The harsh operating environments of oil and gas companies occasioned by lack of serious investments coupled with low prices of crude oil have led to down time in the operations of most oil servicing companies.
The low crude oil prices have made some oil producing companies to reduce the scope of their activities and this has invariably affected some service providers who sometime had to review jobs given them by oil companies for the purpose of reducing cost of services they are rendering.
To mitigate against the consequences of these type of situations, some of the oil servicing companies have decided to diversify their operations. They are now exploring other avenues that could help them to survive, especially now that the oil and gas industry in Nigeria is enveloped by high level of uncertainties because of lack of investment.
One of such companies that has diversified its operations is the Siemens Power Services, a business unit that is well known for power generation in oil and gas industry. It is equally reputable in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the manufacture of gas turbines and compressors which are used for power generation in oil and gas industry. The gas turbine as the name implies is generating power which is used in the facilities of most international oil and gas companies.
READ ALSO: Ng launched, begins operation to empower 5 million Nigerians by 2023
The compressors are used to enhance oil recovery because at times, there may be the need to pump more pressure to get a better output from oil well.
One thing that is very important to note by all and sundry is that even though Siemens Power Services is known for OEM businesses, it also does non OEM businesses. In other words, it does additional services which complement its core business. Hence the establishment of the workshop in Port Harcourt.
While the company says it is not abandoning the services for which it is known for in the oil and gas industry, it is however looking beyond the sphere of oil and gas industry in order to increase the chances of increasing its revenue base, generate more jobs for Nigerians by using it skills and technology and also actively involved in helping to build the much needed local content development in the country. Carrying out the diversification exercise will provide tremendous opportunities for Nigerians to tap from Siemens technologies. Hence the desire of the company to diversify its operation.
To achieve this, its 3-million-euro Port Harcourt workshop has been equipped to meet the diversification efforts.
The services that are being rendered, aside from taking care of gas turbines and compressors, include, but not limited to, making available its 20 ton crane capacity for use for those that may need it, extensive machine shop with a lift which is four ton load and five metres between centres. Lathe machining, drilling, milling, grinding machines. Some of these machine do cut equipment into different sizes, depending on the output.
Rotor balancing is used to balance steel, pulp, compressors and turbines, and low speed balancing machine.
Instrument repair test, calibration and general fabrication works are also parts of their undertakings.
All these can be utilized by other industries.
The food and beverage industries for example can benefit from this new move by Siemens Power Services because they have whole lot of machineries they use, especially, those companies that do not have in-country capacity to do some level of precise precision works.
According to Seun Suleiman, general manager, Power Services Business, Siemens Nigeria, the workshop does not only support services of gas turbine and compressor but additional works that would enhance the quality of gas turbines and compressor.
For example, the workshop has Late Machines which is meant to support additional works.
“It is a standard machine which does some cutting of steel to different sizes and shredding in the oil and gas industry, alignment and balancing of some equipment are also carried out in the workshop. This is a general technology. It is useful for companies that are not in the oil and gas operations,” Suleiman said.
He said many companies do not know that such a service can be provided by the company because all they understand and know the company for is gas turbine and compressor business.
Siemens Power Services is the one responsible for the life circle of equipment which are supplied to international oil companies operating in the oil and gas company. After the equipment have been purchased, and the customer use them for sometime, there would always be a need to service them and look after them just like the way human beings look after their bodies by taking the necessary nourishments.
Basically the company is a Port Harcourt-based service business units. Meaning that its business is to ensure it looks after customers everyday from the smallest item of a bolt to the biggest item of a whole compressor.
According to Suleiman, general manager, Power Services Business, Siemens Nigeria, the workshop does not only support services of gas turbine and compressor but additional works that would enhance the quality of gas turbines and compressor.
For example the workshop has Late Machines which is meant to support additional work. It is a standard machine which does some cutting of steel to different sizes and shredding in the oil and gas industry, alignment and balancing of some equipment are also carried out at the workshop. This is a general technology. It is useful for companies that are not in the oil and gas activities.
He said many companies do not know that such a service can be provided by the company because all they understand and know the company for is gas turbine and compressor business.
Olusola Bello
