The OML 30 Flow Stations Presidents-General Forum has given Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) two weeks to respond to concerns raised by the host communities over payments to indigenous contractors, employment opportunities, scholarships and Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) projects.
The Forum, which represents host communities in OML 30, made the demands in a letter addressed to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HEOSL.
The letter was signed by the Presidents-General of the affected communities and copied to the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Delta State Government, the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, security agencies, traditional rulers, OML 30 HCDT, relevant Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) authorities and other stakeholders.
According to the Forum, it had raised the issues in previous communications concerning payments to traditional rulers and other stakeholders, the review and implementation of scholarship programmes, employment opportunities for qualified indigenous graduates, the award of contracts to qualified indigenous contractors and community projects under the HCDT.
The Forum requested clarification and action on outstanding payments it said were due to indigenous contractors, as well as adherence to agreed contractual payment timelines.
It also called for appropriate mobilisation arrangements for future contracts, where applicable, and greater consideration for qualified contractors from OML 30 host communities in the award of projects.
On education and employment, the Forum requested a review of the scholarship programme and increased opportunities for qualified graduates from the host communities.
It said the scholarship programme had, in its assessment, not been implemented over the past year and called for engagement with relevant stakeholders on the matter.
The Forum also raised concerns about payments to traditional rulers and other stakeholders, describing the issue as an important aspect of relations between operating companies and host communities.
On contracts, the Forum said some indigenous contractors had experienced delays in receiving payments after completing their contractual obligations.
It therefore called for the review and resolution of outstanding payment issues and adherence to agreed contractual timelines.
The group also urged HEOSL to give greater consideration to qualified indigenous contractors in projects within OML 30, saying increased local participation could support employment, skills development and economic activity in the host communities.
The Forum further requested the implementation and award of contracts for community projects it said had already been scoped under the OML 30 HCDT.
It urged the relevant HCDT authorities to progress the projects and provide opportunities for qualified community contractors to participate.
The Forum said it preferred dialogue, consultation and partnership with HEOSL and other stakeholders in addressing the issues.
It nevertheless requested that the relevant authorities engage with the communities within the two-week period to work towards resolving the matters raised.
The Forum also called for compliance with relevant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act concerning benefits accruing to host communities.