By Joan Nwagwu

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for a salary benchmark for oil and gas workers in the country.

Mr Festus Osifo, National President of the union, made the call at the Second Edition of the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Submit on Monday in Abuja.

The three-day event is titled: “Petroleum Downstream Deregulation and Gas Utilisation, for a Sustainable Energy Future in Nigeria’’.

Osifo said that the call was imperative due to the recent policy direction by the Federal Government.

He said policies by the government included the PMS subsidy removal and the floating of the naira-dollar exchange rate.

“Part of the decisions of floatation has only benefited the government and the oil and gas companies in Nigeria.

“This has necessitated a call for salary benchmark for oil and gas workers, aligning with the instrument of trade of oil and gas commodity,’’ he said.

He, however, said that in Angola, legislations pegged workers’ salaries in dollars and paid them the legal tender equivalent.

Usifo said the Angola template was a testament to the possibilities of safeguarding the interests of workers amidst currency fluctuations.

He added that the floating of the naira in the official market had exacerbated the challenges faced by our workers.

“We must explore innovative solutions to restore financial losses to workers by preventing undue gains to oil companies and ensuring a fair and equitable environment for all.

“PENGASSAN will do all it can to push for this just and equitable distribution across its branches’’.

Osifo, while speaking on the theme, said it was carefully chosen due to the multifaceted challenges and opportunities inherent in the energy sector.

“Over the next three days, we will engage in enlightening discussions, share insights, and formulate strategies to address critical issues such as divestment, PMS subsidy removal and the place/role of the ever ready Nigeria workers in the oil and gas industry and it commitment value chain

“We are witnessing a significant shift in our landscape of the energy in the country, marked by the divestment action of companies such as Mobile Producing Nigeria, Nigeria Agip Company, SPDC, and others,’’ he said.

On his part,  Mr Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the NNPC Ltd, said that Nigeria was witnessing some positive outcome of the subsidy removal in spite of challenges.

Kyari said that most construction companies had started moving back to sites as more resources became available to execute projects.

According to him, by 2024, Nigeria will become a net exporter of refined petroleum products based on ongoing policy interventions by the present administration.

“The meaning of this is that we will have sufficient volumes in-country, when we refine locally, we do have advantages.

“That is by creating wealth, creating taxes, and all forms of value chain, creating employment, and so on and so forth,’’ Kyati said.

He added that what Nigeria needed was to adjust its realities as it imported 100 per cent of its production.

“No resource-dependent country does this and that is why we must deliver on our mandate,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has held a meeting with oil marketers to resolve the challenges faced with importation and distribution of petroleum products in the country.

The meeting was hosted by NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Mr Farouk Ahmed, on Monday in Abuja.

It featured representatives of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

The Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, among other stakeholders were also represented at the meeting.

The meeting was necessitated by challenges faced by oil marketers, ranging from foreign exchange scarcity for importation of petroleum products, deplorable roads nationwide, non-functional refineries and refusal of banks to provide loans.

Ahmed, while speaking to the newsmen shortly after the meeting, said the meeting tackled issues surrounding the seamless distribution of petroleum products and the way forward.

He said based on the discussion, the oil marketers solicited the authority’s support to ensure the federal government guarantees availability of petroleum products at affordable prices.

“We had very robust discussions and the oil marketers expressed their concerns and also areas where we can support both the marketers and transporters to ensure that there is flow of petrol products across the country.

“NNPC Limited has assured of supply and also the marketers have expressed their concerns about the availability of foreign exchange in order to also import and sell.

“As regulators, we can continue to say the market is open for everybody and all those who have applied for license, over 90 marketing companies have gotten.

“We have given them access to all the required support that they needed in order to ensure there is a constant supply of products in the country,” he said.

On the foreign exchange challenges faced by marketers, Ahmed explained that engagement had been ongoing with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in that direction to make the dollar available.

“We are all working towards stabilising of the naira,” he said.

Mr Dapo Segun, Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd., assured of the commitment of the national oil company to make petroleum products available to Nigerians.

Segun said the company would continue to shop for supply. “We are looking at ways to resolve these issues. We at NNPC will continue to make sure that supply is there and we will also support the industry.”

The Chairman of DAPPMAN, Mrs Winifred Akpani, also assured of adequate supply of the products and said Nigerians should not panic.

“The government has promised to resolve some of the issues for us, bearing in mind that we just transited from regulated market to deregulated market.

“We expect some of these issues to come but the most important thing is the willingness of all of us as stakeholders to resolve the problem,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Ismail Abdulaziz

The Federal Government is no longer paying subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Monday in Abuja.

He said that contrary to insinuations on social media, the federal government was no longer paying subsidy to any person or group for bringing petroleum products into the country.

“No subsidy whatsoever. We are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market.

“We understand why marketers are unable to import. We hope that they begin to do so very quickly and these are some of the interventions government is making. There is no subsidy,’’ he said.

Kyari further stated that the pockets of low queues witnessed across some states recently were due to bad roads that had made transporters to divert the product to other routes.

“We have seen in very few states pockets of very low queues. This is not unconnected with the road situation and that’s why we’re seeing some blockades on our roads.

“Moving the products from the southern depots into the northern part of the country takes them much longer time now than it used to be.

“They have to re-route their trucks around many locations for them to be able to reach their destinations and that created delays and some supply gaps. But, that has been filled and we do not see any of such problems again.

“Secondly, because of the full deregulation that we have in this sector, marketers are now competing amongst themselves,” he said.

The NNPCL group managing director also said that some of the queues were caused by the preference of customers to patronise filling stations that offered low prices.

“You must have noticed that some fuel stations will reduce their prices by N2 or N3. So customers will naturally run to the places where you have that reduction in prices and probably create panic.

“This is because those who don’t know why they are doing it will think that there’s something happening or that there’s an ominous sign of scarcity,’’ he said.

According to him, there are over 1.4 billion litres of petrol available for local consumption, both on the seas and on land, adding that there is no cause for alarm.

Kyari explained that market forces were now playing out and that marketers were competing for the product and how to satisfy their customers as well.

‘’There are few issues we’re engaging them to resolve, alongside other agencies of government, particularly critical issues around access to foreign exchange.

“And as you all know, government is doing so much to ensure supply of forex into the market.

“We know that this FX markets will stabilise the current I&E window is around 770.

“And we know that those inputs from government will crystalise and they will come to an equilibrium position in the FX market and this is the dream of this country,’’ he said.

Kyari assured marketers of a stable forex and a situation where the prices of the product would align with the prices of other commodities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has clarified that the contracts for pipeline rehabilitation were awarded based on evaluation criteria and in accordance with industry standards.

The management of the NNPC Limited made this known in a statement on Sunday while reacting to reports in some sections of the media alleging underhand dealings in the contract award.

It said the contracts, which were advertised, were awarded based on rigorous evaluation criteria and in line with industry norms.

“The attention of the NNPC Ltd has been drawn to reports in an isolated sections of the media alleging underhand dealings in the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of pipelines across the country.

“It is crucial to provide accurate information to address any misconceptions and ensure transparency in our operations.

“We would like to state categorically that these reports are fallacious and designed to bring the good name of the Company into disrepute.

“NNPC Limited is deeply committed to adhering to the highest standards of transparency and global best practices in all our activities, and this includes our contracting process,” it said.

The NNPC Limited, while re-emphasising its commitment to transparency, said it subjected the selection process to a competitive tender guided by Bureau of Public Procurement standards, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission expertise, and the active involvement of a Transaction Advisor.

It said it also had representations from NEITI and the Ministry of Justice in the project development team and the evaluation exercise.

It listed the composition of Consortium members per lot spread across Nigeria.

“LOT 1: Oilserve Ltd, Chu Kong Steel Pipe Group Company Ltd, Saudi Crown Oilserve.

“LOT 2: MacReady Oil and Gas Services, COBRA Instalicios S.A, Control Y Montajes Industriales and International De Pipelines, Iron Products Industries Ltd, Batelitwin Global Services Ltd, Bauen Empresa Constructora SAU, Sanderton Energy Ltd, The Spanish National Association of Manufacturers.

“LOT 3: A A Rano, Zakhem Construction Nigeria, Bablinks Resources Ltd, VAE Controls S.R.O and LOT 4: MRS Oil and Gas, CPPE Nigeria Ltd

“It is imperative to emphasise that these contracts are Build, Operate and Transfer agreements, and selected partners are to finance the rehabilitation and do not entail the transfer of control of these assets to any particular company,” it said.

It said its objective was to enhance the integrity and functionality of the pipelines to facilitate the efficient transportation of crude oil to refineries and the distribution of its products across the country.

According to the NNPC management, the ownership of these strategic national assets remains with NNPC Limited, and are fully committed to ensuring their continued operation in the interest of over 200 million Nigerians.

It would be recalled that some sections of the media recently alleged that NNPC Ltd had awarded juicy rehabilitation contracts of the nation’s pipelines to four oil companies, including two downstream retailers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) has appealed to the federal government to provide palliatives for oil marketers to import fuel at N600 per dollar for three months.

NOGASA said the measures became necessary due to growing challenges of petroleum products procurement and distribution, especially with the attendant hardships resulting from increases in pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) nationwide.

The association made the call on Thursday in Abuja, in a communique at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, presented by its National President, Mr Benneth Korie.

“We wish to sincerely reiterate that the only realistic option out of this dire situation for now is for government to urgently expedite the provision of ‘Emergency Palliative Measures’ for Marketers.

“Such that fuels can be imported at the rate of at least N600 per dollar for the next three months, while waiting for the promised reactivation of our refineries.

“The NEC of NOGASA, an umbrella representative body for all marketing and distribution bodies in the country has been speaking expressly and expediently through its National President, with strong insight and alerts to government on the scary trend that is evolving thus far.

“NOGASA is worried that between now and December 2023, in the absence of intervention, there are increasing losses of lives, businesses, jobs, shut down of filling stations and packing up of petroleum tankers due to high cost of importation, transportation and distribution of products,” he said.

Korie said a major newspaper just confirmed the price of diesel to have hit N1,000 per liter, which he described just as “a flash in the pan,” adding that suppliers were at the receiving end of this development.

He recalled that while NOGASA applauded the removal of fuel subsidy, it warned and advised that the right steps be taken to cushion its effects for the survival of citizens and businesses.

Similarly, he said depot owners had been negatively affected by the increasing cost of crude and exchange rate, hence many depots were deserted as their owners were unable to secure bank loans to fund their businesses due to high interest rates.

“Banks are unwilling to guarantee funds release to stakeholders as a result of the difficulty, instability and galloping rates of foreign exchange and high cost of dollar.

“Many depots are presently dried up or out of stock, and this is no gainsaying as it is evidently verifiable.

“Worst hit are filling stations whose owners find it difficult to secure funds to procure products for their retail outlets, and both the independent and major marketers are negatively affected such that filling stations are shutting down in great numbers.

“Dealers are going out of business with many more on the verge of bankruptcy because of their inability to secure funds to facilitate orders for their stations,” the president said.

Korie urged government to save the industry from collapse, which may result in a devastating blow to the economy because the country’s success depended on the survival of the oil industry, whose critical stakeholders were negatively affected.

He said the emergency intervention would go a long way in cushioning the harsh effect of the high cost of importation and equally bring about reasonable reliefs to the business and cost of living generally.

He decried the poor state of the roads, and called for infrastructural provision and maintenance, because petroleum products distribution was hampered by unmotorable roads.

“This development is already a waiting threat to the laudable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) driven transportation innovation of President Bola Tinubu.

“Practical solutions are suggested to engage the local workforce to speedily refurbish or resuscitate bad roads across the country,” he advised.

He further advised government to tackle challenges in the areas of importation as well as clearing in Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other agencies involved with dollar transactions for marketers.

“The bottlenecks are simply killing us. Our businesses are dying and the system is not helping us at all. An urgent action is required to save our industry from total collapse,” he said.

Earlier, Mr John Okekeocha, National Secretary, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) decried ineffective governance and removal of fuel subsidy without putting adequate measures like refineries in place.

“All downstream players must ensure they are on the same page and think outside the box to make impact and also be part of government decision making,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Billy Harry, President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), said removal of oil subsidy should have been a stakeholders issues, involving all to sort out measures to cushion it.

According to him, 350,000 dollars is required to establish a CNG station. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says it is not a revenue generating agency and has no powers under the law to either collect, keep custody or manage government revenues.

NEITI says rather it supports government to mobilise revenue for its development activities by beaming searchlight on leakages, wastages and other areas through which government can optimise its revenue take from the country’s natural resources.

NEITI made this known in a statement on Wednesday by Mrs Obiageli Onuorah, Deputy Director/Head Communication and Stakeholders’ Management, NEITI.

Onuorah said this clarification on NEITI’s position became necessary due to a story in a section of the media credited to a member of the Senate titled “Lawmaker demands NEITI’s probe over missing $15 billion, N200 billion”.

She said NEITI viewed the report as misleading, a mix-up of issues and misrepresentation of facts contained in its latest oil and gas industry report released at a public event held on the Sept. 18, 2021 in Abuja.

She said the sum of 8.26 billion dollars (and not 15 bllion dollars as attributed to the lawmaker by the newspaper report) was the public disclosure by NEITI.

She said it was a disclosure as potential collectible revenues due to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as outstanding liabilities.

She said in the same direction the sum of N200 billion Naira was another revelation by NEITI in the same report as funds expended on the repair of the nation’s refineries between 2020 and 2021 which it queried in the same report since the refineries were not working.

“The funds in questions and other crucial facts, information and data are contained in the recently released NEITI Report.

“For avoidance of doubt, the core responsibility of NEITI is to release this information and data to the public while it is within the mandates of the legislator, the civil society and the citizens to use the disclosed information for advocacy and civic engagements.

“NEITI is fully aware that the relevant Committees of the National Assembly are currently working closely with NEITI to address the findings and recommendations thrown up by the report.

“It is therefore a misconception and misrepresentation of the position of the law maker calling for the investigation of NEITI over a missing $15 Billion revenue,” she said.

The deputy director further said the clarification became necessary in other to re-focus attention on the basis for the conduct of the reports released by NEITI.

This, she said was to highlight findings in the reports, ensure better implementation of NEITI’s report recommendations, address the lingering issues in the extractive sector, and improve optimisation of Nigeria’s extractive endowments for the benefit of all Nigerians. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Yusuf Yunus

All On, a Shell-funded impact investment company, and Auxano Solar Nigeria Ltd., have inaugurated a fully automated 100MW solar photovoltaic module assembly factory in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, to boost local content.

Mrs Caroline Eboumbou, Chief Executive Officer, All On, said in a goodwill remark at the inauguration of the facility on Friday in Lagos, that the facility represents a significant milestone in the growth and development of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Eboumbou said that the factory targeted at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported solar panels, thereby driving down forex costs and creating economies of scale in the use of climate-smart alternative energy sources.

She said that the facility, financed by All On as part of its two million dollars investment in Auxano Solar in 2021, was to lower renewable energy transition costs, guarantee quality facility and potentially reduce the cost of solar energy for consumers.

“All On has been there with Auxano from the early days; from a 50,000 dollars investment in 2018 to a much larger 1.5 million dollars investment in 2020 at the height of the COVID disruption to an additional 500,000 dollars in 2022.

She noted that All On and Auxano had navigated supply chain crunches, forex challenges, business development issues, and the ups and downs of being a manufacturer in a tough environment.

Eboumbou, however, expressed confidence in the sustainability of the company’s growth.

The CEO noted that the project marked a transition from Auxano Solar’s previous 10MW semi-automated solar panel production plant to a cutting-edge, fully automated 100MW assembly and production factory.

She said, “The success of Auxano as the first privately-owned solar assembly factory is a triumph for the promotion of local manufacturing within the Nigerian renewable energy sector.

“Our investment in this factory aligns with All On’s commitment to inspire other stakeholders, investors, and government to localise the solar supply chain.

“Ultimately, this will drive affordability and accessibility of solar products, especially in light of the growing interest in solar energy solutions among Nigerians,” Eboumbou said.

According to her, the company’s growth as the first private assembler of solar panels is a success story that ought to inspire other players in the renewable energy sector.

She emphasised that in the initial stages, the company hired students from a local technical school who were trained by foreign experts, and as the first of its kind, the Auxano plant is expected to produce 150 panels daily, 3,000 panels monthly, and about 72,000 panels yearly.

Osagie Okubor, Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, who was represented by Mr Hans Nijkamp, Shell All on Board member, said that the Auxano project is a visual representation of what Shell hoped to achieve when All On was established in 2017.

He said, “With the singular goal of helping energy-poor communities in Nigeria gain access to energy by unlocking potential off-grid clean energy solutions.

“All On has made strategic investments to achieve this and we are proud that our support for All On has culminated in the commissioning we are witnessing today.”

Mr Salihijo Ahmad, Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Nigeria, said that the attempt aimed at localising Renewable Energy (RE) equipment supply chains by developing local manufacturing capacity.

He explained that the development was one of the key strategies to ensuring the security of supply of RE equipment for project deployment.

Ahmad said that project would foster local economic growth and provide decent employment opportunities for Nigerians.

According to him, the launch of the  plant signifies the company’s steadfast focus on bringing such a landmark project to life, despite some contrary economic indicators.

“All On and other stakeholders deserved commendation for supporting the project directly with funding, technical assistance, licensing, and other relevant business facilitation services.

“These collaborations are very key and more of such are needed to address the twin problems energy poverty and the climate crises pose,” he noted.

Governor Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos State, in his goodwill message delivered at the event, said that the assembly plant came when Nigeria is demonstrating serious commitment to the execution of the national energy transition plan.

The governor who was represented by Mr Anthonio Ayodele, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency ( LASEPA), commended, the two companies for the successful completion of the plant.

He said the decision to establish the plant in Lagos State was to  deepen  local technical knowledge and expertise in solar and renewable energy technology.

Sanwoolu, therefore, reemphasised the commitment of the government to transitioning towards ensuring universal access to clean, affordable and reliable energy, part of which is the state’s goal to deploy IGiggaWatts of solar PV solutions by 2030.

He said, “The commitment is evident in the various policies and strategies that we have put in place to create an enabling environment for the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies.

“The establishment of this 100MW PV Manufacturing and Assembly Plant represents a significant milestone in our efforts to transform our energy landscape.

“It aligns with the central Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology (T.H.E.M.E.S) agenda of this administration,” the governor said.

Sanwoolu, therefore, emphasised that the electricity generated by the solar facility would not only be a source of clean and sustainable power, but would also have a profound impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Afam Ogbaru, Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Renewable Energy, Federal Constituency, Anambra State, in his remark, congratulated the Auxano Solar Nigeria Ltd, for the unveiling of the 100MW Solar PV Manufacturing and Assembly facility.

According to him, Nigeria suffers from inadequate energy supply, and it is, indeed, worrisome that even in the midst of this obvious energy crisis

“The situation is made even more dire, given the frequency of national electricity grid collapse – two or three times within the last three weeks – resulting in total blackout in business concerns and homes.

He said, “Hopes of an early resolution of the problem appears far-fetched, at least, not with the reality of decaying infrastructure and huge replacement costs starring us all in the face.

Ogbaru, therefore, invited the Auxano, other players and stakeholders to collaborate with his committee, to formulate policies and initiatives geared toward the acceleration of investment in renewable energy technologies.

Mr Chuks Umezulora, Co-founder and CEO of Auxano Solar Nigeria, in his remark, emphasised that commissioning  being the first and biggest in the country was a dream come true.

He said, “Nigeria may be behind on so many things necessary for development, but I am determined to be a part of the solution.

“This factory is my contribution to the growth of our economy, and I hope my story of grit and dedication inspired someone to try something even bigger. Go for it, because you can.

“Spanning across an impressive 5730 square meters of land, the newly commissioned 100MW premium PV module assembly factory integrates production, warehousing, and office spaces.

“Equipped with advanced Asian-certified production equipment, the facility is designed to manufacture high-quality PV modules known for their efficiency, durability, and adaptability to various weather conditions,” he said.

The CEO of Auxano, therefore, stated that the factory had employed a substantial local workforce to oversee its operations.

He noted that a significant portion of the factory’s power supply was generated by Auxano solar panels.

Mr Demola Onanuga, the Chairman of Auxano Solar, on his part, said that the formal take-off of the assembly plan would close the deficit in electricity accessibility in the country.

He stated that the 100MW module assembly factory would help to reduce the unit rate of solar power in Nigeria and make it affordable for households and businesses.

Onanuga, therefore, assured of Auxano’s readiness to meet the growing demand for solar panels in Nigeria, adding that the company was already in talks with partners to expand the factory capacity and establish more in different parts of the country.(NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Emmanuella Anokam

Fluenta, a global leader in ultrasonic sensing technology for measurement of flare gas says it has completed installation of 18 ultrasonic flare gas meters on large pipelines around the Dangote Refinery Plant in Nigeria.

Mr Radek Kurkowski, a Director at Fluenta, said on Thursday that it spent more than four months working with its exclusive Nigerian representative, Daptem Engineering, and the Dangote project team to deliver a workable, accurate and reliable flare measurement solution.

Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery inaugurated in May 2023 has the capacity of refining 650,000 barrels of oil per day, enough to meet Nigeria’s daily fuel supply requirements, with a daily surplus of 38 million litres of refined products, already earmarked for export.

Kurkowski in a statement said that the team implemented a multitude of innovative and bespoke solutions considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure accuracy of the system.

“Under current Nigerian law, companies refining oil and gas must pay a ‘tax’ for flared gas, to encourage an overall reduction in flaring, underlining the importance of Fluenta’s accurate, trustworthy flare measurement and management.

“Flare gas measurement and control is vital to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and to help identify potential safety hazards.

“This is especially true at a plant on this never-before-seen scale and with the world’s largest flare pipe.

“Delivering this solution meant some close work with our local partner and the client project team, and we are delighted with the end result – which will support bringing energy security to Nigeria and the wider Africa region.

“Our team used a range of state-of-the-art technology, adapted meter software and special pipe gaskets and ball valves to deliver the pipe flare gas measurement solution,” he said.

He said Fluenta’s work stood as testament to the power of innovation, creative teamwork and a desire to always meet the client’s needs, adding that it was proud to support the domestic security of energy supply in Nigeria.

According to him, Fluenta has deep experience of working in Africa. In 2017, the company was approached by an International Oil Company (IOC) working in Nigeria, which was looking for a reliable flare measurement solution.

He said it developed bespoke solutions in response to the IOC’s requirements, which were installed in 2019 and since then, the IOC had ordered an additional 32 Fluenta flare measurement meters.

He said Fluenta would be speaking further on the challenges of combustion efficiency and industry challenges to track methane emissions from flaring at Nigeria Hydrocarbon Measurement Conference (NiHMEC), taking place in Lagos, from Oct. 4 to Oct. 5, 2023.

He further said that Nigerian authorities were leading the charge in the control and regulation of flaring gas, looking towards eliminating the need for routine flaring over the next few years.

However, he said, a key component in that challenge was accurate measurement.

Nigeria is positioning itself as a world-leader when it comes to reducing its emissions, and flaring – the controlled burning or combustion of excess or waste gases that cannot be processed or captured for productive use.

This is a safety and environmental practice employed in the petroleum industry to prevent release of potentially harmful or combustible gases into the atmosphere.

Flare measurement in a refinery is essential, from a regulatory and environmental law compliance perspective, and for accurate emissions monitoring. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Nana Musa

Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has charged the new directors of the commission to be committed to the mentorship of their subordinates for greater performance.

Ogbuku gave the advice at the end of a two-week course on leadership and performance management for directing staff of the NDDC in Abuja on Thursday.

The course was organised by the Human Resources Department of the commission in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).

Ogbuku also advised the new directors to brace up for the challenges ahead and be ready to do things differently to improve the services.

“Things need to be done differently, by improving services and to take up challenges, meaning we have to start with the staff first and ensure that all the staff are properly trained and they understand their role.

“One thing that is lacking in public service is the inability for public servants to have mentors, sometimes we make the wrong choice of role models in our area of operation, you need to look at a successful administrator and make such your mentor.

“This will make you excel in your field and you should be able to mentor your younger colleagues. Some of your actions may affect them. You must learn to be patient, understanding before making harsh decisions,” Ogbuku said.

He said that the training was to bring back experience of the new directors to the commission to improve on the administration and ensure that things were done differently.

Ogbuku said that the new directors need to understand their role, boundaries, strength, when to use them and when not to, as well to understand that they are public and civil servants.

“Civil servants should understand that they are not politicians and have no business there. I believe that you understand the boundaries in areas you should not go into.

“ Over the years we have seen situations where some staff of NDDC are seen to be more of politicians than civic servants but as directors who have been inducted into ASCON I believe you are not just ambassadors but good ambassadors.

“ I never had the opportunity to pass through ASCON but all inductees of ASCON usually understand and behave alike. All of us in NDDC will go through ASCON,” he said.

Ogbuku commended ASCON for organising the training, saying that the knowledge gained would help their career.

Director General of ASCON, Mrs Cecilia Gayya, urged the participants to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the commission by leveraging on all they learnt from the training.

Gayya described the training as an important platform for better performance and understanding of their jobs.

“Training as you all know, is essentially an activity that is designed to make an employee more efficient and productive in the performance of his/her duties.

“The focus of this training is on the job performance in terms of efficient and effective application of knowledge, skills and attitude for improved performance.

” When a nation or an organisation develops the capabilities of its workforce, it can create other necessary capacities for effective and responsible service delivery,” she said.

Gayya also commended the management of the commission for organising the training and urged other agencies to emulate the initiative, adding, ”it pays to train employees for better performance.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Bashir Rabe Mani