By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has inaugurated the metering audit and advanced cargo declaration project teams following the recent approval for the implementation of two key projects by the Federal Executive Council. The projects are the Audit of Upstream Measurement Equipment and Facilities in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry and the Advance Cargo Declaration Solution.

•  * Mulls Stronger Laws Against Crude Oil Theft, Vandalism

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The National Assembly has thrown its weight behind NNPC Limited's ongoing efforts to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production and grow its reserves, saying it will consider stiffer consequences for crude oil thieves and vandals of the nation's critical hydrocarbon infrastructure.

This was made known when the National Assembly's Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) paid an oversight visit on the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), an upstream arm of the NNPC Ltd, at its headquarters in Lagos, on Tuesday.

Jointly led by the Committee Chairmen from both chambers, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams and Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the legislators described the menace of crude oil theft and vandalism of critical oil and gas infrastructure as major challenges to Nigeria’s revenue generation and budget targets, which must be curtailed.

In his remarks, Senator Williams said it was imperative for the National Assembly to come up with legislative action that will help stop crude oil theft and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production.

He said from what they found at NUIMS, it is duty-bound on the legislature to come up with decisive measures that will help the government to achieve its set targets in the oil and gas sector.

On his part, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa said by virtue of their duties as a legislature, the lawmakers will fast-track the strengthening of a legislative framework to be able to check the excesses bedeviling the nation’s oil and gas sector.

Doguwa, who commended NNPC Ltd’s efforts for its industry-wide security collaboration against the nation’s hydrocarbon infrastructure said more needs to be done to ensure the Company increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and grow its reserves.

He said the legislature will consider deploying the stick and carrot approach towards addressing the issue, but where it becomes necessary, the stick approach must be emphasised to rise vehemently against any encumbrance standing in the way of Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

Earlier in his detailed presentation to the lawmakers, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer (CUIO) of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Bala Wunti described NUIMS as a trustee of Nigeria’s upstream investments which ensures the country maximises returns through effective supervision of its Joint Venture (JV), Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) and Service Contracts (SC) operating partners.

Wunti, who commended the lawmakers for their consistent support to the NNPC Ltd, said engagements with the National Assembly are crucial as they will help the NNPC Ltd in the attainment of its mandate.

“We are here to see how the NASS will help us produce more barrels and deliver value to our shareholders. Increasing production is the new narrative and your support is needed to enable us achieve our set targets based on our key principles of safety, speed, compliance and efficiency,” Wunti informed the legislators.

He said so far, the industry-wide security collaboration against crude oil theft and vandalism of Nigeria’s critical hydrocarbon infrastructure through the four-way strategy of “Detect, Deter, Respond and Recover” have been instrumental in the recent restoration of some of the nation’s lost barrels. NNL.

By Our Reporter

The management of Brentex CPP Limited (BCL) has said it wishes to correct some mix-ups and inaccuracies in some of the reportage of its appearance at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Local Content chaired by Distinguish Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

• * As Corporation, Stakeholders Vow To Restore Normalcy

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The NNPC Limited has said that the fuel queues seen in the FCT and some parts of the country, were as a result of disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.

The Corporation in an official statement, said adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.

The NNPC Ltd also states that due to flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.

According to the statement, "Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.

"Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.

"The NNPC Ltd is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.

"Already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy would be restored.

"The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products". NNL.

• * Calls FOR Collaboration To Reduce Production Cost

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

In a move towards increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production and growing its reserves, NNPC Ltd has declared a state of emergency on production in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, on Monday in Abuja, hailed the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements as crucial for enhanced competitiveness and mitigation of risks in regard to unqualified contractors, just as he unveiled five focal areas for implementation of the policy initiative.

• * Launches Probe Into Incidents, Vows TO Deal With Culprits

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The NNPC Retail Limited said it's attention has been drawn to a recent video clip making rounds on social media (X to be precise) concerning a fuel pump attendant in one of NNPC filling stations.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

A total of 2,659 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across Nigeria have been pre-qualified for the final phase of the NNPC Foundation Business Pitching Exercise.

* Kyari Assures Project Will Be Ready On Q1 2025

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The Federal Government has highlighted the huge multiplier impact of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project on the nation's economic growth and industrialisation.

This was made known during the visit of three cabinet Ministers to the AKK Gas Pipeline Project Site where they inspected the River Kaduna crossing milestone of the project in Kaduna, last Friday.

This is coming just as the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari assured Nigerians that the Project will be delivered by the end of first quarter 2025.

The three Ministers who visited the Project Site were: Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Information & National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris Malagi and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo.

Speaking at the project site, the Minister of Finance Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun described the AKK Gas pipeline as the pipeline of prosperity, which is very dear to the President, because it will deliver the critical infrastructure needed to trigger the nation's economic growth and industrialisation.

"The AKK Gas Pipeline is crucial for this administration and its delivery is in line with Mr. President's strategy of bringing prosperity to the people," Edun added.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris Malagi said the AKK Gas Pipeline Project is a testimony to the fact that the Federal Government's "Decade of Gas" has commenced in earnest.

"Nigerians should be proud of the AKK Gas Pipeline project. With the delivery of this project, the prosperity that Mr. President is always talking about is unravelling right here before our eyes," he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said the gas pipeline is part of the Federal Government’s many efforts to harness the nation's abundant gas resources towards improving power generation, revamping ailing industries and creating employment opportunities in the country.

Ekpo urged all stakeholders to support the NNPC Ltd towards delivering the project and several other gas projects as the country depends on it to bring prosperity to the people.

The three Ministers, who lauded the NNPC Ltd and its project partner, Brentex/CPP Ltd (BCL) on the progress made so far, also expressed optimism that the NNPC will deliver as promised.

Earlier in his remarks, the GCEO NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari assured the Project will be delivered by first quarter of 2025 as major segments of the job have been completed.

"Without promising too much, we assure you that this Project will be delivered on schedule. Our mission is to work towards delivering it by December this year. But we are confident this project will be delivered by 1st Quarter of 2025," Kyari informed the three visiting Ministers.

The GCEO, who said the NNPC Ltd recognises the strategic importance and enormous value of the project to Nigeria's economy, stressed that the Company was bankrolling the project on the back of its own balance sheet.

In his speech, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Uba Sani, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, said the completion of the AKK gas pipeline will herald the much-needed economic and industrial revival in the state.

"If you know about the Kakuri Industrial Area and how most of our factories there have become moribund, you will understand why we in Kaduna State are all excited about the AKK Gas Pipeline. Without doubt, the pipeline will revamp our industries and bring about a huge impact on our people. We can't wait for it to be completed," the Governor added.

The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline is a 40 inch by 614km linear pipeline system running from Akaojuta in Kogi State to Kano with associated intermediate, terminal gas facilities and other related equipment to transport natural gas to off-takers at Abuja, Kaduna and Kano. NNL.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The execution of the Ubeta Field Development Project by TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will create thousands of jobs in the country and catalyse the economy, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) said on Thursday.

* As Mele Kyari Lauds FG's Presidential Executive Order For Fostering Growth In Nigeria's Oil, Gas Sector

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

In a major step towards boosting Nigeria’s oil and gas production, the NNPC-TotalEnergies JV has officially announced a 550 million USD Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ubeta Field Development Project.

• * Targets 5% Increase In Market Share Through EPC Projects

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11

The NNPC Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has announced a 137 per cent increase in operating profits for the year 2023.