sustainability of the Oil & Gas Industry,” he said.
