The Nigeria Corrosion Association (NiCA) held its Annual Conference recently, calling for Corrosion studies to be included in the curriculum of Nigeria’s higher institutions
Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
In tackling the challenges associated with Corrosion in the Oil and Gas Sector, safeguarding infrastructures in homes, Offices and industries, the Nigerian Corrosion Association (NiCA) is calling for collaboration Between Government, Institution of learning, Industries and the community in addressing environmental challenges that will align our actions with the principles of environmental sustainability and responsibility.
Speaking under the Theme “Management of Corrosion in The Midstream and Downstream Oil and Gas Industry” at the 2024 annual conference of NiCA held in Port Harcourt. The President of NiCA, Professor Auwal Kazim says the gas sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and its sustainability is essential for our collective Progress
Auwal said “Corrosion management is matter of national importance, especially as we strive to optimize operations in the midstream and downstream sectors, Noting that the Ramifications of unchecked corrosion are costly not only in terms of financial loss but also with regards to safety and environmental impact and operational efficiency across pipelines, storage facilities, and refining infrastructure, as corrosion threatens our most vital assets unless we confront it with advanced strategies and cutting edge solutions.
In his remark the of chairman of conference, Engr Uche Benedict Ekekwe said “the attempts to return to nature is what we see as corrosion’ He defined corrosion as the act of refining metallic materials or trying to return Metals to their original and natural states where they existed before they were mined or refined by reduction processes or using oxidations, cracking or structural alterations.
he said the resultants effects of negative impacts of corrosion causes reactions, or realignment that results to failures of materials contrary to the designed standards, giving example of such failures such as tank farms, refineries, haulage trucks, processing facilities of hydrocarbon products.
Further he said, the impacts of corrosion failures on product pipelines have significantly increased transportation pricing of products through truck haulage to 400%, because where Pipelines will charge 2% to transport PMS, Haulage will charge 8% for trucking at lesser quantity of products.
Stakeholders has called for the introduction of Corrosion courses in Nigeria institutions of higher learning in engineering departments as a course to facilitate specialization.
