NNPC Weekly: High expectations as Buhari unveils new NNPC

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, May 22, 2022 (NAN) Activities for the week at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), started with a cheering news that President Muhammadu Buhari will unveil the new NNPC on July 18.

This was disclosed within the week by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, at the opening ceremony of the 8th African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VIII) which held in Luanda, Angola.

Kyari said the unveiling was in furtherance of the implementation of Section 53(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act which provides for the establishment of a new corporate entity known as NNPC Ltd.

Delivering a goodwill message at the conference, the GMD highlighted the revolution currently taking place in the Nigerian oil and gas industry through the implementation of the PIA.

He called on the industry leaders and other participants at the conference to join him and the NNPC family for the unveiling of the new NNPC.

He said the CAPE VIII was coming at a time when the world stood between the challenge of energy security and the necessity for energy transition in the context of energy justice.

Kyari stressed that there was need for all stakeholders to find amicable solutions to the challenges facing the sector.

He also called for collaboration between African oil producers, national oil companies and the multinationals to seek ways to sustainably finance the growth of the oil and gas industry; thereby ensuring the economic progress of African countries.

The African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE) is a triennial initiative of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), an intergovernmental organisation established in 1987 to serve as a platform for African petroleum producing countries to cooperate, collaborate, and share knowledge and competences.

The aim was to maximise the developmental and welfare benefits accruable from petroleum exploitation activities in its 15 member countries.

The 8th edition of the conference was organised by APPO in conjunction with the Government of the Republic of Angola, and AMETrade.

Also on a cheerful note, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) commended the NNPC Ltd. for being the highest tax paying company in the country in the 2021 fiscal year.

The FIRS gave the commendation in a statement issued by its Executive Chairman, Mr Muhammad Nami, to celebrate its landmark achievement of generating over 6 trillion Naira in tax revenue for the first time in its history.

According to the FIRS, the feat defies the harsh global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic to produce a heroic performance in tax payment and compliance.

“The FIRS is pleased to celebrate the top-performing taxpayers who contributed to her success in 2021. The Service surpassed its tax collection target in 2021, and in doing so, crossed the N6trn threshold for the first time.

“The feat recorded by the Service was also made possible by the uncommon leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari.

“It was also made possible by the active support of our supervisory Ministry, the backing of the National Assembly and its leadership, as well as the cooperation of all other stakeholders in the tax area.

“To everyone who contributed to FIRS’ success in 2021, we say thank you.

“Of particular importance was the contribution of our much-esteemed taxpayers, they defied the harsh global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic to produce a heroic performance in tax payment, compliance and support.

“The combined efforts of all taxpayers made it possible for the Service to achieve the tax revenue collection of 2021 which provided revenue to our government,” the FIRS stated.

NNPC Ltd. had last year presented a symbolic cheque of N621 billion under the tax credit scheme to the ministry of works and housing for the construction of 21 selected roads across the country.

The Company had also in October last year expressed interest to invest in the reconstruction of selected federal roads in order to sustain a smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

The road construction initiative executed under the tax credit scheme is being funded through the FIRS in accordance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order 7.

Under the programme, the NNPC would construct a total of 1,804.6 kilometres of roads at a total cost of over 621billion naira.

The FIRS also recognised the Nigeria Liquified Petroleum Gas Company Ltd. as the Most Supportive Taxpayer.

It listed Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, and Chevron Nigeria Ltd. and a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) among the Top-Performing Taxpayers for the year.

Still in the week under review, the GMD/CEO of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari was honoured with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Year Award for 2021 by the Leadership Newspaper.

Also honoured by the Leadership Newspaper at its Annual Conference and Awards which held in Abuja, were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who were conferred with the 2021 Leadership Persons of the Year Award.

According to the newspaper’s Editorial Board, Kyari merited the award because of the high degree of transparency and accountability he brought to bear on the management of the NNPC, adding that under his watch, NNPC became an incorporated entity in line with the PIA.

“Kyari played a major role in turning NNPC into a profit-making national oil company and is instrumental in driving the present administration’s gas revolution, among other innovations,” the Leadership Board stated.

In his acceptance speech delivered virtually from Luanda, Angola, where he was attending the African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VIII), Kyari expressed profound appreciation to the Leadership Newspaper Group for recognising the efforts of the NNPC, adding that such an honour was a call to do more.

The award was received on his behalf by the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mrs Aisha Katagum.

On his part, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, noted that integrity was part of the core values that the late publisher of the Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, stood for.

Osinbajo added that he was satisfied that his legacies were being maintained by the organisation.

Other dignitaries honoured at the event were, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel; Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya and the Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Muhammed.

Also in the week, the Federal Government and the Nigerian NNPC Ltd. commended Seplat Energy Plc for taking practical steps to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide in line with the agenda to achieve net zero by 2060.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, gave the commendation at the launch of the Tree for Life initiative by Seplat Energy Plc in Abuja.

Speaking at the event designed by the company to plant trees and keep the environment healthy as part of its carbon count, Sylva applauded Seplat for coming up with a practical way to reduce carbon dioxide from the environment.

He said that the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari committing Nigeria to 2060 as the date for Nigeria to achieve net-zero carbon emission was a goal every Nigerian should work towards achieving.

Sylva noted that Seplat was already working towards that through the launch of the Tree for Life initiative.

He challenged other oil and gas companies in the country to take advantage of the various projects and corridors opened up by the Federal Government in the gas sector to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint, stressing that Nigeria had adopted gas as it’s the transition fuel to net-zero situation.

Speaking in similar vein, the GMD/CEO of NNPC, Kyari who spoke virtually from Luanda, Angola, where he was attending the African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VIII), said that NNPC was completely in support of Seplat in the Tree for Life initiative.

Kyari urged other operators in the oil and gas industry to toe similar path in tackling compliant issues.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NNPC Ltd., Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, said it was a great development for energy companies to be at the forefront of solving the global energy conundrum of heavily depending on fossil fuels for economic development yet wanting to get rid of it fast.

Speaking earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of Seplat, Dr ABC Orjiako, said the Tree for Life project was a promise kept as it was a follow up on the promise made last year at the company’s Energy Summit to always conduct a carbon count in its operations.

The tree planting launch was performed by Sylva alongside Seplat’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Roger Brown, Sen. Margrey Okadigbo, the NNPC Board Chairman and Dr ABC Orjiako, Chairman, Seplat, among others.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

==========

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

NNPC Weekly: NNPC Ltd. intensifies efforts to address Africa’s energy poverty

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, May 16, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the new week with a call on stakeholders to intensify efforts to address abject energy poverty in Africa.

The GMD/CEO of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, made the call at the 2022 Africa Infrastructure Solutions Summit which recently held in Abuja.

At a panel session on Energy Transition at the summit organised by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) with the theme: Africa’s Energy Conundrum: A Pragmatic Approach to Net Zero, Kyari joined other energy experts to advocate for a practical approach to energy transition to guarantee cheap access to energy in Africa.

According to him, there should be a slow but proper energy transition process in Africa with emphasis on access rather than net zero status.

He called on developing countries to form a common front to address the irrational expectations of transiting to net zero, adding that African leaders must insist that there must be energy justice.

He said NNPC was at the forefront of efforts by Nigeria to rally the needed support and cooperation among African countries to promote gas sufficiency in order to eliminate energy poverty.

Kyari also canvassed for the integration of Africa’s infrastructure in the region.

The Session was moderated by AFC’s Executive Director for Financial Services, Mr Sanjeev Gupta.

Other panelists in the session include, Prof. Carios Lopez of the Mandela School of Public Governance of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Mr Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group.

According to the panelists, there is need for African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign funds for projects and start looking inwards for financing.

For Shonubi, he spoke on the need for effective communication strategy during the campaigns with the African populace and the transition process just as he said that poverty needs to be addressed.

Meanwhile, the NNPC Ltd. has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria enjoys energy security, especially in the area of petroleum products availability.

The GMD/CEO of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari made the commitment at an aviation sector stakeholders’ meeting held at the instance of the leadership of the House of Representatives.

The meeting was to find solution to the lingering challenge of astronomical rise in the price of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) also known as aviation fuel or Jet A1.

It would be recalled that Nigerian airlines under the auspices of the Aviation Operators of Nigeria (AON) had threatened to withdraw their services over what they considered as arbitrary increase in the price of aviation fuel which had created operational difficulties for the airlines.

In a swift move to resolve the crisis, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, convened a stakeholders’ meeting to x-ray the issues with a view to averting the strike and finding lasting solutions to the challenges bedeviling the sector.

Addressing the gathering, Kyari explained that NNPC was doing everything within its powers to make petroleum products available for the smooth operations of every sector of the economy, including aviation.

According to him, there were lots of factors responsible for prices of petroleum products, stressing that in the case of aviation fuel which had been deregulated since 1999, there was nothing NNPC can do as its price was strictly determined by market forces.

Speaking earlier, the Vice President of Aviation Operators of Nigeria and Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, highlighted the challenges that airline operators have been facing with aviation fuel marketers in terms of price of the product which he said has since exceeded the global threshold of 40 per cent of operation cost of airlines.

He said the AON could not follow through with the resolution of the last intervention by the House of Reps to apply for a license to import aviation fuel directly.

This he said was because they saw it as a long term solution which would involve huge infrastructural outlay like construction of tank farms and other storage facilities at the airports

On his part, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the CBN was ready to provide financial assistance to the airlines on the condition that they met the credit criteria set by their respective banks.

Rounding off the meeting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, summed up the resolution and urged the airline operators to cancel the strike altogether, rather than just suspend it.

In the meantime, NNPC GMD/CEO, Kyari assured members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the State of Refineries that the NNPC has nothing to hide.

Kyari gave the assurance at an investigative hearing of the committee into the state of the refineries.

Fielding questions from members of the committee, the GMD who went into the history of the maintenance of the refineries disclosed that the refineries had not been properly maintained over the past 20 to 25 years leading to a situation where they had to be shut down because they were no longer adding value.

On the current stage of the rehabilitation work and the process of awarding the contract, the Group Executive Director, Refineries and Petrochemicals, Mr Mustapha Yakubu, said everything was on track.

Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Ganiyu Johnson, said the leadership of the House of Representatives felt there was need to understand exactly what was happening with the refinery rehabilitation considering how much money was voted for the project.

He requested NNPC to furnish the committee with more documents relating to the surveys carried out on the plant before the rehabilitation contract was awarded and status report on work done and payments made so far.

Johnson stressed that the committee was ready to work with NNPC to come up with legislations that would support its growth.

Managing Directors of Kaduna and Warri Refineries, Mr Babatunde Bakare and Mr Ezekiel Osarolube, were with the GMD at the investigative hearing.

Group General Manager Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad; Technical Adviser to the GMD on Refineries, Mr Ibrahim Onoja and the General Manager, External Relations, Mrs Iyabode-Ayobami Ojo, were also at the hearing.

Meanwhile, the GMD has assured that the queues at fuel stations in Abuja would soon clear with the measures put in place to ensure robust supply of petrol to the city.

Kyari said the queues were not as a result of scarcity of petrol as NNPC currently had enough fuel in the country to last 47 days even if no product was imported in the intervening period.

Still in the week under review, the Federal Government said the country would continue to partner with stakeholders to improve the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project.

This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) project which held in Abuja.

WAGPA is an international institution established by the treaty on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project signed by the Heads of States of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria Togo.

Sylva said the Nigerian government had over the years shown leadership in ensuring that WAGPA was properly positioned to guarantee the achievement of its objectives.

The minister described the meeting as a commitment to the success of the project – a true proof of economic integration and cooperation in the sub-region.

According to him, the meeting is holding at a very critical time when the socio-political landscape is changing due to the Russian-Ukrainian war that has put pressure on global gas demand across Europe.

He listed some of the achievements of the WAPGA Committee to include, Open Access which was implemented in 2012; Improved Gas Availability; the Takoradi-Tema Interconnection Project (TTIP), which had significantly increased gas flow through the WAGP.

Other achievements were lifting of Force Majeure by the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) between June 2013 and October 2020, Reforms of the Access Code to the WAGP network code; and the ongoing amendment to the WAGP Act and the WAGP Regulations.

He said the amendment of the WAGP Act and the WAGP Regulations would ultimately give licensing power to WAGPA to oversee the activities of the shippers as related to the WAGP for a free and fair business environment.

“However, there are more to achieve and we are determined to get to the zenith of our targets, which are to deepen gas supplies and utilisation within the ECOWAS sub-region.

“The global community has classified gas as part of renewable energy.

“Since we cannot but join the global energy transition train we must hurry to exploit the abundant natural gas deposits within the borders of our respective countries.”

On the institutional level, he said the meeting was a follow-up on the extraordinary meeting of the committee held in Accra, Ghana on Nov. 16, 2021, to consider issues related to the appointment of the director-general of WAGPA.

He said the solution that emerged from its discussions in Accra, in November 2021 to move ahead with the appointment of a Nigerian as director-general for WAGPA was very critical.

“In the circumstances, therefore, I will seek the understanding and cooperation of all to be guided by the provisions of the AGPA Treaty in reaching a sustainable, profitable and fair decision on this matter,” he said.

Furthermore, he appreciated the effort of its partner, the West African Gas Company Ltd. (WAPCo), as operator of the pipeline to implement the International Project Agreement and assure transportation of natural gas from entry points to customers in the state parties.

He said the ECOWAS commission had initiated the West African Gas Pipeline Expansion Project (WAGPEP) and was currently working with the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) Project for possible synergy between the two projects.

“I also know that WAPCo and WAGPA are working closely with the entities to provide technical assistance and experience to achieve the synergy to increase the potential to deliver natural gas for more countries in the ECOWAS sub-region and beyond,” he said.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

==========

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, May 9, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its week with high optimism that its plan for gas development would turn around the fortune of the country economically.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, shared this view at the 2022 Annual Public Lecture of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bwari Branch, Abuja.

The theme of the lecture was “Inclusive Energy Transition: Key Issues, Investment Opportunities and Barriers Towards Achieving the Decades of Gas Initiative in Nigeria”.

Sylva said he is optimistic that the plan by European Union (EU) to designate natural gas as ‘green energy’ would guarantee access to more funding for gas development projects in the country, to power its “Decade of Gas Initiative”.

The Minister stated that the chances of accessing the needed funding to boost gas production to meet domestic and export demands are getting brighter with the series of requests by European nations for more gas supplies from Nigeria.

It would be recalled that recently, EU delegation made up of top diplomats from Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Belgium visited Sylva and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, on quest for more gas supplies from Nigeria.

According to Sylva, the EU’s request came with a proposal to rebrand gas as ‘green energy’.

“And luckily for Nigeria, the European Union has proposed labelling natural gas as a ‘green energy’ source, a development that could translate into huge economic value for Nigeria.

“The decade of gas is a decade of opportunities – ranging from a decade of elimination of gas flaring, a decade of more domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), a decade of fully gas-powered economy and natural gas”.

He stated that government had a key role to play in facilitating the right atmosphere for the private sector to thrive so that Nigeria’s economy can compete in the global sphere.

He listed the three major priorities of the Federal Government in energising the economy to include: security of supply, economic competitiveness, and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“At present, only gas can meet all three priorities simultaneously.

“This puts Nigeria with approximately 206.53 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven gas valued at over $803.4 trillion and a potential upside of 600TCF of gas, the most extensive in Africa, and in the top 10 globally”.

The Minister explained that Nigeria was following a transition pathway that combines technology, investment, business strategies, and government policy to transit from its current energy system to a low-carbon system with natural gas playing a pivotal role over the next decade.

He stressed that that is the idea behind the “Decade of Gas Initiative” of the Federal Government.

Sylva noted that in spite of the constantly changing technology, Nigeria had huge natural gas reserves and highly skilled workforce that had positioned it to pioneer future natural gas technology and compete in global markets.

To achieve this, he said that individuals, corporate Nigeria and professional associations like the NSE, as well as governments at all levels, must promote a new awareness, an energy literacy that includes a profound understanding that energy pervades all aspects of life.

He said that engineering skills were required to achieve the aspirations of many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goal No. 7 that called for “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” by 2030.

He called on members of the NSE to leverage on the existing and future technologies, including next-generation mobile broadband, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, 3D printing and others, to provide the tools for integrated solutions for the decade of gas.

“The NSE needs to lend its voice to the contributions of engineers in progressing the decade of gas initiative through its network of national and international engineering member institutions.

“The NSE should contribute to the discourse on the role of engineering and engineers in the development of technologically and environmentally feasible solutions for Nigeria.

“We need to partner in this journey to deal with the energy poverty in the country.

“We must find a way to unlock the natural gas potential of Nigeria and drag millions of our people out of energy poverty”.

Sylva insisted that the president’s assent to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on Aug. 16, 2021, had marked the end of decades of inaction, ambiguity, indecision, and under-investment in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

He reiterated the need for Africa to establish an African Energy Bank (AEB) to address its own peculiar energy related crisis and take Africans out of the doldrums of energy poverty in line with SDG 7.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Board of the NNPC Ltd., Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, commended the Nigerian delegation at the 2022 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, United States.

Chuba-Okadigbo gave the commendation while declaring open the OTC Nigerian exhibition pavilion at the conference.

She said it is a thing of joy and pride that Nigeria was well represented at the conference.

“I am delighted to declare this exhibition open. Again, it’s a thing of joy and pride to see you Nigerians well represented in foreign countries”.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Nigeria Pavillion Opening Ceremony at the OTC, Mr Chinedu Maduakoh, said time had come for Nigeria and other African nations to pursue their energy transition dreams.

He said: “The clean energy transition debate, no doubt, presents an opportunity for many African countries to chart sustainable energy systems of their own, but capital is an enormous mitigating factor which calls for strengthened regional action to address existing barriers and identify practical steps which regional governments can take to promote capital deployment and adopt the technologies best suited for their region.

“Africa, home to one-sixth of the global population and accounting for less than 6 per cent of the global energy consumption and 2 per cent of cumulative global emissions according to reports, still has a comparative advantage and potential growth in the energy sector even as fossil fuels remain our enduring source of government revenue.

“However, bridging the finance gap, embracing new technologies, and replicating successful models in other sectors can help to further increase value-retention along the global value chain.

“It will also deepen the process of economic integration in alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement which has the potential to lift more Africans out of the vicious cycle of poverty and inter-generational dependency”.

On his part, the Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr Nicolas Odinuwe, said that the theme of the Nigerian exhibition pavilion, “Energy Transition and the Future of Africa” was carefully chosen to reflect the current realities in African oil and gas industry.

Odinuwe called on leaders of the Nigerian oil and gas industry to continue to echo PETAN’s called to deepen Nigerian content as always and implored the Board of the NNPC Ltd. to collaborate with the association.

“OTC means different things to different people. But thanks to PETAN’s focused participations.

“PETAN and Nigeria have built capacities, capabilities and visibility. PETAN has been the host of the Nigerian Pavilion for over 15 years.

“And we have been fully supported by the NNPC (now NNPC Limited) which is in transition.

“We are here to continue to propagate, advocate and advance technology that has led to Nigeria being the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa with a robust exploration and production service industry”.

According to the chairman, OTC gives all its participants access to leading-edge technical information and opportunity to showcase companies’ capabilities to over 1,000 delegates and over 250 companies in the oil and gas Industry.

He said that PETAN had been responsible for leading and hosting the Nigerian government agencies, stakeholders, oil and gas companies and investors at the OTC yearly.

Odinuwe added that Nigeria had the fifth largest representation of over 60 participating countries in 2019.

PETAN is an association of indigenous Technical Oilfield Service Companies.

Still in the week under review, the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) recorded a 1,689 per cent increase in the value of its assets from N15billion to N268billion as at Dec. 31, 2021.

This was disclosed at the 15th Annual General Meeting of the company which held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, with some virtual participation.

Speaking at the meeting, the GMD/CEO of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari, who is the Chairman of PHRC’s Board of Directors, explained that the astronomical rise in the value of the company’s assets was attributable to NNPC Management’s decision to transfer previously held SBUs assets to the respective subsidiaries.

This, according to the GMD, who was represented by the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Mr Mohammed Ahmed, saw the transfer of the refining plant with a net book value of N255bn to PHRC and was reported in its books accordingly for the first time in the history of the company.

He stated that the singular act of transferring the assets to the company had increased the financial portfolio of PHRC and would stimulate the interest of foreign investors as well as increase its capacity for external funding whenever the need arises.

The GMD also reiterated the commitment of NNPC to ensuring constant and copious availability of petroleum products in the country after the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery to avert a repeat of the supply hitch experienced recently.

He also disclosed that PHRC was totally poised to “strategically leverage on the benefits accruing from the restoration of capacity utilisation upon the successful completion of rehabilitation to attain optimal, competitive and profitable operation in a global commercial environment”.

Kyari said the refinery would operate at a minimum of 90 per cent capacity post-rehabilitation, adding that refining would be accorded greater attention in keeping with the objectives of the PIA which seeks to reposition the oil and gas industry in conformity with global practices.

The immediate past Managing Director of the NNPC Retail Ltd., Mrs Elizabeth Aliyuda, had described the recent declaration of profit by the NNPC Ltd. as the most memorable moment in her 35 years of service to the company.

The former NNPC Retail helmsman said that she was delighted to have witnessed the turnaround in the fortunes of NNPC during her tenure as Managing Director, NNPC Retail Ltd.

Commenting on the concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding the effects of the PIA on the fortunes of operators in the industry, Aliyuda admonished staff members to embrace the new fiscal regime with courage and confidence.

She stressed that if the NNPC could make N287billion profit prior to the enactment of the legislation, a greater future lies ahead for the company and other operators in the PIA era.

She advised staff of NNPC to remain committed to the implementation of policies that would open up viable business opportunities for the company’s steady growth and profitability.

Some of the dignitaries that attended the event were the CEO, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe and CEO, Nigerian Midstream, Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed.

Others were GED, Downstream, Mr Yemi Adetunji; GED, Refineries and Petrochemicals, Mr Mustapha Yakubu and former GED Venture/ Former MD, NNPC Retail, Sir Billy Okoye.

In another development, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised Nigeria’s crude oil production quota to 1.772mbpd for June 2022 from 1.735 million barrels per day (mbpd).

The approval was for May 2022.

A statement by the organisation stated that the decision was taken at the 28th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting.

Consequently, the new target for Nigeria going forward stood at 19,000bpd higher than the approved quota for May 2022.

OPEC also adjusted upward the monthly overall production by 432,000bpd for the month of June 2022 with a target production of 42.558mbpd.

“Following the conclusion of the OPEC 28th and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, held via videoconference on May 5, it was noted that continuing oil market fundamentals and the consensus on the outlook pointed to a balanced market.

“It further noted the continuing effects of geopolitical factors and issues related to the ongoing pandemic,” the statement said.

Meanwhile the Secretary-General of OPEC, Mohammed Barkindo lamented the negative effect of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the global energy market.

Speaking at the virtual 62nd meeting of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) of the organisation, Barkindo said the Russia-Ukraine war had caused huge volatility in the global energy market.

The organisation also called for sustained investment in the oil sector to expand production and ensure adequate spare capacity.

Barkindo said the conflict had compounded the uncertainties related to the pandemic.

“It has heralded in further economic volatility, elevated risk premiums for oil, as well as many other essential commodities, given that both the Russian Federation and Ukraine are key global exporters, including of essential agricultural goods,” Barkindo said.

“From the oil market perspective, however, what is clear is that Russia’s oil and other liquids exports of more than seven million barrels per day cannot be made up from elsewhere.

“The spare capacity just does not exist.”

He said the potential loss through either sanctions or voluntary actions was rippling through energy markets.

“The crises we face are causing huge volatility, with daily price swings of more than 5 dollars per barrel occurring on 13 occasions across March and April,” he added.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

===========

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, May 2, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the week with the good news that Vanguard Newspapers nominated the company’s Group Managing Director (GMD) Malam Mele Kyari, for its 2021 Man of the Year Award.

The Chairman Editorial Board of Vanguard Newspapers, Ochereome Nnanna, disclosed this when he led other members of the company’s management team to present the letter of nomination to the GMD.

Nnanna said that the selection of the Vanguard Man of the Year award was usually a very competitive and difficult process because of the stringent criteria deployed to arrive at the choice of the beneficiary of the award.

He noted that as a result of this painstaking process, there were years in the past when the organiser could not find anyone fit for this category of award.

The GMD appreciated the newspaper for nominating him for the award, adding that the award was coming at a time when the NNPC was undergoing huge transformation in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Kyari said there was an urgent need to focus on gas investment, adding that as the economy was currently facing a challenging time, such investment would help to guarantee energy security for the country.

The GMD explained that the NNPC has been transparently managed, adding that it remained the only company in the world that publishes its monthly financial report.

In a related development, the Management of Leadership Newspapers has also named Kyari as the CEO of the Year 2021.

The notice of the nomination was conveyed to the NNPC helmsman by the Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Azu Ishiekwene, during a visit to the NNPC Towers.

Responding, Kyari said it was a privilege to be recognised by a reputable media organisation like Leadership.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylvia, has been nominated by the Leadership Newspapers as its 2021 Public Service Person of the Year Award.

The Management of the newspaper led by the Vice Chairman of the Leadership Group, Mr Mike Okpere, made this known during a visit to present the letter of nomination to the Minister.

Speaking at the event, Okpere said that the award was in recognition of Sylva’s determination and resilience in pushing for the passage and signing into Law of the PIA and its aggressive implementation for the betterment of the oil and gas industry and the nation.

Receiving the notification letter, the Minister described the award as an incentive that would spur him and the ministry to do more to continually improve the operational environment of the oil and gas industry and ultimately boost the nation’s economy.

Sylva expressed gratitude to Leadership Newspapers for recognising the modest contributions made by him and other members of the ministry.

“I really thank you for the award and I accept it because for me it’s an endorsement of some of the humble contributions we’ve made.

“Coming from a very reputable Nigerian newspaper like Leadership deems it fit to give me an award makes me feel that at least my little efforts are being recognised.

“The efforts I made I did not expect anyone to notice them but when such efforts are noticed by an organisation such as yours, it gives us reason to be glad and it is an incentive for us to do more”.

Also in the week, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources unveiled plans for the 6th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023).

It informed that the annual Conference themed “Global Perspectives for a Sustainable Energy Future” would hold in Abuja between April 16 and April 20.

The Ministry explained that the theme of the summit was informed by the speed of change projected in the fossil fuels segment as the world pursues the energy transition agenda.

According to the Event Consultant and Managing Director of Brevity Anderson, Mr James Shindi, “NIES 2023 will put on the front burner overarching global energy trends and perspectives.

This, Shindi said would ensure that policy makers and other players in the sector can easily understand latest developments and the best roadmap to drive the energy transition”.

In an online media Broadcast, Sylva said “NIES 2023 was primed to be a show-stopper as it would be the valedictory edition of this administration.

“The event will provide the platform for the administration to present its scorecard in the energy sector and also provide the opportunity to offer a roadmap for the next administration.

“It is therefore an epoch and a must-attend event for all the stakeholders in the industry.

“As a tradition, NIES 2023 will feature the highest level of attendance by top decision makers, industry leaders and all stakeholders from both the public and private sectors from across Africa and the global energy community.

“There will be a special dinner and other networking events with attendee ministers from other oil producing countries and heads of government delegation from other countries.

“With the full backing of the Federal Government of Nigeria, NIES has over the years witnessed the highest level of attendance by top decision makers, industry leaders and all stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.

“NIES has grown from year to year and remains the definitive platform, not just for Nigeria, but also for Africa to engage the global energy community,” Shindi said.

NIES is a federal government of Nigeria’s official energy industry event with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and all its parastatals including the NNPC and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Others are Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NURPC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) as joint hosts.

Still in the week under review, the House of Representatives commended the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd., for the prompt provision of information on its assets and liabilities.

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Inventory, Assets, Liabilities and Joint Ventures of the NNPC gave the commendation during its oversight visit to NAPIMS.

The visit was part of its task of verifying NNPC’s assets and liabilities with a view to determining which of the assets that would be transferred to the new NNPC Ltd. as stipulated in the PIA.

Explaining the rationale behind the establishment of the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Uju Kingsley Chima, said the leadership of the House of Representatives believed that there was need for the assets of the old NNPC.

And that all its subsidiaries must be effectively verified for proper documentation prior to their transfer to the NNPC Ltd., to ensure the take-off of the new company on a sound footing.

The lawmaker expressed satisfaction with the presentations made by NAPIMS officials regarding its assets, liabilities and challenges, stressing that it would cumulatively help the committee to make appropriate recommendations to the during plenary.

He also said that the Committee would create time to visit the locations of some of the assets to assess their true state before preparing its report.

Earlier, members of the Management Team of NAPIMS took turns to make presentations to the Committee on the various aspects of the agency’s operations as well its existing assets and liabilities.

In her vote of thanks, the General Manager, External Relations, NNPC, Mrs Iyabode Ayobami-Ojo, expressed delight at the sustained support NNPC enjoyed from the legislature, especially at this period of its transition from Corporation to limited liability company following the passage of the PIA.

In another development, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) commiserated with the people and government of Imo State, over last weekend’s fire which was reported to have consumed no fewer than 100 people at a site of an illegal refinery.

Many victims were burnt beyond recognition during the incident which occurred after an illegal refinery exploded at Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of the state.

In a letter to the Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, OPEC’s Secretary General, Dr Sanusi Barkindo, decried the scale of destruction caused by the incident, saying that the oil producers’ organisation, received the sad news with deep shock.

Barkindo stressed that the loss of lives at the site was difficult to accept.

He commiserated with the “heroic” people of Imo state over the deaths and injuries suffered by those impacted by the blast.

“It was with deep shock and sadness that I received the news of the tragic loss of lives following a fire at an illegal oil refining depot close to the border with Rivers State.

“On behalf of OPEC, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to you and the people of Imo State at this difficult time.

“Loss of life on this scale is very difficult to comprehend and our thoughts and prayers go to the families and friends of those afflicted by this tragedy, as well as those recovering from their injuries.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all who grieve at this difficult time. We will also pray for the safety of the emergency response teams.  May the Almighty give the bereaved the fortitude to bear this unbearable loss.

“Please accept, Your Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration and esteem,” Barkindo said.

While offering his condolences to the families of the victims earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari demanded that those responsible for the explosions must be arrested and brought to justice.

The President also ordered security forces to intensify efforts to shut the illegal refineries.

It is noted that in recent times, the GMD/CEO NNPC Ltd, Malam Mele Kyari had been advocating the support of the authorities, security agencies, host communities, Nigerian Parliament and all stakeholders to curb the menace of crude oil theft, proliferation of illegal plants where stolen crude oil are refined and pipeline vandalism that is causing the Nigerian nation huge revenue losses.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

=========

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz 

NNPC Weekly: PIA takes effect in upstream oil sector regulation

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, April 25, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the week with a move by stakeholders to begin the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in the upstream sector of the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva said at a 2-day upstream stakeholders’ forum organised by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in Abuja that the process of ratifying the first set of regulations was on.

Sylva said the regulations would govern the sector in line with Section 216 of the PIA and that the forum was convened to enable stakeholders provide inputs to fine-tune key regulations as prepared by the NUPRC and the Presidential Steering Committee.

“It is believed that a robust engagement such as this will create the platform for all of us to brainstorm in a constructive manner.

“It will also harness the necessary inputs from various stakeholders to further clarify the draft regulations and the eventual firming up of the final regulations for use.”

The Minister stated that though the PIA had removed the uncertainties that hampered investments in the sector, strong regulations were required to keep the industry vibrant and relevant.

He called on the stakeholders to embrace innovation in their operations to enable the industry survive the challenges imposed by the global energy transition.

“However, the challenge posed by the huge divestments in the hydrocarbon explorations by oil majors in the country in the past as a result of the global energy transition calls for more innovative ways in the exploitation and exploration of fossil fuel in the country.

“If we must continue to be relevant at the global stage, we must, in designing any regulation, put in focus how we can balance the energy base-load for Nigeria.

“This will ensure that we will not be left behind in the energy transition train while still harnessing our rich natural hydrocarbon reserves.”

Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, explained that the forum had become a statutory prescription and a critical milestone in the implementation of the PIA.

He said that as a law-abiding agency, it was binding on the NUPRC to work expeditiously towards finalising the regulations for the upstream sector of oil and gas industry.

This, he said would help in keeping with specific timelines as provided in the PIA.

“Also, aside from the statutory imperative on the part of the commission to have the regulations finalised in time-specific manner, there is also the compelling need for us as a nation to conclude the regulation-making process for implementation of the PIA.

“This will ensure that the PIA is in full throttle and in a manner that will enable Nigeria hedge against the impact of energy transition while taking advantage of the oil and gas supply gap resulting from the current developments in Russia and Ukraine.”

He listed the six draft regulations up for review at the forum to include: the Nigerian Upstream Fee and Rent Regulations, the Petroleum Licensing Round Regulations and the Domestic Gas Delivery Obligations Regulations.

Others are the Nigeria Conversion Regulations, the Nigeria Royalty Regulations and the Nigeria Host Community (Commission) Regulations.

He said that the commission would carry out other similar stakeholders’ engagements in the course of the implementation of the PIA.

Still in the week under review, the NNPC Ltd. and its partners – TotalEnergies, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Prime 130 and Sapetro inaugurated four projects in Cross River, Delta and Rivers in line with their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies.

The projects which include a maternal and child referral centre located in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Cross River, boreholes and water treatment plants at Ikiri, Rivers State, Warri in Delta State, and Odukpani, in Cross River, were all recently inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiary communities.

Speaking at the event, the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr Bala Wunti, said that the NNPC Ltd. was committed to the implementation of projects that guarantees sustainable development of its host communities.

“These projects were borne out of the need to mitigate the obvious gaps in healthcare, quality education, water, and women and youth empowerment as stipulated by the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“NNPC and its partners are socially responsible organisations that are committed to improving the livelihood of the citizens of our great country,” Wunti said.

On his part, Managing Director, TotalEnergies upstream companies in Nigeria, Mr Mike Sangster, said that the projects were designed to reduce the negative impacts of the lack of qualitative and technical education.

Sangster said that the projects were also designed to reduce maternal and child health, access to clean water, and women and youth empowerment.

He also stated that the projects’ sites were carefully chosen for maximum impact, as derived from the needs’ assessment carried out prior to their conception and subsequent deployment.

“It is important to note that the implementation of these projects was achieved through the novel “Project Managers” approach.

“This approach which is new in the industry permits the delivery of projects in remote and challenging environments while ensuring the use of local expertise and stakeholder engagement.

“I am very happy that the pilot projects are successfully executed. We are using the Return on Experience, to improve our processes and deliver our second and third phases faster and better,” Sangster said.

in a related development, NNPC and its partner, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), donated a state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre to the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State.

The 100-seater One-Storey building was built and equipped by the NNPC and SNEPCo Joint Venture to promote research, teaching and learning in a conducive environment.

Speaking at the inauguration of the project, the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa said the facility would go a long way in expanding the capacity of the students and staff of the university and enable them compete locally and globally.

The Governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Jennifer Adesen-Efeviroro, applauded NNPC and SNEPCo for their intervention.

“An ICT Centre in the modern world has an immense economic significance and prudent application of the facility to research, teaching and learning would catalyse innovations that would stand the university out among its peers.

The Group General Manager of NAPIMS, Mr Bala Wunti described the project as a delight to NNPC.

Wunti noted that NNPC was committed to making significant impact in the lives of every Nigerian through the delivery of life enhancing projects as the ones being inaugurated.

“We are keen on touching lives in many positive ways and this intervention, like many others delivered through our partners, will go a long way in grooming Nigerian youths for the technological evolution in the world,” he said.

Wunti, who was represented by the Deputy Manager, External Affairs, NAPIMS, Mrs Edith Lawson, said that the ICT Centre would help create a pool of IT savvy professionals whose skills would be of high necessity and demand globally.

The ICT centre is equipped with 100 computers with licensed software, a WIFI lounge, computer laboratories, conference rooms, a lecture hall, office spaces and equipment rooms.

The facility also included smart interactive boards, and a 100KVA generator.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, called for increased investments in the nation’s oil and gas industry to boost gas development and supply as European countries turn to Nigeria for their gas supply needs.

The Minister made the call during a visit of the delegation from the Kingdom of Belgium led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Daniel Dargent.

While welcoming the Belgian delegation, Sylva said that with its abundant natural gas resources, Nigeria was well positioned to fill the current gas supply gap being experienced in parts of Europe.

He, however, said that there was need to increase investments in gas development in the country to fully achieve the aspiration of boosting gas exports.

The Minister also urged investors to explore the opportunities in the nation’s downstream sector, especially in the areas of gas plants and pipelines to support the promotion of Federal Government’s plan to introduce Auto-gas.

Speaking earlier on the purpose of the visit, Dargent said the Kingdom of Belgium was interested in importing more gas from Nigeria and would like to know what challenges the country had in achieving that.

He promised to provide the Minister with a list of potential investors by June 2022 and to follow up with discussions in October when the group of Belgian investors were expected to be on ground in the country.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

==========

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, April 17, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the week with a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery, to ascertain the level of ongoing rehabilitation of the plant.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and members of Board of Directors, NNPC Ltd. who were also on the tour expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the refinery site in, Rivers State.

Sylva who was elated at the level of progress recorded on the project, said he was particularly impressed with the high sense of time management exhibited by the project team.

He said that the Federal Government was interested in the prompt delivery of the project to achieve energy security for Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the Board members, the Chairman of the NNPC Board, Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, pointed out that the rehabilitation was aimed at boosting in-country refining capacity and cost reduction.

Chuba-Okadigbo said that the rehabilitation also signals the company’s intention to exit from petroleum products importation and associated challenges of foreign exchange issues, adding that she was impressed by the quality of work done so far.

On his part, the Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari explained that the project was uniquely designed with efficiency and sustainable maintenance culture in mind to enable the refinery generate funds.

He assured that the whole process was well thought-out and will enable the company introduce a new business model for the operation of the refinery.

Earlier in his technical report to the visiting team, the Managing Director of the PHRC, Mr Ahmed Dikko stated that the company was determined to deliver on the mandate by all means.

He acknowledged the support of the NNPC leadership, its Board, the National Assembly and other stakeholders towards achieving the current milestones.

Dikko emphasised that the progress made so far could not have been possible without their cooperation and timely approvals.

Project Manager, who spoke on behalf of the contractor handling the rehabilitation, Tecnimont SpA, Mr Davide Broggini, said they would deliver the project in record time.

The visit saw the tour of areas one, two and three of the refinery that housed some major plants including, crude distillation and vacuum units.

Other plants visited were the naphtha hydro-treating unit, catalytic reform and kero hydro-treating units, fluid catalytic cracking and gas unit, and gas treatment and merox units.

It is expected that the PHRC, which comprised of the old and new refineries with a combined refining capacity of 210,000bpsd, would commence partial operation from the first quarter of 2023 by processing 60,000 barrels per stream day into the market.

The refinery would commence full operation on completion of the rehabilitation project scheduled for the last quarter of 2024.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives said it was committed to ensuring that the new NNPC Ltd. took off on a solid foundation without any encumbrance from the old NNPC.

This was said by the House of Representative Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate the inventory, assets, liabilities and joint ventures of the old NNPC during an oversight visit.

The visit was to the Frontier Exploration Services Division of the NNPC and the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) recently.

Speaking during the visit, Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Uju Chima, said the exercise was not a probe but a measure intended to help the new NNPC Ltd. to take off on a solid footing.

He explained that the Committee’s duty was to ascertain the assets of the old NNPC and ensure that those that were supposed to be transferred to the new entity, as envisioned in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), were properly documented.

“We are only here to help you ascertain those assets in order to make sure that valuable assets that are supposed to be transferred or reverted to NNPC Ltd. are not left out and at the same time to help you ascertain the value of those assets”.

He said the exercise was not only focusing on assets but also on liabilities.

The committee chairman demanded information on the total worth of PHRC’s houses, assets, monetary value of liabilities and total amount expended so far on the rehabilitation of the plants.

Chima urged NNPC to sustain the tempo to ensure that the target for the completion of the rehabilitation was not missed.

In his response, the Managing Director of PHRC, Mr Ahmed Dikko commended the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, for their support for PHRC.

He said the visit of the committee demonstrated support, not only for the PHRC, but for the NNPC Ltd.

“This support, we hope, will translate to overall success of the rehabilitation for the benefit of Nigerians in view of the current energy crisis”.

Dikko assured the committee that the job would be delivered on time and to specification, stressing that efforts were already at an advanced stage to introduce an Operations and Maintenance model to guarantee maintenance of the refinery.

Earlier in a similar visit to the Frontier Exploration Services Division of NNPC in Abuja, the Committee sought to know the activities of the Division and its assets and liabilities

The Chairman of the Committee said they were interested in the sustainability mechanisms which the Frontier Exploration Services Division had put in place for the transition.

The Group General Manager, Frontier Exploration Services Division, Mr Abdullahi Bomai, took the lawmakers through the operations of the division, explaining that the division was in the business of deploying high standard technology for seismic data collection.

He said that the seismic data collected in the course of the division’s operations were part of NNPC’s assets.

On the liabilities of the division, Bomai said there was need for the upgrade of technology to enable it scale up its capacity and expressed hope that the provision of 30 per cent exploration fund in the PIA would be able to help address the challenge.

The Ad-hoc committee at the end of the visit expressed confidence in the ability of NNPC to implement a successful transition to a limited liability company.

Also in the week, the NNPC said it would deliver the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Pipeline Project (AKK) on schedule with the first gas to be delivered in the first quarter of year 2023.

Speaking at the project site at Abaji, Abuja, during a tour of the project, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, said efforts were on to ensure that the project was completed on schedule.

He stated that a critical deliverable of the AKK project was the injection of over eight billion standard cubic feet (scf) of gas injected into the domestic pipeline to revive the moribund industries.

Kyari said it would also open up economic opportunities for the country.

He described the AKK Gas Pipeline as a signature project and hinted that it was time for Nigeria to take advantage of its gas reserve in Africa to develop its economy.

“There is no country that has access to this volume of gas that did not develop”.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the NNPC Board, Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, expressed optimism that the project could deliver its first gas by the first quarter of 2023 based on the magnitude of work done so far.

She noted that the country could leverage on the Russia-Ukraine situation to provide solution to the global gas supply challenge.

On the feasibility of achieving the 2023 target, the Chairman of Oilserv, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for the project, Mr Emeka Okwuosa, confirmed his company’s readiness to deliver the project on schedule.

He said NNPC’s interventions at various periods of challenge helped in getting the job to the current appreciable level.

He also assured that the project managers and teams were more than competent to deliver the project within record time.

Also speaking at the KP 171 Welding Site during the tour, the Managing Director of the Oilserv, Mr Chigozie Obi, and General Manager, AKK Project, NNPC, Mr Barwa Muhammed, explained that apart from deployment of modern technologies that guarantee durability, the project had great economic effects for the nation.

The construction of the 614km AKK Pipeline project was flagged-off simultaneously in Kogi and Kaduna states by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020 to encourage gas utilisation and serve as a springboard for the nation’s industrialisation.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

=========

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, April 10, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the week with a call for support of stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to tackle crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

The stakeholders were the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), among others.

The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, made the call at the 5th quadrennial delegates’ conference of the NUPENG held in Asaba, Delta State.

The theme of the conference was, “Just Energy Transition: For oil and gas workers’ social welfare and security”.

Kyari said the theft of crude oil impacted negatively the revenue due to the Federal Government and had denied the country the much-needed fund to boost economic development.

“It is also a big threat to the NNPC Limited’s quest for energy security for the country,” he said.

The NNPC GMD also told participants at the conference that the impact of pipeline vandalism had reduced the capacity of the country to meet its oil production quota.

Kyari said as major stakeholders in the oil and gas business, the time had come for NUPENG and NARTO to collaborate with the NNPC in bringing the issue of crude oil theft to an end.

He said everybody must be involved in the fight in order to save the industry from collapse.

In a related development, the House of Representatives within the week under review pledged its support to the fight by the NNPC against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Musa Sarkin-Adar, gave the assurance at an investigative hearing on the state of crude oil production and the price in the country.

Sarkin-Adar said the legislature would support NNPC by passing adequate legislations to help tackle the challenges facing the oil and gas industry.

He lauded the company for the initiatives it had taken so far to address the twin menace of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Earlier in a presentation to the Committee, the GMD/CEO of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, identified oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refineries as the major factors responsible for the low oil production in the country.

He disclosed that the Federal Government had introduced strategic and coordinated measures to arrest the trend to ensure a boost in crude oil production.

Kyari said that national crude oil production would rise to between 2.2 and 2.4 million barrels per day by the time all the measures instituted to tackle the challenges began to yield results.

NNPC GMD also called for the establishment of an independent judicial system (a special court) to promote speedy prosecution of oil theft and pipeline vandalism cases.

He said time had come for all stakeholders to join the advocacy for the full wrath of the law to be visited on all those found to be involved in the crimes of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

On rise in the price of petroleum products, NNPC explained that though prices were determined by a mix of international and local factors, the Company’s intervention had led to relative price stability in the country.

In allaying the fears and doubts of the lawmakers’ about the positive influence of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on the nation’s oil and gas industry, NNPC assured that the fiscal and regulatory frameworks of the PIA would definitely bring about higher value in the industry in due course as the full implementation of the law gets underway.

Also in the week, the NNPC Ltd. applauded Nigerian Security Agencies for their respective roles in ensuring the smooth business operations of the company, especially during the recent fuel supply crisis.

NNPC gave the commendation at the 2022 1st Quarterly Security Stakeholders’ Meeting organised by the Group Security Department (GSD) of the Company at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

In her opening remarks, the Group Executive Director (GED), Corporate Services, Mrs Aisha Ahmadu-Katagum, expressed appreciation to the various security agencies for all the efforts made to secure NNPC’s businesses, personnel and facilities.

Ahmadu-Katagum, who was represented by the Group General Manager Information and Technology Division (ITD), Danladi Inuwa, stated that NNPC acknowledges the agencies’ support in ensuring the maintenance of law and order during the recent fuel supply glitch.

She added that the company would continue to collaborate with them to ensure smooth distribution of the company’s products across the country.

Also speaking at the meeting, the General Manager, Group Security Division (GSD), Mr Abba Mohammed, called for deeper collaborations noting that the current security situation in the country required the cooperation of all the stakeholders in the security sector.

In attendance at the meeting were representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Federal Fire Service.

In the meantime, the Association of Professional Women Engineers (APWEN) in collaboration with the NNPC Ltd. constructed, commissioned and donated a multimillion Naira well-equipped science and technology laboratory with a motorised borehole to the Sarki Ahmadu Primary School, Misau, Bauchi State.

Speaking at the inauguration of the project which took place in Misau, Bauchi State, GMD/CEO of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari, said that the programme was targeted at promoting the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among primary school girls between 8 years and 10 years.

Kyari, represented by the company’s Chief Innovation Officer, Mrs Betty Ugona, described the project as one of the largest and most ambitious attempts to encourage more girls across the country to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

In her welcome address, President of APWEN, Dr Elizabeth Eterigho, said that scholarships were awarded to 21 best pupils from 10 primary schools in Misau after conducting series of hand-on experiments with everyday materials.

She added that the scholarships sponsored by the NNPC Ltd., would cover the awardees’ tuition fees from primary school to tertiary level.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

=========

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, April 5, 2022 (NAN) Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its week on a positive note as its corporate service unit acquired ISO certifications in Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and Quality Management System (QMS).

The corporate service unit of the NNPC known as the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), acquired the certifications as part of its commitment to emplace automation and set global standards for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

It also launched an Electronic Materials Management Solution (e-MMS), a platform aimed at enhancing synergy among operators in the upstream to save cost, enhance production and ensure process standardisation, industry-wide.

Speaking at the event which held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, Chairman, Board of Directors, NNPC Ltd, Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, said that the new NNPC was focused on strategic positioning that would enable it compete at global level.

She pointed out that NAPIMS’ attainment of ISO certifications in BCMS and QMS further attests to the Company’s commitment to the principles of Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) agenda.

She stressed that automation of the system would reduce cost, ensure seamless cross-inventory exchange among industry players and encourage revenue-generation-auction system.

In his remarks, the NNPC GMD/CEO, Malam Mele Kyari, stated that the company’s operation was experiencing massive disruption in the form of pipeline vandalism.

He said that significant ISO certifications around NNPC’s businesses and e-MMS solution by NAPIMS should be able to respond positively through provision of containment measures to address the industry challenges.

Kyari said that with current situations around the world, there was need for NNPC to take advantage of the abundant hydrocarbon resources of today to build energy of tomorrow.

He emphasised that the NNPC would continue to give priority to gas development and utilisation in its journey of becoming an energy company of global excellence.

Also speaking at the event, the Group Executive Director, Upstream, Mr Adokiye Tombomieye, pointed out that NNPC Upstream identified the processes of standardisation and digitisation as key elements required to achieve cost optimisation, production and national reserve aspirations.

Tombomieye maintained that the Directorate would continue to emplace automation in line with industry’s best practices to eliminate the impact of discretion in decision-making processes.

He stated that NAPIMS had become the first government-run organisation in West Africa to receive the ISO-22301:2019 certification for Business Continuity Management from RINA, Italy.

Some of the industry stakeholders at the event, included the representative of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Famous Eseduwo, Director of Human Resources, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Cosmas Iwueze who represented the Chairman of OPTS, Mr Rick Kennedy.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote, pledge their support for NNPC’s initiatives to move the oil and gas sector forward.

Mr Bala Wunti, Group Managing Director of NAPIMS, said acquiring the certifications had become a means and not an end because the objective was to institutionalise best processes and standards to achieve cost efficiency and value creation for the benefit of Nigerians.

He said the e-MMS solution provides a transparent exchange platform that leverages on data management to service the material assets need of players in the oil and gas business, adding that the milestones achieved in the areas of certification and automation were as a result of the functional collaboration and support from all stakeholders.

The highpoint of the event was the virtual and physical presentation of the ISO certificates by the Managing Director, RINA, Mr Alessandro Momei, and Mr Richard Omale of the 3FM Solution, respectively.

Still in the week under review, NNPC Ltd. restated its commitment to investing heavily in the development of infrastructure, especially roads, with a view to building a vibrant national economy.

The Company stated this at the 7th Edition of the Africa Road Builders Trophee Babacar Ndiaye Conference held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Building Roads, Building Economies”. President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), emphasised the importance of road construction to the Nigerian economy.

He listed the efforts of the Federal Government in road infrastructure development across the country.

In his presentation, the GMD/CEO, NNPC Ltd. Malam Mele Kyari, who was represented by the Group Executive Director, Downstream, Mr Yemi Adetunji, said NNPC was committed to building a strong economy for Nigeria.

Kyari said that it was doing so through intervention in the construction of critical roads across the country under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

He said the intervention was in furtherance of its primary mandate of guaranteeing energy security through efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country, an activity that is heavily dependent on road transportation.

Stakeholders like the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) made presentations towards ongoing road projects.

The Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd. (NLNG), Dangote Group and other partners also made presentations highlighting projects geared towards job creation and promotion of economic activities in the country.

Highpoint of the event was the announcement of President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the 2021 Great Builder Super Prize, the Babacar Ndiaye Trophy during the inaugural Africa Road Builders conference held in Cairo, Egypt in May 2021.

The Africa Road Builders – Trophy is named after Dr Babacar Ndiaye, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) from 1985 – 1995 who initiated the conference.

The conference is sponsored by the (AfDB), to promote the development of road infrastructure and transport in Africa as well as to encourage African countries to improve road and transport.

It is also organised to celebrate good examples and reward an African Head of State that achieved exemplary road and transport successes in his or her countries each year.

In another development, the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) described the GMD/CEO of NNPC Ltd., Kyari as an innovative and transformational leader.

This commendation was given at the 6th Combined Convocation Ceremony of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, where Kyari was awarded a Doctor of Science degree (honoris causa).

Conferring the award on Kyari, the Chancellor of the university and Emir of Keffi, His Royal Highness Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, said the NNPC boss had demonstrated excellent leadership in the oil and gas industry through his transformation of company into a profit-making entity.

Kyari was represented by the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hajiya Aisha Farida Katagum.

Also, at the occasion was the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who as the Special Guest of Honour launched the N4 billion endowment fund for some projects in the university.

The projects include: The Research Centres in Chemical and Production, Finance and Enterprise Studies, Sugar, ICT, Agricultural Value Chain and Climate Change.

The Vice President reiterated the need for concerted efforts in the advancement of science and technological research just as he applauded the zeal and determination of the University for venturing into innovations and robotics.

Other dignitaries who were honoured with Doctorate Degrees alongside Kyari include: the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, immediate past governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Almakura, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Peter Eloka, and Alhaji Ali Abdulrazak Balarabe.

The Governor of Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, who congratulated all graduands and awardees for the deserved recognition by the university, assured citizens of government’s commitment to the development of education in the state.

Other dignitaries at the event were the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congresses, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, members of the state and federal legislature and traditional rulers.

On hand to felicitate with the GMD were the Managing Director of PPMC, Mr Isiyaku Abdullahi; MD of NMSL, Dr Mohammed Zango; GGM/SBA to the GMD, Mr Abubakar Nuhu Mohammed; GGM, GPAD, Mr Garba Deen Muhammad; GM, Shared Services, FES, Mr Ahmed Ardo; and the Business Adviser to GMD, Ahmed Ibrahim.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

==============

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Feb. 27, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) gave Nigerians especially those in the Niger Delta cheering news that it had achieved a 30 per cent reduction in gas flares across its operational areas over the last five years.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari said this within the week while speaking as a panelist at the 2022 International Energy week.

Kyari who spoke in a virtual session on Energy transition, acknowledged the level of energy poverty in the country particularly around cooking fuels.

He added that NNPC had begun plans to replace bio- mass fuels with cleaner sources of energy.

According to him, NNPC is working on increasing the level of gas consumption in the domestic markets by replacing diesel, fuel oils and other heavy distillates with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

On renewable energy, he said NNPC was exploring alternative sources such as wind and solar power which required huge financial investment, to close the energy gap, but opined that natural resources could be used to bridge the gap.

“The only framework we can get is to see if we can convert our resources on ground to value. This value can then be used to close some of the infrastructure gap while also investing in renewable sources of energy,” he said.

On reaching net zero emissions, he maintained that though NNPC’s strategy and timing might differ from its partners, the company was in alignment with them on achieving this and understood the steps required to achieve this.

Meanwhile, Duke Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) cleared the air regarding its role in the importation of methanol-laden petrol into the country.

The Managing Director of Duke Oil, Mr Lawal Sade, gave the clarification at an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).

Sade said the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) it imported met all specifications and standards required by the NNPC.

He said that the PMS imported by the company was tested both at load port and discharge port, and it was found to have met all the requisite specifications and standards.

Sade further said that discharge of the product could not have been possible if it was not certified to be of standard quality by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the joint inspection team.

The company assured the lawmakers and indeed all Nigerians of its commitment to the nation’s energy security, stressing that it was not possible for it to deliberately import sub-standard fuel.

Duke Oil also assured the lawmakers that all hands were on deck by key players in the industry to rectify the situation, adding that remedial actions have been taken to ensure consistent, smooth and safe supply of petroleum products going forward.

The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Abdullahi Gaya, on his part said members of the committee would study the written response submitted by Duke Oil on the matter and contact the company if there was need to do so.

Also in the week, the ongoing rehabilitation works on the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) was applauded by three former Managing Directors (MDs) of the Company.

The MDs who visited the refinery on an inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation advised PHRC Management to ensure that members of staff use the opportunity of the rehabilitation to acquire specific expertise on key operational areas.

The three former MDs are Dr Bafred Enjugu, who was in-charge from 2014 to 2017; Mr Shehu Malami, who was the MD from 2017 to 2018 and Engr. Abba Bukar, the immediate past MD who retired in March 2020.

They expressed delight at being able to inspect the ongoing works and advised the management to manage cost and ensure a successful completion of the rehabilitation.

In his remarks Mr Abba Bukar thanked PHRC management for the opportunity to see firsthand, the ongoing works and staff who worked with him when he was at the helm of affairs at the refinery.

To manage the overall cost of the project, Bukar advised PHRC management to evaluate all the warehoused spare parts to determine those that can be used in the ongoing rehabilitation as a way of saving cost.

On his part, Mr Shehu Malami called on the management and staff of PHRC to ensure the successful completion of the rehabilitation project within budget, as it was in the interest of all PHRC staff, whether serving or retired.

He commended PHRC for achieving ISO recertification and enjoined the management team to ensure that proper processes and procedures were adhered to especially in the course of the rehabilitation.

In his remarks, Dr Bafred Enjugu advised PHRC management to use the opportunity offered by the ongoing rehabilitation to build skills and expertise in specific areas like rotating equipment, electrical and mechanical engineering.

He noted that subject matter experts that would be developed through exposure to the rehabilitation would serve as reservoirs of knowledge that can be used for the provision of solution in other locations and as resource persons across the company.

Furthermore, he said PHRC Management should pay attention to the rehabilitation project by ensuring that products that would later be refined in the plants would be of standard in quality and to specification.

Earlier, the serving MD of PHRC, Dikko described the visiting former MDs as professionals who gave their best to NNPC and the refining sector in the country as they all worked both in Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) and PHRC.

He said that by coming to see the ongoing rehabilitation, the former MDs had demonstrated the spirit of camaraderie, as their visit and support for the project would boost the spirit and morale of staff.

Dikko said the visit showed that staff who retired from the system still had pivotal roles to play in the activities of the company.

He briefed the former MDs on the progress made on the refinery rehabilitation and the Corporate Social Responsibility efforts being made for host communities.

Dikko said these efforts had led to relative peace and assured that PHRC would continue to work with hosts communities through honest engagements and social investments that would create mutual benefits.

In the meantime, the Managing Director (MD) of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Mr Ahmed Dikko won the Swift reporters 2021 Man of the year Award.

Speaking at the award presentation in Abuja, the publisher of Swift Reporters Mr Adewole Kehinde said Dikko was recognised for his contributions, humility and dedication to the on-going rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

He noted that the aim of the awards was to recognise the extra efforts of individuals and to encourage good behavior and inculcate a competitive spirit.

Responding, Dikko thanked Swift Reporters for considering him for the award of Man of the Year.

He said all thanks should go to his boss, NNPC CEO, Mele Kyari who found him worthy of the responsibility to champion the rehabilitation of PHRC.

Dikko also thanked the CEO for the support especially with the funding of the project and the GED R&P whom he said had given him all the needed backing in the course of the rehabilitation.

He dedicated the award to management and staff of PHRC whom he praised for their dedication and commitment.

The refinery boss said the award would spur him to remain focused on the rehabilitation of PHRC, adding that the refinery would run profitably after the exercise.

He assured that the rehabilitation was moving as scheduled and that Nigerians would reap the benefit of the exercise.

In the week under review, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva assured that Nigeria was doing a lot currently to meet its OPEC production quota by the end of this year.

Sylva who gave the assurance in Abuja during a press briefing on the ongoing Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES), expressed dissatisfaction that Nigeria was not able to benefit from the current high prices of crude oil.

The minister said that the high prices of crude also encouraged other producers and that it was not beneficial to crude oil producers.

Briefing on the NIES, Sylva said the Federal Government was hosting the summit with its partners.

They include the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and all its parastatals including the NNPC, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Others are the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NURPC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).

According to him, the objective of the summit from inception was to deliver the biggest and best African Petroleum Technology and Business Conference that would be the definitive platform, not just for Nigeria, but also for Africa to engage the global energy community.

“I believe that we have delivered on that with every edition.”

The event was formerly known as the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS).

The first edition was held in 2018. Thus, this year’s edition will be the 5th edition.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

==============

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Feb. 20, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited started its week with an assurance to Nigerians that the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) would soon normalise after it recalled the bad product imported into the country last week.

The NNPC Group Executive Director (GED) Downstream, Adetunji Adeyemi, gave the assurance at a briefing in Abuja, while concerted efforts were being made to end the challenges in the supply of petrol.

Adeyemi stated that the company was expecting over 2.3 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the country by the end of February and that over 1 billion litres of the product were currently being distributed nationwide.

He assured that the product being dispensed at various filling stations in the country was safe, as the expected 2.3 billion litres would restore the sufficiency level above the national target of 30 days.

Adeyemi explained that in order to accelerate PMS distribution across the country, the company had commenced 24 hours’ operations at its depots and retail outlets.

He disclosed that NNPC had constituted a monitoring team, with the support of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other security agencies to ensure smooth distribution of PMS nationwide.

In the meantime, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Rep. Abdullahi Gaya, assured Nigerians that his Committee would handle companies who imported methanol-blended Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country.

A statement by Mr Garba Deen Muhammad, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC Limited, quoted Gaya as responding to a question from one of the committee members in that regard.

Gaya spoke during an engagement with Management of the NNPC organised by his committee on the current fuel situation in the country.

While briefing the committee, the NNPC CEO/GMD, Malam Mele Kyari, explained that the situation came about as a result of the discovery of methanol in the PMS cargoes shipped to Nigeria under the subsisting commercial contract operated by NNPC and its partners.

According to Kyari, tests did not reveal methanol presence because Nigeria’s specifications do not include methanol.

“We are a law-abiding company. There is no way we could have known about the methanol presence.

“The only way we could have known about it is if our suppliers, in good faith, made the disclosure to us.

“In this particular instance, the discovery was made by our inspection agents who noticed the emulsification at the filling stations and brought it to our attention.

“Subsequent investigation revealed that the four cargoes which are all from the same source also contained methanol-blended PMS,” Kyari said.

He said NNPC moved swiftly to trace all the affected products and quarantine same.

While assuring the Committee and Nigerians that measures have been put in place to accelerate fuel supply and distribution in the country, the NNPC CEO said the company had placed significant orders of over 2.1billion liters of methanol-free PMS to ensure the queues vanish in few days.

He pledged that NNPC would co-operate with the committee and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to get to the root of the matter.

The NNPC CEO also expressed deep empathy with Nigerians on the current situation and assured that adequate measures have been put in place to maintain supply sufficiency and prevent future occurrence.

Also in the week, the ongoing rehabilitation works on the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) was applauded by three former Managing Directors (MDs) of the Company.

The MDs who visited the refinery on an inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation advised PHRC Management to ensure that members of staff use the opportunity of the rehabilitation to acquire specific expertise on key operational areas.

The three former MDs are Dr Bafred Enjugu, who was in-charge from 2014 to 2017; Mr Shehu Malami, who was the MD from 2017 to 2018 and Engr. Abba Bukar, the immediate past MD who retired in March 2020.

They expressed delight at being able to inspect the ongoing works and advised the management to manage cost and ensure a successful completion of the rehabilitation.

In his remarks Mr Abba Bukar thanked PHRC management for the opportunity to see firsthand, the ongoing works and staff who worked with him when he was at the helm of affairs at the refinery.

To manage the overall cost of the project, Bukar advised PHRC management to evaluate all the warehoused spare parts to determine those that can be used in the ongoing rehabilitation as a way of saving cost.

On his part, Mr Shehu Malami called on the management and staff of PHRC to ensure the successful completion of the rehabilitation project within budget, as it was in the interest of all PHRC staff, whether serving or retired.

He commended PHRC for achieving ISO recertification and enjoined the management team to ensure that proper processes and procedures were adhered to especially in the course of the rehabilitation.

In his remarks, Dr Bafred Enjugu advised PHRC management to use the opportunity offered by the ongoing rehabilitation to build skills and expertise in specific areas like rotating equipment, electrical and mechanical engineering.

He noted that subject matter experts that would be developed through exposure to the rehabilitation would serve as reservoirs of knowledge that can be used for the provision of solution in other locations and as resource persons across the company.

Furthermore, he said PHRC Management should pay attention to the rehabilitation project by ensuring that products that would later be refined in the plants would be of standard in quality and to specification.

Earlier, the serving MD of PHRC, Dikko described the visiting former MDs as professionals who gave their best to NNPC and the refining sector in the country as they all worked both in Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) and PHRC.

He said that by coming to see the ongoing rehabilitation, the former MDs had demonstrated the spirit of camaraderie, as their visit and support for the project would boost the spirit and morale of staff.

Dikko said the visit showed that staff who retired from the system still had pivotal roles to play in the activities of the company.

He briefed the former MDs on the progress made on the refinery rehabilitation and the Corporate Social Responsibility efforts being made for host communities.

Dikko said these efforts had led to relative peace and assured that PHRC would continue to work with hosts communities through honest engagements and social investments that would create mutual benefits.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ENO/EMAF/ISMA

==============

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz