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NCDMB,Shell JV Partners Donate To FUTO
Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), with its joint venture (JV) partners, Thursday unveiled world-class engineering design studios and an information and communication technology (ICT) hub at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
The facilities were conceived and donated in furtherance of the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (HCD) programme which had focused lately on institutional strengthening, equipping universities and revamping select technical and vocational schools across the country, in a bid to develop competent technical manpower and craftsmen needed in the oil and gas industry and the linkage sectors,a statement.
The new facilities include two state-of-the-art Engineering Design Studios and a fully furnished 100-seater Main ICT Lecture Hall, equipped with computers and smartboards. The studios are designed to serve as a “visually stimulating collaborative workspace that fosters an environment where students can engage in group work, brainstorming sessions, and ideation meetings.”
Other facilities are a 200KVA diesel generator, diesel storage tank, generator house, borehole, overhead water tank, perimeter mesh wire fence, a car park, as well as shallow drains and landscaping.
Speaking at the ceremony,the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the studios and hubs were initiated in furtherance of the Federal Government’s aspirations for development of competent technical manpower to support activities in the oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors.
The impartation of specialised skills through expansion and modernisation of academic infrastructure, he noted, has to be accelerated.
According to the NCDMB boss, who was represented by the Board’s Director in charge of capacity building, Dr. Ama Ikuru, “We shall keep enhancing institutional capacity to equip our students with the requisite knowledge and skills needed to compete globally in the wake of the 4th industrial revolution where Artificial Intelligence, data science, Internet of Things, robotics dominate.”
Recalling several interventions by the NCDMB in academic institutions to boost acquisition of contemporary skills, Engr. Ogbe said, “the Board has carried out the upgrade of many vocational schools and universities under its Technical and Vocational Education and Training Centres (TVETs) upgrade programme” and that it believes in “the significance of education particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses”
In his address, the Managing Director and Country Chair of SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, described the Engineering Design Studio and ICT Hub as a “very important human capital development project” that has resulted from a fruitful collaboration between SPDC, JV partners, notably, NNPCL, SPDC, TotalEnergies, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), and NCDMB.
Represented by the General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Igo Weli, Okunbor disclosed that FUTO was “selected to benefit from institutional strengthening in the catchment areas of SPDC’s Assa North Ohaji South Gas Development Project” and that the facility was in line with the associated Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development Plan” and “in accordance with the provisions of the NOGICD [Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development] Act, 2010 and NCDMB’s HCD Guidelines of 2020.”
He promised that “A 40KW solar system will be installed in the coming weeks to ensure sustainable energy supply” to the facility.
The Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPCL Upstream Investment Management Services, Mr. Bala M. Wunti, observed that “Innovation thrives in an environment where ideas can be freely exchanged and developed,” adding that “The Engineering Studio and ICT Hub is designed to be such a place where students, researchers, and faculty can collaborate on projects, share knowledge, and push the boundaries of what is possible.”.
Represented by the Senior Advisor Stakeholders Relations, Mrs. Halimat Wilson, the NNPC top official stated that the true impact of the facility would be measured by the success stories that emerge from it.
The State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, thanked Shell and its partners and the NCDMB for providing the State with what he described as vital digital infrastructure.
He said the facility would serve as a centre for innovation and creativity that would contribute to the development of the state.
Earlier in a welcome address, the FUTO Vice Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Nnenna Nnannaya Oti, said the facility “aligns with the critical mandate of the University, to jumpstart national development through indigenous technology-based teaching pedagogy that emphasises practical knowledge, innovations and problem solving.”
She expressed appreciation to the Managing Director and Country Chair of Shell, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, and the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, among others, “for making such a landmark donation” to the University.
Nigeria Begins Oil Exploration In Kogi Soon-FG
FG Stops Cooking Gas Export To Reduce Cost
Mohammed Shosanya
The Federal Government,has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Liquefied Petroleum Gas producers to stop exporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas produced in the country.
The action which is geared to arrest the spiralling cost of the product,is expected to take effect on November 1,this year,according to the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas),Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Ekpo,gave the directive on Tuesday in Abuja at a meeting with stakeholders to address the skyrocketing price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas,otherwise known as cooking gas,and its attendant hardship on Nigerians.
He also directed the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA),to engage stakeholders to create a domestic LPG pricing framework within 90 days.
He maintained that indexing price to cost of in-country production, rather than the current practice of indexing against external markets,such as the Americas and Far East Asia, whereas the commodity is produced in-country and the Nigerian people are required to pay much higher price for an essential commodity the country is naturally endowed with.
According to him,within 12 months, facilities will be developed to blend, store, and deliver LPG, ending exports until the market achieves sufficiency and price stability.
He said his directives are a step towards addressing the inherent challenges and ensuring Nigerians have access to affordable cooking gas.
He added:“The new measures aim to improve availability and ensure affordability to protect Nigerians from the economic hardship caused by LPG price hike”.
The Minister had established a committee in November 2023, led by the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, and comprising key stakeholders in the LPG value chain.
But prices have continued to fluctuate, recently soaring to N1,500 from an average of N1,100 – N1,250 per kg,despite the efforts of the committee to reduce the cost of the product.
Seplat Confirms Presidential Consent On $1.28bn MPNU Deal
Mohammed Shosanya
Seplat Energy Plc,has announced that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has confirmed that consent has been granted by the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to proceed with the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (‘MPNU’)
The company conveyed this in a statement on Tuesday.
“Seplat Energy sincerely thanks His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for granting this approval, and appreciates the support and diligence of the various Ministries and regulators for all the work on this Transaction”,it added
Divestment:FG Approves Seplat’s Acquisition Of ExxonMobil
Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),Monday announced successful acquisition of $1.28billion assets of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) by Seplat Energy Offshore Limited.
It also approved Equinor Nigeria Energy Company Limited sales to Project Odinmin Investments Limited, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited to Oando Petroleum and Natural Gas Company Limited and TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to Telema Energies Nigeria Limited.
But the divestment of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited’s assets to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited could not scale regulatory test.
Of the five divestment applications for consent received by Commission a total of four, representing 80% passed regulatory test and secured ministerial consent.
The Commission’s Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe,announced this during the launch of operation 1 million per day oil industry production initiative.
According to him,the project is an industry collaborative initiative to co- create solutions and evolve alternative funding mechanisms to unlock incremental oil production in the short-to-medium term with expanded opportunities for all industry stakeholder groups.
He explained that the new initiative will create value addition for all stakeholders – producers,service providers, rig owners,financiers, rude Oil off-takers, amongst others.
“The Project 1 Million Barrel initiative is pivotal to production ramp-up, energy security, and economic resilience, all in the overall national interest. You may recall that by 1st January this year, we issued the Regulatory Action Plan for 2024 and the near term, to signal direction for the upstream sector and foster operational excellence. The implementation of that Plan has birthed the Project 1 Million Barrels of Oil per day Initiative.
“The project is an industry collaborative initiative to co- create solutions and evolve alternative funding mechanisms to unlock incremental oil production in the short-to-medium term with expanded opportunities for all industry stakeholder groups”
Pump Price Of Petrol Jumps To N1,090 In Lagos
Stop Using Uncertified CNG Cylinders,SON Warns Nigerians
Shell’s Osagie Okunbor Projects Bright Future For Nigeria’s Oil,Gas Industry
NNPC-CNL JV Drills Meji NW-1 Well
Mohammed Shosanya
The NNPC Limited – Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC-CNL JV) has made a near-field discovery with the successful drilling of the Meji NW-1 well in Petroleum Mining Lease (“PML”) 49 within the shallow offshore area of the Western Niger Delta, which was recently converted to the PIA 2021 terms.
The Well was spud on September 2, 2024, and reached a total depth of 8,983ft measured depth on September 13, 2024,Olusoga Oduselu,Chevron’s General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs,said in a statement on Friday.
The Well has encountered about 690ft of hydrocarbons within Miocene sands and successfully appraises an extension of the Meji field. Well operations were completed, and the rig left location on October 2, 2024.
According to.the statement,the accomplishment is consistent with CNL’s intention to continue developing and growing its Nigerian resources, including the onshore and shallow water areas and supports Chevron’s broader global exploration strategy to find new resources that extend the life of producing assets in existing operating areas and deliver production with shorter development cycle times.
It added:”The NNPC-CNL JV will continue to collaborate with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to support the development of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the Nigerian economy in general”.