Aberdeen-based Xodus Group set up an engineering operation in Nigeria last year and has already enjoyed considerable success in the region.
The independent consultancy, which provides integrated engineering solutions and expert advice to companies operating in the oil, gas and low-carbon energy sectors, set up in Lagos in February 2011, providing it with a base from which to offer subsea, wells and subsurface and process services to the west-African oil and gas market.
It has already provided its integrated engineering services to operators such as Shell, along with a number of Nigeria’s emerging independent oil and gas operating companies.
Over the next three years, the company expects to significantly expand its African operation by working on much larger integrated field development projects with majors like Total, Chevron and ExxonMobil.
Xodus director Dave Rayburn said: “We decided to set up an operation in Nigeria because we noticed a real gap in the market for the type of services that we specialise in providing.
“Whilst the oil and gas industry is well established in Nigeria – the majority of the large-scale service companies having a presence here – there is a lack of multi-disciplined services and capability but most importantly an absence of real front-end engineering expertise in the industry, and we intend to fill that gap.”
Xodus currently employs 25 people in Nigeria, but wants to grow that number to around 200 over the next three years.
Mr Rayburn said: “We chose to set up our engineering operation in Lagos – Nigeria’s most populous city – as it would quickly develop into our major engineering hub from which we could access other oil-rich neighbouring states.
“On the whole, we’ve found trading in Nigeria to be very fruitful for our business. With English being the first language, establishing new trading relationships is much easier than most people assume.
“Scottish Development International and UKTI have both been incredibly helpful in providing us with the advice and guidance we have needed to set up in Nigeria and in Africa in general, and we will continue to utilise their support as we expand over the next few years.”
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