Chevron began doing business in Nigeria in 1913 when Texaco products were first marketed in the country.
Chevron has continued to market quality products through service stations, terminals and kiosks and ventured into the aviation and bunkering segments as well. We also have been a leading producer of quality lubricants, greases, petroleum jelly and plastic containers in the country.
Following the Nigerian Indigenization Decree of 1978, which was designed to raise the level of Nigerian participation in business, Chevron divested 40 percent of its share holdings to the Nigerian public while retaining 60 percent equity in Chevron Oil Nigeria PLC.
In 1996, we built our 103,000-barrel state-of-the-art storage terminal and loading gantry in Apapa.
Our energy exploration and production work began more than 40 years ago.
In 1963, American Overseas Petroleum Ltd. – which later became Texaco Overseas (Nigeria) Petroleum Co. – discovered oil at the Koluama Field, offshore Nigeria. In that same year, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) started drilling near the Escravos River and found the Okan Field.
Discovered in 1998, the Agbami Field is one of the largest deepwater discoveries in Nigeria's history.
Health, Environment and Safety
Nigeria is one of three African countries participating in the Arrive Alive program pioneered by Chevron, which is making significant strides toward eliminating traffic deaths and injuries in the communities where we work. The Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative has achieved its first major success by recommending revised motorcycle laws to address the serious problems posed by motorcycle taxis in Lagos state. The program has provided helmets for motorcycle riders.
The 46-year-old Okan Platform, among others, was upgraded with a focus on improved pollution prevention measures and safety systems. At the Okan Platform, workers have completed 1.4 million work-hours without a single lost-time injury.
In 1981, CNL became a founding member of the Technical Committee of the Clean Nigeria Association, a second-tier oil spill response organization established in 1981. Chevron continues to hold a leadership position in the association.
Chevron has restored 15 abandoned land drill sites and 35 burrow pits and has decommissioned nine abandoned land wells, with work continuing on other sites. Community and indigenous contractors are engaged for the restoration work, reflecting CNL's ongoing commitment to using local resources and encouraging others to do the same.
Chevron is working actively across its operations to eliminate routine flaring and venting in line with company requirements and local regulations. Since 1997, with the commissioning of the Escravos Gas Plant 1 and since 2001 with Plant 2, Chevron has advanced various flare-out projects to minimize environmental impact while increasing economic benefits. Plant 3 is due for startup in 2009. All new developments are being designed with a zero-flare philosophy.
Helping Students
CNL supports the Lekki Conservation Center. Each year, thousands of schoolchildren and teachers visit the site, which also hosts researchers and other visitors. The center was established in 1992 by Chevron and our partners.
In 2005, Chevron established a postgraduate research scholarship for doctoral students in the fields of environment and conservation. In addition, we host the annual S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture to promote environmental management awareness.
Awards
CNL was recognized in 1999 with the Nigerian Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Excellence Award and in 2002 with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation's Award for Environmental Excellence. In 2006, the Delta state government honored CNL with the Best Oil Company in Oil Spill Management Practices award.
Also in 2006, CNL received a Corporate Good Environment Health Practice Award from the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria. The award was given for the company's "commitment to responsible environmental stewardship" in Nigeria.
In 2001, CNL was honored with the Star Merit Award on Environment from the Nigerian Environmental Society, Lagos State Chapter. And in 2002, CNL received the meritorious honor of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation for its consistent and long-standing support of the organization and environmental conservation in Nigeria.
In 2003, CNL won the U.S. State Department's Award for Corporate Excellence. The company was praised for its work in Nigeria for, among other things, airlifting more than 2,000 community members to safety in 2003 during inter-ethnic conflict in the Niger Delta area, setting up the Riverboat Clinic and our active involvement in the ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.
In 2008, CNL also received several awards. They include:
- Celebrating a Shining Example of Corporate Social Responsibility, from the Petroleum Training Journal
- First-ever Award for Excellence in Nigeria Content, at Nigeria Oil and Gas 2008
- Award from the Warri chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists
Economy
Besides the jobs and capital investments created by Chevron's large day-to-day operations, major economic benefits for the community are expected from the West African Gas Pipeline and related projects.
Since 1994, Chevron and our partners have invested about $142 million in sustainable development projects. The Western Niger Delta Development Program, announced in 1999, is a five-year, $1 million-per-year program in partnership with the late Rev. Leon H. Sullivan's International Foundation for Education and Self Help to address social, economic and developmental problems in the Niger Delta.
Since 1997, as part of its strategy on educational development, Chevron has been training youths in vocational skills, under its Technical Skills Acquisition Program. In 2007, this program sponsored 50 students from communities close to Chevron facilities in the Niger Delta. The students attended specially designed, full-time vocational training courses.
CNL started a partnership with the Lagos Business School to develop the capacity of local contractors to better fulfill the needs of the oil industry. Several training sessions have been held in the states of Lagos and Warri. CNL has also invested in instructing Nigerian college students in the use of computer-aided design.
Updated March 2009