In this context Nigeria becomes unavoidable

In Nigeria, the movement of Europeans are with driver and armed guard, military escort around. In Lagos, the former capital, not question for an expatriate to walk the streets. It is too dangerous. It is not too close to the Windows and, whatever the period, it does lead ever. In this city of 8 million inhabitants choked by traffic jams, some Europeans prefer also live in the hotel. It is more secure than a house where someone might sooner or later enter...

Nigeria is not an easy country. Yet it was here that Total has chosen to invest in arms tour in recent years. Oil group in Nigeria was in 2008, a volume of 246.000 barrels oil equivalent per day (BoE/d), taking into account all their interests. Or 10.5 of the total production of the group. It should still significantly increase over the coming years. On Wednesday, the French company officially opened the Akpo deposit, located 150 km from the coast of the Niger delta. Produced in partnership with the Brazilian Petrobras and Cnooc Chinese and Nigerian company NNPC, Akpo is the most important development of the French group this year with a tray of 225,000 BoE/d flow. investment: 6 billion (EUR 4.25 billion).

Fantastic reserves

Akpo is also the first deposit in deep water by Total in Nigeria, about 1,400 metres. Two major developments should follow, Usan and Egina, with each production tray of 180.000 BoE/d. The first to enter into production end of 2011. The second in 2014, if the investment decision is made next year. "Nigeria is probably now the most important country for Total medium- and long term, given the mining sector and portfolio in the country", says the CEO of Total, Christophe de Margerie. Globally, Africa is also the region of the world the most open to large companies. With fantastic reserves, the Middle East countries severely control access to their resources. And even under American control, the Iraq remains a question mark. In this context, Nigeria becomes unavoidable. After having doubled between 1999 and 2005, Total production is now the third major of the country, behind Shell and ExxonMobil. Of course, the work environment is very difficult. The Niger delta is regularly rocked by violence perpetrated by armed groups. With major facilities on land, Shell's subsidiary has seen its production collapse in recent years. In the space of three years, its budget rose from $ 6.6 billion to 2.4 billion. In Total, the families of expatriates are more present in Port Harcourt for several years. The security budget amounted to about 50 million dollars per year. To secure his presence and respond to the expectations of local leaders, the Group seeks to give more content in more local projects. In the case of Akpo, a little more than 40 of the hours worked and carried out in Nigeria. This percentage should theoretically go to 60 in the next (Usan) project.

Imposed on the contractors, this approach is not without consequence. It significantly increases the cost but also increases the risk of schedule slippage. In an industry where the rental of a drilling rig can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per day, is not to miss. Finally, this strategy of "localization" requires to rub a little more Nigerian culture in social relations. "South-rail, are the next rigolos", smiles an old briscard of the sector.