WorldStage– Africa’s first fully integrated 2-inch to 48-inch steel pipe induction bending and coating plant is set for commissioning at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne Port, Rivers State by Q4 2027.
The likely commissioning schedule was revealed during a recent high-level tour of the facility situated at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne Port, Rivers State.
Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) local content guidelines stems from the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.
The law, signed on April 22, 2010, established the NCDMB to drive local industrial growth, fix low local participation, retain economic value, and build local skills in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, lauded the project as a critical turning point for the continent’s oil, gas, and energy infrastructure.
The facility represents a massive $50 million total investment spearheaded by indigenous energy giant Brentex Petroleum Services Limited.
To date, the project has successfully attracted over $26 million in capital investments as infrastructure construction rapidly gathers momentum on-site.
Once operations go fully on, the Brentex facility will deliver localized, specialized engineering solutions, which will include induction bending for heavy-duty structural steel, advanced heat treatment, non-destructive mechanical testing, and comprehensive external and internal pipeline coating. All to reverse a high dependence on imports
Historically, sub-Saharan Africa has suffered from severe economic leakages due to a heavy reliance on overseas pipeline engineering.
Industry data indicates that roughly 95 percent of specialized steel pipes are currently imported into Nigeria, draining national foreign reserves and triggering prolonged project delays.
Brentex Project Manager, Engr. Patrick Anaje, noted that having an in-country solution eliminates complex overseas logistics, with local operators becoming seamlessly able to repair pipelines, shorten project delivery timelines, and significantly minimize procurement overheads.
Crucially, Brentex is already integrating its production capabilities into national infrastructure assets, including the massive Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline project.
Beyond its massive technological footprint, the Onne Port facility functions as a primary economic driver. The plant’s management confirmed it is explicitly on track to create roughly 200 direct jobs for indigenous engineers and technical personnel, retaining deep technical knowledge within Nigerian borders.
NCDMB boss, Felix Ogbe re-emphasized that the board will actively enforce strict industry patronage to ensure that upcoming oil and gas asset upgrades prioritize Brentex’s domestic capacity over foreign contractors.
The regulatory backstop secures a steady market demand while scaling up technical training for the host communities of Onne and Ogu.
According to the official timeline shared by Brentex Managing Director, Mr. Chidi Nzerem, full industrial operations are scheduled for kick-off in the fourth quarter of 2027.
As construction pushes forward under the close supervision of the NCDMB, Nigeria firmly consolidates its position as the primary hub for specialized oilfield manufacturing, logistics, and maritime engineering services across the African continent.
The development has been receiving public applause as well as commendation from professional engineers across the country, who however caution against the spirit of ‘start but fail to deliver’ phenomenon bedeviling prospective initiatives in the country.
