The 14th Emir of Lere, Engr. Suleiman Umaru Lere statutorily retired on 7th February 2020 from the services of NNPC having reached age of 60 years, on the position of General Manager, Expansion project, seconded to Nigeria LNG Limited.
My responsibility on this job was coordinating the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) Train 7 expansion project. The project is a multi-billion US Dollars cost conceived to increase the company’s production capacity by 35%.
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During his four years on this role from March 2016 to February 2020, I was also a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of NLNG as well as a member of the Senior Tenders and Risk Management Committees. NLNG is a leading LNG supplier contributing about 7 % of global supply and about 1% of Nigeria’s GDP.
His overall career spanned about 34 years in the oil and gas inindustry. He started his early career at Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (also a subsidiary of NNPC), holding senior supervisory and management roles in plant operation, Engineering and Technical services. He was seconded to NLNG in 2002 to join the Train 3 expansion project.
During his 18 years stint at NLNG, was involved in the developing plant projects as Senior Commissioning Engineer, Senior Process Engineer and Head Process & Utilities Development & Integration of NLNG.
He was also on cross-posting to Shell Projects & Technology, Asia Pacific Region office, Malaysia from 2009 to 2011 as Process Engineer and Lead Advisor to Russian Sakhalin and Australian Gorgon LNG project. His professional attitude is epitomized by focus on teamwork, innovation, developing people and adding value to organisations.
He is currently involved in various private endeavours in the fields of Energy Supply, Engineering Services and Agriculture, holding directorship of few Companies in these ventures.
Career Summary
NLNG Corporate Head Office Port Harcourt – May 2016 ~ Feb 2020.
General Manager, Expansion Project (NNPC)/Expansion Coordinator (NLNG)
• Responsible for Front-End Development and delivering the Train 7 project to Final Investment Decision by NLNG Shareholders as Business Opportunity Manager in December 2019.
• Led the achievement of all ‘Conditions Precedent’ of Train 7 Expansion to achieve FID with the most competitive cost and within target.
• Managed the various stakeholder interfaces within NLNG, Shareholders companies, Government agencies, Community, etc. to secure support and approvals for project execution.
• As Business Opportunity Manager for the Multi-Billion Dollars Train 7 project, his responsibility also included integrating all the supporting Technical, Economic, Commercial, Organisational and Political dimensions to deliver Gas Supply Agreements, Financing and Sales & Purchase agreements for final investment decision.
NNPC Gas & Power Directorate, Corporate Headquarters Abuja- Feb 2016 ~April 2016.
Manager, NLNG, Gas & Power Investment Company (NNPC)
• Leveraged on his Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) experience to mentor and coach colleagues on operational and technical perspectives of the NLNG business model.
• Provided guidance and input for assessing and evaluating various proposals and initiatives for new LNG ventures.
• Supported LNG ventures governance with new initiatives to realise investment opportunities.
NLNG Production Division, Bonny Island- (Nov 2011 – Jan 2016).
Manager (Head Process & Utilities Development & Integration), NLNG
• Led Front-End Development of Process & utility plant changes/projects. These covered several projects critical to long-term utility availability / reliability of the NLNG plant complex.
• Managed the Shareholders Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) as secretary; organising the quarterly meetings and helping to secure Shareholder support for technical initiatives and projects designed to sustain plant availability, reliability and optimum capacity utilisation.
Shell Projects & Technology, Malaysia – Nov 2009 – Nov 2011.
LNG Process Engineer & Operations Focal – Asia Pacific region
• Coordinated the overall Technology and process engineering support to Russian Sakhalin LNG and the development of Australian Gorgon LNG project.
• Developed configuration design improvements for LNG and Mixed Refrigerant (MR) Liquid expanders to help optimise future designs.
• Participated in the Gorgon LNG Train 4 expansion study with objective of securing Final Investment Decision, targeting cost efficiency.
NLNG Production Division, Bonny Island – (June 2006 ~ November 2009).
Deputy Manager
• Managed the process and Utility Technology department to support operations department to optimise operation and sustain top quartile reliability and availability.
• Mentored and managed development of Nigerian engineers and graduates programme to make them ready and acquire competency levels demanded by top quartile global Oil and Gas Company.
NLNG –NIGERIA PLUS Project Team Bonny Island- (April 2004 ~June 2006).
Chief Engineer
• Worked as part of the process engineering team that supervised contractor to deliver commissioning of Train 4 and 5, achieving safe start up on schedule and within budget.
• Received Managing Directors’ recognition and commendation award for the role and contribution in successful and landmark start-up of Trains4/5.
NLNG Expansion Project Bonny Island – (July 2002~ April 2004).
Deputy Chief Engineer
• Participated in the Train3 project EPC team as commissioning & start up engineer.
• Commissioned LNG train, Condensate Handling Unit, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and the storage and Loading facilities.
• Got commendation as part of the team that started up the first NLNG LPG Refrigeration, storage and loading plant.
NNPC/KRPC – Engineering & Technical Services, Kaduna – Jan 1999 ~ July 2002).
Deputy Chief Engineer
• Was responsible for optimisation and troubleshooting of the process units including Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) plant, the Crude Distillation & Catalytic Reforming plants.
• Was member of the World Bank / NNPC Action Plan for the Phase-out Leaded Gasoline and developed the strategy and implementation roadmap for Nigerian Refineries.
• Developed as part of a specialist team the ‘KRPC Survival Strategy’ to manage asset deterioration due to postponements of regular Turn-Around Maintenance activities.
NNPC/KRPC – Production Lubes Department, Kaduna – (April 1986~ December 1998).
Engineer II – Asst. Chief Engineer (Operation Chief /Superintendent)
• Organised and supervised daily plant operations and maintenance.
• Delivered on production targets and achieved safe and optimum performance of units.
• Contributed to sustained plant operation at record optimum capacity utilisation.
Membership of Professional Bodies
- A Registered Engineer with Council for the registration of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN).
- Corporate Member, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, MNSChE.
- Corporate Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers, MNSE.
Academic qualifications
- IJMB Certificate – School of Basic Studies, ABU Zaria – 1980
- B.Eng. Degree Chemical Engineering- ABU Zaria – 1985
- MBA Degree – ABU Zaria 2000
Positions held in Lere Traditional Institution
• Was turbaned as Wamban Lere in 2002 by his late father Sarkin Lere Alhaji Umaru Muhammed
• Was promoted to the title of Madakin Lere in 2015 by his uncle the late Emir of Lere Brig Gen Abubakar Garba Muhammed (Rtd).
• Currently, hold the Chairmanships of Lere Emirate Council Finance Committee and the Lere Heritage Documentation Committee.
Biodata, interests & hobbies
• Born at Lere in Kaduna state on 7th February 1960 and married with 5 children.
• His hobbies include reading, horse riding, farming, and watching football.
• Socially involved in promoting peaceful coexistence, and educational development wherever he finds myself.
• An active and founding member of Lere Educational Foundation that owns and run the Umaru Mohamed Memorial Nursery, Primary and Junior Secondary schools tuition free at Lere.
