The Delta State government has lauded Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), operators of the OML 30, the joint venture partners and the Community Development Board, CDB, for impacting positively on the host communities.
The governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, gave the commendation on Wednesday in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area, while inaugurating some community development projects executed across the clusters that constituted the oil block, as the board marks one year in office.
The commissioned projects included: four units of self-contained apartments in Orhoakpor community, 60 units of market stalls/abattoir, and Town Hall in Afiesere, Ugbokodo-Okpe community, as well as 3-bedroom bungalow and three guest houses in Ubeji community.
Others included: Okporo-Oleh Community Hall for oil and gas landlords, Emede community market stalls, and two- and three-bedroom housing units for oil and gas landlords, Odiologbo of Okpolo-Enhwe Palace, Odiologbo of Olomoro residential building, Chief Henry Ojogho road and Uzeva road, Oleh.
Commending HEOSL, the joint venture partners and the host communities “for their cooperation and development” in executing the projects, Governor Oborevwori noted that the government was elated with their activities, which, he said “were in line with the Delta State government’s MORE Agenda.”
The governor said, “If all Oil Mining Lease, OML, Community Development Boards and the oil companies are doing these kind of projects under their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, various host communities will experience peace and development.”
In his address at the occasion, the Chairman of the OML30 Community Development Board, CDB, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, appreciated the management and staff of HEOSL, the Joint Venture partners – NNPC E and P Limited and BNRL – for increasing capacity and willingness to live up to their CSR at all times.
He noted that the board “has engaged the operator on strategic areas like acceptable employment quota and contracts to our people, as well as issues bordering on spill management and protection of the environment within the extant laws governing the oil industry.”
He said, “We have been able to complete over 100 projects in our host communities, while several others are ongoing with many at advanced stages.
“Other areas where the board has also done well include: training/capacity building and provision of starter packs to hundreds of participants from across the 12 clusters.”
In his goodwill message, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of HEOSL, Ado Oseragbaje, represented by Jeremiah Oharisi, Head, Community Relations, said that HEOSL, as the operator of the Joint Venture Partnership – SNRL and NEPL – is proud to be associated with the 112 host communities, comprising the Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Delta State.
He stated that HEOSL recognized the importance of economic empowerment and human capital development, explaining that “it was in this regard that 10 per cent of the GMoU mandate fund has been dedicated to capacity building programmes for youths and women in the host communities, and upon the completion of the skills acquisition training, the beneficiaries were given starter pack items.”
He also explained that HEOSL is committed to supporting education through scholarships for secondary and tertiary students from the host communities, as well as offering industrial training placements for tertiary institution students.
Speaking in the same vein, the CEO of Shoreline Natural Resources Limited, Engr. Tunde Karim, who was represented by Engr. Philip Egbe, emphasized that Shoreline values the partnership with the CDB as a veritable ally of promoting growth and transforming OML 30.
He said that the projects commissioning and the unwavering commitments to the growth of OML 30 have not gone unnoticed, stating that the leadership of the CDB has been a driving force behind the positive changes witnessed in the asset and applauded their efforts in fostering a thriving and sustainable community.
