From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has applauded Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), operators of OML 30, for taking deliberate steps to develop it’s host communities in the state.
The governor said the company through its joint venture partner and Community Development Board (CDB), has been alive to it’s corporate social responsibility to the host communities.
Oborevwori spoke in Ughelli during the commissioning of some completed projects executed by the company as part of activities marking the first year anniversary of the present CDB.
Some of the commissioned projects include four units self contain apartment in Orhoakpor; 60 units market stalls/abattoir and town hall in Afiesere; Ugbokodo-Okpe community market; three bedroom bungalow and three guests houses in Ubeji community.
Other were Okporo-Oleh Community Hall for oil and gas landlords; Emede community market stalls and two and three housing units for oil and gas landlords; Odiologbo of Okpolo-Enhwe Palace; Odiologbo of Olomoro residential building; Henry Ojogho road and Uzeva road, Oleh.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Vincent Oyibode, the governor said the developmental efforts of HEOSL were in line the M.O.R.E. agenda of his administration.
He said if all OML CDBs and the oil firms emulated HEOSL’s CSR initiatives, host communities would experience peace and development.
Governor Oborevwori applauded HEOSL and the joint venture partners and the host communities for their cooperation, saying that government was elated with the development.
Chairman of the board, Iduh Amadhe, in his remark, said over 100 projects were completed in the host communities, adding that “several others are ongoing with many at advanced stages.”
Amadhe, a former president-general of Isoko Development Union (IDU), listed other areas of intervention to include training/capacity building and provision of starter packs to participants from across the 12 clusters.
“The board has engaged the operator in strategic areas like acceptable employment quota and contracts to our people as well as issues bothering on spill management and protection of our environment within the extant laws governing the oil industry,” he added.
Chief Executive Officer HEOSL, Ado Oseragbaje represented by Jeremiah Oharisi, Head Community Relations, said that HEOSL, as the operator of the Joint Venture Partnership (SNRL & NEPL), is proud to be associated with the 112 host communities comprising the Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Delta State.
He said the company recognised the importance of economic empowerment and human capital development.
“To this end, 10% 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 are given starter pack items,” he declared.
The HEOSL boss also the company’s commitment 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.