TotalEnergies, NNPCL, others inaugurate CSR projects in 7 states – Official

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) and TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Ltd., operator of OML 130, and partners have inaugurated projects in seven states in furtherance of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Mr Mike Sangster, Managing Director, TotalEnergies Upstream companies in Nigeria, said in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday that the projects were inaugurated in Osun, Kwara, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Benue and Rivers States.

Sangster said the inauguration of the projects was in furtherance of the group’s CSR initiative to positively impact its host communities in Nigeria.

He said the projects were borne out of the need to mitigate the gaps in qualitative and technical education, maternal and child health, access to clean water, as well as women and youth empowerment.

“The projects are in congruence with the related United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

“The locations of these projects have also been very carefully chosen for maximum impact, coming from a need assessment carried out before the deployment.

“It is important to note that these projects were realised using the novel approach of project managers.

“This approach, which is new in the industry, permits the delivery of projects in remote and challenging environments while ensuring the use of local expertise and stakeholder engagement.

“I am very happy the pilot projects were successful. We are using the ‘Return on Experience,’ to improve our processes and deliver successive projects faster and better,” he said.

The MD said in 2021, a total of 10 projects were commissioned, while nine had been commissioned and handed over so far this year under the batch four project lineups.

“In 2016, TotalEnergies commenced its robust plan to deploy CSR infrastructure developments across the country, which resulted in a strategy to deliver 84 infrastructure projects across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

“In our first phase, a total of 33 projects were launched in 2017 in the areas of Education, Health, Capacity Building and Access to Water across the country.

“In its second phase, another 24 projects were launched in 2018 and yet another 27 projects were launched in 2019 in the third phase.

“Of these 84 infrastructure projects, over 54 have already been completed and commissioned from the earlier phases and a total of eight have now been completed and commissioned,” he added.

Sangster said the projects ranged from fully equipped solar borehole and water treatment plants, women development and skills acquisition centre, solar-powered science laboratory, mammography centre and model secondary school.

“The Imesi Ile community in Osun State and Federal Government College, Enugu, Enugu State got a solar-powered borehole and water treatment plant, the Omu-Aran community in Kwara State received a women development and skills acquisition centre.

“The solar panel and batteries powered facility will ensure constant renewable energy and help to improve the environment through reduction in emission of greenhouse gases,” he said.

The statement quoted the Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPCL, Upstream Investment Management Services, Mr Bala Wunti, as saying the project aligned with the sustainable development goals.

Wunti said the project, which was implemented by NNPCL, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Ltd., operator of OML 130 and partners was geared towards mitigating the various identified gaps in the society.

“We will continue to champion the implementation of Sustainable Community Development projects that will positively impact the lives of the citizens of this country.

“We are very proud to be commissioning yet another laudable project. We know that this facility will bring succour to the people,” he said.

Representative of partners, Mr Luc Vanson, Chief Operating Officer, Prime 130, expressed his delight at the completion and commissioning of the projects, and said he was proud to be part of such laudable initiatives.

Vanson implored beneficiary communities to ensure sustainable use of the facilities to impact the people positively.

It was reported that OML 130 partners include NNPC, TotalEnergies Upstream, PRIME (formerly Petrobras), Sapetro and CNOOC.