By Emmanuella Anokam

The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) is strategising on policies to spur industry’s growth and lay a solid foundation for transitioning into cleaner sources of energy.

Dr Henry Adimula, Principal and Chief Executive of PTI, said this while addressing newsmen on its forthcoming 3rd Biennial International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology (ICHST).

The conference is scheduled to hold in Abuja from Oct. 23 to Oct. 24, 2023 with the theme “The Future of Oil and Industry Opportunities, Challenges and Development”.

The conference, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) Academy and RTI and African Petroleum Producers Association (APPO), would be hosted by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

Adimula said apart from formulating practicable policies which the conference aimed at achieving, it also looked forward to take into considerations evolving technology needed for future development and its workforce in the course of policy implementation.

“The whole world is in a phase, transiting from our traditional source of energy to a cleaner form of energy which provides a lot of opportunities but come with challenges which we must surmount.

“The challenges are on issues of financing, government policies and regulations and how they affect our proposed match to finding a cleaner source of energy and at the same time not creating problems of energy poverty,” he said.

He said the conference which was conceived to showcase its major activities and research outcomes in Nigeria and Africa at large would also examine current issues in Nigerian energy industry and worldwide.

“By being a research hub, we look at the challenges then create a research clusters around Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) to find solutions and understand problems better,” he added.

Speaking on developing technologies in modular refineries, he said PTI as a primary training institution created such to help advancement of technology in that space.

“Looking at the practice and lack of technology being used by artisanal refiners we focus on developing concepts and training refiners so that whatever they do will not adversely affect environment.

“As an institute we have built up our own but will scale it up and find ways to make it commercial. We have our templates so that it is easier to bring people in and teach them on various components of what to encounter in the field.

“What we have today are people who do not know anything about refining but go into the creeks and begin to create pipelines, cook oil.

“No, we do it differently by training and equipping the refiners with necessary skills and various components of what to encounter in the field and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” he said.

Dr Tina Isichei, Director, Research and Development, PTI said issues bordering CCUS technology and inclusion in the curriculum would be deliberated on in the conference.

This, she said would assist the trainees to understand latest things in the industry.

She disclosed that the PTI is partnering with the NNPC Ltd to come up with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered Tricycle in view of the emphasis on the decade of gas and cleaner energy source.

“Discussions are on and the whole idea is to come up with one so that we could have gas to reduce amount of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) we consume and emission going into the atmosphere,” she said.

Isichei, who explained that its modular refinery which had capacity of processing about 200 litres of crude was being used for training, added that it was looking for partners to scale it up beyond 200 litres.

The conference which will feature ministers, legislators, international and local industry players will have four panel sessions on policy and legislation, strategies for decarbonisation, finance and talents.

PTI was established to train technicians and technologists for the energy industry. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has appointed Mr Olufemi Soneye as its Chief Corporate Communications Officer.

The NNPC Ltd management said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja Soneye would lead its Corporate Communications team and drive its brand penetration, strategic communications initiatives, and stakeholder management.

The company described Soneye, as a seasoned journalist with full-time and freelance experiences at some of the world’s most respected publications in Nigeria, Australia, and the U.S.

“He is a member of reputable bodies, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists, Society of Professional Journalists, and the Guild of Corporate Online Media Publishers.

“He is the former President of the Nigerian Media Practitioners, Washington, D.C.

“We look forward to his valuable contributions to our Company,” it said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government says it is targeting to increase crude oil production to two million Barrels Per Day (bdp) and beyond by the end of the year.

Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), made this known in a meeting with the Abuja Energy Correspondent Association on Friday in Abuja.

Lokpobiri said the government was working assiduously to ramp up crude oil production to two million bpd by December and beyond by the end of 2023.

“The reason why we are under-performing is insecurity and we are gradually tackling those problems.

“My sole agenda is to increase production, once we increase production, we will get more revenue for the country. You know Nigeria is still more dependent on oil.

“Though the non-oil sector is also supporting the economy, a substantial part of our forex comes from oil.

“So, my ambition is to see how I can lead the sector to increase production so that we can get more revenue to deal with the fund and strategic rationale projects in the country,” he said.

The minister said there was already an increase in production, and that as at last month it was 1.1 million barrels, while currently it had increased to 1.3 – 1.4 million barrels.

“I get the reports from relevant authorities. Today, we are doing about 1.4 million barrels of crude. So, we are steadily increasing but our target is to see how we can get to two million barrels,” he said.

Lokpobiri, while urging relevant stakeholders to put hands on deck to tackle challenges in the sector said he had been interacting with some of them, including the International Oil Companies and local producers.

He noted that the engagement with them was already yielding results.

“We have identified where the problem is, and where we are getting the shortfall and we are already engaging them within the next few weeks, we will be able to give you how far we have gone in that direction.

He said some of the solutions might not be immediate but once identified there would be provision of a good framework to address those problems.

He said the government was bent on rebuilding the confidence of investors and rekindling the industry to become more competitive.

Earlier, the President of the association, Mr Victor Nnodim, had reiterated the association’s readiness for collaboration and sought the minister’s support in driving his developmental agenda and moving the industry forward. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has constituted a committee to address issues bordering on inactive crude oil blocks in order to reverse the trend.

Dr Kelechi Ofoegbu, Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, NUPRC, made this known at its Consultation Forum on Friday in Abuja.

The committee, he said would adopt holistic measures to reverse trend of the 23 failed oil blocks being managed by oil companies under the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) with Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

Ofoegbu spoke to newsmen at the end of the 4th Phase of its Consultation Forum with Stakeholders on regulations development, as mandated by Section 216 (4)(g) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

It would be recalled that latest Oil and Gas Industry Report for 2021 released by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) revealed that 23 oil blocks managed by both international and local oil companies under crude oil PSC with NNPC Ltd., failed to produce crude or were inactive.

PSC is an arrangement or contract where the contracted oil company undertakes to fund operations to explore, develop and produce petroleum within a concession area, under an Oil Prospecting Licence and for an agreed number of years.

“The percentage is correct but there are reasons behind that and also well known to us and also to the operators.

“The committee, which includes the NNPC Ltd., will look at it holistically and come out with measures that will reverse that trend.

“So there are measures such as tackling crude theft, attracting further investments and all of that,” he said.

Speaking on the sector’s overarching mandate, he said that Nigeria was initially producing 1.2 million Barrels Per Day, adding that the aim was to exit 2023 with 2 million barrels and in the mid to short term to do 4 million barrels.

“We are going to rely on the production from every available acreage.

“The PIA in section 216 required that prior to bringing into existence any regulations, we should seek the opinions of, consult and engage with the stakeholders,” he added

He said in keeping compliance with that provision, the NUPRC had been convening stakeholders while the forum was the fourth edition with stakeholders.

“We looked at the draft Assignment Regulations, Assignment Regulations, Vocation Regulations, Development Contract Regulations and today, we are looking at the Commercial Regulations.

“The aim of the consultation is basically to have support for what we are proposing and to also enrich the document and the process and ensure the outcome will stand the test of time.”

According to him, the finalised draft will be sent to the ministry of Justice for ratification and approval.

He said the aim also was to improve commercial efficiency, reduce cost of production and promote profitability and ease of doing business. 9NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government has directed the contractor handling the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline Project to ensure completion and deliver the project on time.

Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), gave the charge on Thursday while inspecting the AKK project sites in PAI community, situated between Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils of Abuja.

Ekpo inspected the progress of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) of the PAI River Crossing being executed by Oilserv Limited, one of the three major River Crossing work which advanced in stage and approaching the final stage of completion.

The AKK pipeline is a 614km-long natural gas pipeline being developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to run from Ajaokuta, through Abuja-Kaduna to Kano.

Ekpo was accompanied in the visit by Mr Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, top officials of the NNPC Ltd and the project contractor, Oilserv Limited, Pipelines and Facilities (EPCIC), among others.

The Minister said with more than 200 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of proven gas reserves and unproven reserves amounting to 600 TCF in the deep sea and other areas in the country the AKK project was critical to be delivered on schedule.

“So far; I am impressed with what has been done, and the contractor has assured me that by July and August 2024 the project will be completed.

“And when completed, many ailing industries will come to limelight, there will be efficient power supply, availability of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking, eradicating biomass (charcoal) while industries would equally come up.

“Today the global world is talking about gas and we have it in abundance, the reserve is enough to take us for next hundred years and service other nations. Nigeria should actually be the hub of gas resources.

“The prosperity of Nigeria depends on this very project. When completed, power plants in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano will be put into use guaranteeing energy security in long term with boost in investment.

“So we hold the contractor responsible for any slow rate of development. You are given the job on trust and there are bound to be challenges. The way you have been summounting challenges in other locations, apply it here, we will support you to complete it on schedule,” Ekpo said.

While appreciating NNPC Ltd and management on its efforts, Ekpo assured Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu, adding that the government was doing everything possible to mitigate hardship.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Malam Mele Kyari, said reiterated its commitment towards the delivery of strategic national infrastructure projects through responsive project delivery, active collaboration with security agencies and communities.

Kyari, represented by Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, NNPC Ltd, said it was focused on technology deployment in form of Human and Technical Intelligence for surveillance along the entire Right of Way to realise timely delivery of the project for the benefit of Nigerians.

He described the project as a major economic trigger of the nation assuring that the NNPC Ltd would continue to take right steps to ensure that facilities and resources required were deployed for its realisation.

Also speaking, Oilserv Chairman, Mr Emeka Okwuosa, gave assurance that the project would be completed between July and August 2024.

He said the site visited was peculiar because of its river crossing, adding that it would also deployed Direct Pipe Installation Technology to cross River Niger.

Okwuosa said the company was working hard to mitigate challenges to enable it to deliver the project.

He listed the challenges as river crossing, rock blasting, drilling and security, stressing that it would continue to work closely with the NNPC Ltd to ensure timely delivery of the project.

“We are also working with the NNPC Ltd to see how we can do night operations here to hasten the project by doubling the speed but we are only limited with day time operations.

“Some pipes are existing in the right of way example crude oil line to Kaduna refinery so we are careful not to damage anything. We are optimistic that by next year the linear section that will deliver gas will be done with,” he said.

The 2.5 billion dollars AKK Gas Pipeline and Stations Project is a flagship of the Phase -1 Trans Nigeria Gas Pipeline (TNGP) project.

It is designed to integrate the northern part of Nigeria with the Niger Delta, eastern and western regions of the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in compliance with provisions of Section 71 (1) – (10) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 has granted a Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) to TGS-PetroData Offshore Services Limited (TGS-PD).

The PEL is the first under the PIA 2021 and is under the licence agreement which the Commission and TGS-PD executed for a Geophysical Survey Project for the acquisition of about 56,000 square kilometres of 3D seismic and gravity data.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of NUPRC in a statement on Thursday said the development was another milestone in the smooth implementation of the PIA for the attraction of investment in the oil and gas sector.

“Without data, reserves cannot be auctioned for development and revenue attraction.

“Data acquired under the PEL is not proprietary but speculative/multi-client survey data acquired in partnership with the NUPRC.

“The licence therefore authorises TGS-PetroData Offshore to carry out non-exclusive Petroleum Exploration Operations on a multi-client basis within the licensed area and permits the use of the acquired 3D seismic and gravity data by exploration companies.

“Due to the specialised nature of the Geophysical Survey Vessel to be used for the acquisition of the 3D seismic and gravity data, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board granted no objection to TGS-PD to deploy the facility,” he said.

He said the acquisition of the 3D seismic and gravity data commenced on July 17 and the processed data would be available for use by mid-2024.

He included the scope of the Geophysical Survey Project as Phase one acquisition of about 11,900 sq. km of new 3D seismic and gravity data in water depth ranging from 30m to 4000m offshore Niger Delta.

According to him, acquiring seismic and gravity data at the same time will improve the correlation of identified structures and reservoirs.

“Record length of 14 seconds. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria. This will image deeper reservoirs that have not been imaged offshore Niger Delta before now.

“The acquired seismic and gravity data will be processed using the latest TGS proprietary technology. The acquired data will be licensed to exploration companies,” he said.

The CCE however listed the benefits that Nigeria would derive from the new 3D seismic and gravity data acquisition to include availability of new regional 3D seismic and gravity data in deep waters ranging from 30m to 4000m offshore Niger Delta.

He said the Commission had the sole right and title over the acquired raw and interpreted data to be obtained by the licensee (TGS-PD) under a petroleum exploration licence. Therefore, the 3D seismic and gravity data belongs to the Nigerian Government.

“Based on section 71(7) of the PIA, the Commission and Federal Government of Nigeria shall benefit from the revenue that will be generated from the data use licence that will be granted to interested exploration companies by TGS-PD.

“The new 3D seismic and gravity data being acquired will further provide an opportunity for understanding the regional petroleum system of the ultra-deep waters of Nigeria and unlock the hydrocarbon prospectivity of Nigeria’s frontier basins (Ultra-deep offshore).

“The 3D seismic and gravity data when acquired will be useful in future deep water licencing rounds which will attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into oil and gas exploration in Nigeria,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Emmanuella Anokam

Oilserv Limited, Pipelines and Facilities (EPCIC), the contractor handling the $2.5 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline Project says it will surmount every challenge to ensure it delivers the project in July 2024.

Chairman of the company, Mr Emeka Okwuosa, gave the assurance on Thursday during an inspection of the project sites in Pai community, situated between Gwagwalada and Kwali area councils, Abuja.

The inspection was led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was on an inspection with some top officials of NNPC Ltd. and Oilserv to see the progress of work at the Pai River crossing session in the area.

Oilserv is handling the segment A of the AKK pipeline of about 614km-long natural gas pipeline being developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to run from Ajaokuta, through Abuja-Kaduna to Kano.

Okwuosa, who was optimistic of the timely delivery, said the Linear section which would carry the gas, was about 80 per cent completed, while the overall completion of the entire project had reached 55 per cent.

He listed river crossing, rock blasting, drilling, security and construction on right of way, as some of the challenges, noting that it would continue to work closely with the NNPC Ltd. to ensure timely delivery.

“We have given commitment to the minister that the project will be completed by July 2024; we are working very hard irrespective of the challenges; challenges will always exist but Oilserv has repeatedly built gas pipelines for the nation.

“The AKK pipeline will make a lot of difference because gas is energy and energy is wealth, and Nigeria has it in abundance but we have to have delivery systems to get the gas to where it is required for commercialisation.

“That is what we are doing here, and we assure Nigerians that it will be completed as stated,” he said.

The chairman, who described the project as an economic prosperity venture and a priority project of the Group Chief Executive of the NNPC Ltd., said it was a segment of the Nigerian gas master plan meant to distribute gas across Nigeria and provide energy.

“After completion, we would be able to have gas and NNPC would be able to deliver gas to the Northern part of Nigeria and also spur development of gas in the southern part of Nigeria and create a lot of wealth as well in the south.

“With gas available, you have power, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles to run with, and reduce dependency on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), build urea and fertiliser plants, helping agriculture and so on.

“This project will change the landscape of energy delivery, and the economy of Nigeria will change,” he added.

Okwuosa, while commending the Federal Government and NNPC Ltd for their support, lauded the minister for his commitment towards the project completion, adding that the development of gas as a source of energy in Nigeria was unequalled.

“I can assure you that whatever we are doing will not be possible without the support of NNPC and we are always in sync, and they support and raise the funds to keep the project ongoing.

“Our commitment is more than 100 per cent. Though we have challenges, our job is to deal with the challenges and make sure the project is completed as scheduled,” Okwuosa said.

Mr Chigozie Obi, Group Chief Technical Officer, Oilserv, also briefed the officials on the schematic of the AKK pipeline and station installation.

He explained the progress of the project which comprised three spreads of Alpha, Brovo and Charlie with the level attained.

The minister was accompanied by Mr Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority; Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, NNPC Ltd and other top officials of Oilserv Limited, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has begun consultation with stakeholders prior to finalising seven more petroleum draft regulations, in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021).

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the Commission’s Chief Executive, said this at the 4th Phase of its Consultation Forum with Stakeholders on regulations development, as mandated by Section 216 (4)(g) of the PIA, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the regulations include Draft Upstream Commercial Operations Regulations, Upstream Petroleum Code of Conduct and Compliance Regulations as well as Upstream Petroleum Development Contract Regulations.

Others are: Upstream Revocation of Licences and Lease Regulations, Petroleum Assignment of Interest Regulations, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum (Administrative Harmonisation) Regulations and Amendment to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Host Communities Development Regulations 2022.

Komolafe, represented by Dr Kelechi Ofoegbu, Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, NUPRC, said the regulations were significant in line with recent happenings in the industry and that it formed part of the framework of key regulatory tools for PIA implementation.

“This phase of public hearings on the making of regulations for the upstream is divided into two segments.

“The first segment will run from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13, while the second segment will start from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10,” he said.

He said the Draft Upstream Commercial Operations Regulations 2023 proposed to establish commercial operations framework on the procedure and process for evaluation and approval of Field Development Plans and annual work programme and budget approvals.

“Upstream Petroleum Development Contract Administration Regulations prescribed the framework for the regulatory administration of petroleum development contracts joint development Agreements and Production sharing agreements (Service Agreements) relating to upstream petroleum operations.

“Upstream Revocation of Licences and Lease Regulations propose to set out the framework for implementing the Revocation Provisions of the Act and for dealing with post revocation issues in a systematic manner.

“Draft Petroleum Assignment of Interest Regulations 2023 propose to elevate the provisions of the existing guidelines on divestment of interest to a regulation and by so doing, improving the rules to reflect current realities,” Komolafe explained.

He also listed the relevance of the draft regulations, which the second segment would consider.

Komolafe described the Draft Upstream Petroleum Code of Conduct and Compliance Regulations 2023 as a novel regulation aimed at ensuring commitment by licensees, lessee and permit holders to maintain high ethical standard in the conduct of upstream petroleum operations.

“The Draft Nigerian Upstream Petroleum (Administrative Harmonisation) Regulations 2023 seeks to provide regulatory clarity on the implementation of the dual regulatory regime in the upstream occasioned by the preservation of licences and leases.

“Draft Amendment to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Host Communities Development Regulations 2022 seeks to introduce certain amendments to the existing regulation on the implementation of the host community regime.

“This will further ease the administrative process and provide regulatory clarity to the challenges that the implementation of the regime has thrown up in the last one year since the initial regulation was established,” he said.

He reiterated that the process of formulating the above regulations had been a rigorous and strenuous exercise.

He added that they were products of critical thinking and the evaluation and process was incomplete until the stakeholders’ critical inputs were obtained, discussed, and incorporated.

Recall that PIA 2021 empowers the Commission to make regulations which will give meaning and intent to the spirit of the PIA.

Consequently, Komolafe said in fulfillment of this mandate, the commission swung into action with the drafting of regulations of which 12 regulations have been successfully gazetted into law and published to date between June 2022 and July 2023.

According to the CCE, the gazetting of these regulations demonstrated the Commission’s commitment towards providing a business enabling environment in the Nigerian Upstream Oil and Gas industry space.

Earlier, in a remark, Mr Kingston Chikwendu, Head, Compliance and Enforcement, NUPRC, said the PIA had seen accelerated implementation on the side of the upstream sector and part of the process was anchored on developing framework for regulations.

“We have been able to issue 12 regulations out of 26 priority regulations identified by the Presidential Implementation Committee of the PIA.

“We are here to consider more regulations which will be forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for approval,” he said.

The event was attended by the NUPRC executive commissioners, officials from Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Independent Petroleum Producers Association and Indigenous Operators among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko