Chevron began doing business in Nigeria in 1913, when Texaco® products were first marketed 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 shareholdings 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 facility 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 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. The program is making significant strides toward eliminating traffic deaths and injuries in the communities where we work. The Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative achieved its first major success by recommending revised motorcycle laws to address the serious problems posed by motorcycle taxis in Lagos state. The program also has provided helmets for motorcycle riders. In 2010, Chevron worked with the Lagos state government, nongovernmental organizations and other road agencies on a campaign to make motorists more aware of safety signs on trucks.
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.
CNL is 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. Nigerian 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 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-elimination projects to minimize environmental impact while increasing economic benefits. Plant 3A accepted its first gas in June 2010. All new developments are being designed with a zero-flare philosophy.
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.
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 ethnic conflict in the Niger Delta, setting up the Riverboat Clinic and our involvement in ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.
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 2009, CNL also received several awards. They include:
- Nigerian Guild of Editors Award for Corporate Responsibility Initiatives
- Prince Michael International Road Safety Award
- Best Exhibitor for 2008 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists
- Merit Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (Students Section)
In 2010, CNL won the Environmental Stewardship Award presented by the Council of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. Also in 2010, African Leadership magazine honored CNL with the African Excellence Award in Community Development.
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, the Escravos gas-to-liquids project, the Escravos Gas Project 3A and related projects.
CNL started a partnership with the Lagos Business School to develop local contractors who can better fulfill the needs of the oil industry. Several training sessions have been held in the states of Lagos and Warri. CNL also has invested in instructing Nigerian college students in the use of computer-aided design.
Updated March 2011
Cautionary Statement