To manage the general and specialized Export Processing Zones in Nigeria, the government has formed two bodies to oversee the workings of the various companies in these free zones. These are
1. Nigerian EPZ Authority (NEPZA) for all the general-purpose export Free Zones
2. OGEFZ Authority is dedicated to the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone (OGEFZ)
The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) :
The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) is the National Regulatory Agency established by the Federal Government of Nigeria through section 2 of the Oil and Gas Export Free Zones Act, No 8 of 29 March 1996, to regulate and manage Nigeria’s oil and gas export free trade zones. The Authority began regulatory operation in Onne, Rivers State, in 2000.
The first oil and gas export-free zone to be established in the country was the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Rivers State. Subsequently, other oil and gas-free zones were established as public-private partnerships between the Federal Government of Nigeria and private sector operators.
Oil and Gas Free Zone Onne
The Oil and Gas Free Zone Onne is the first of its kind solely dedicated to the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria. Onne OGFZ has recorded remarkable success under the supervision of OGFZA since it began regulatory control in 2000.
From the inception of the Zone, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority has licensed over 200 companies to operate in the Zone, including reputable International Energy Companies representing 45 nationalities.
The attraction of these companies into the Zone with an investment portfolio of about $20 billion has brought about an increase in investment inflow into Nigeria and created over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. There has also been a transfer of skills to Nigerians through manpower training.
Oil and Gas Free Zone Onne offers high-speed services and is regarded as the largest Oil and Gas Free Zone in the world. It is adjudged by the Financial Times of London magazine to be the most successful Free Trade Zone in Africa in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
It has helped many international companies to implement their projects and reduce costs for their cargo handling, equipment, shipping, and paperwork processing in a safe and efficient manner.
The key features of the OGFZ Onne are the two major terminals: Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) and Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT). There are eight principal oil companies and more than 220 service companies in these terminals.
BRASS OIL AND GAS CITY, BAYELSA STATE
Brass Oil and Gas City (BOG City) was declared Oil and Gas Free Zone by the President in 2015. The Free Zone is a partnership between Bayelsa State and private sector investors. BOG City is located on Brass Island. Its licensed Free Zone Developer is Brass Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Limited.
The anchor project at BOC City is gas, where Gas Fertilizers and Petrochemical Company is collaborating with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, DSV Engineering, the Tata Group, and two other equity investors on a $3.5 billion greenfield methanol & petrochemical investment. The plant would have the capacity to produce 10,000 tonnes of methanol per day and process 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The plant would use the abundant deposit of gas in Bayelsa State as feedstock.
Liberty Oil & Gas Free Zone
The Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone, located in Akwa Ibom State, was established by a Presidential Declaration in July 2020. The Free Zone is promoted by Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and private sector equity investors, which include Sterling Petroleum and Fertilizer Limited, and the Black Rhino Group. The Liberty Free Zone is the largest Oil and Gas Free Zone in West Africa by landmass, measuring 50,215 hectares across six local council areas.
A unique development of Liberty Free Zone worth noting is that it is being rapidly populated by clients. Within a year of its establishment, the Free Zone has reported the rollout of 12 licensed international companies, raising the investment commitments profile in the industrial and trade hub to more than $15 billion.
The development design of the zone at full rollout will feature a Petroleum and Energy District; an NNPC Logistics Centre; a Business and Industrial District; an Agro-allied Industrial District; and a Heavy Industry District.
EKO SUPPORT SERVICES, APAPA LAGOS STATE
The Oil and Gas Free Zone (Eko Support Services), Lagos, was established in 2015 but did not come under the regulatory control of OGFZA until 2017. Eko Support Services has 20 years of experience in port management and terminal logistics support services.
Eko Support Services embarked on a substantial investment, committing funds to the redevelopment of the facility. The construction started in 2012 and was completed in 2014.
Eko Support Services has a highly trained workforce using state-of-the-art equipment, offering the most efficient and time-saving cargo handling services in a QHSE compliant environment.
We provide the following services:
Port Services to Ocean-Going Import & Export Vessels
Road and Sea Transportation
Logistic Supervision
Shore base services
Bunkering water and diesel
Rental of fully functional offices
Equipment and personnel for heavy lift operations
Warehousing and storage facility
Materials management
BESTAF Maritime Industrial (BMI) Oil and Gas Free Zone
BESTAF Maritime Industrial (BMI) Oil and Gas Free Zone is one of Nigeria’s indigenous private Sector, funded initiatives.
BMI is an export-oriented Free Zone set up to help transform Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity in the downstream sector of the Oil and Gas Industry.
The Zone is a consortium of 10 wholly owned Nigerian companies led by Bestaf Trading Company Ltd, a company established in May 2008 with a registered address at No. 2 Port Road, Tin Can Island Apapa Lagos. The BMI Zone comprises an Industrial Zone at Tin Can Island and Kirikiri Island of Lagos with the following Sub-Zones:
(i) Bulk and Containerized Sub-Zone for Conventional Cargo
(ii) Containerized Free Zone Cargo District
(iii) Industrial Sub-Zone
(iv) African Trading Centre, which is a dedicated Port Facility for the BMI Zone, at the Kirikiri area of Lagos State.
(V) Export-approved terminal at the Kirikiri area of Lagos.
Notore Industrial City, Onne Rivers State
Notore Chemical Industries was granted a Free Zone Developer (FZD) Licence in 2017 by the Onne Oil & Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) to operate an Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne. Pursuant to being licensed as a Free Zone Developer, Notore Chemical Industries has created the Notore Industrial City (NIC) as an Oil and Gas Free Zone and commenced full-scale operation. NIC is positioned as a gas hub but is also providing logistics and engineering services. The NIC is being developed on a world-class industrial master plan design model on a private real estate of 560 hectares owned by Notore Chemical Industries with a government-approved title of a Certificate of Occupancy valid for 85 years.
SERVICES:
NIC is designed to provide 24/7 solutions for cargo, vessels, barges, crew changes, project support, personnel support (including accommodation and recreation), and more. Boasting strong partnerships with reliable service providers in logistics equipment services, the City will ensure that your cargo and people get from point to point safely and efficiently whenever needed, supervised by a first-class logistics team. • NIC is investing in logistics equipment for the service of client companies. Fuel will be provided by Notore Industrial City when associated facilities have been completed.NIC has a range of facilities including office buildings and complexes in a secure area, operational offices built above warehouses, workshops next to the quay, and new porta cabins. The City uses the latest infrastructure, IT, and personnel security solutions. All the operational and personnel areas are fenced and can only be accessed through secure access control offices. • NIC operates an Integrated Management System (IMS) that includes quality, health, safety, and environmental management systems.
Updated on : Thursday,May 16 the,2024