*In Taraba, NNPC sensitises stakeholders on efficient use of petroleum products
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Nigeria’s crude oil production will rise by 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) as Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated Oriental Energy Resources Limited’s $315 million Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to boost Nigeria’s oil production capacity.
The FPSO vessel, with a storage capacity of one million barrels, which will kick off with an initial production of 17,000 barrels per day before increasing its production capacity to 30,000 bpd is expected to depart for Nigeria in the first quarter of 2025 and commence production at the Okwok Oil Field in the first half of 2025.
This is just as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has taken its ongoing stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on the efficient use of petroleum products to Taraba State, where drivers and park operators showed significant interest in the usage of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a vehicular fuel.
Vice President Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration and naming ceremony of the vessel, described the facility as more than just a maritime infrastructure project.
According to Shettima, the facility is a pointer to the success of President Tinubu’s reforms in the oil and gas sector as well as Nigeria’s growing global influence.
Speaking while inaugurating the oil facility at the Drydocks World Dubai Shipyard in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the Vice President, in a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, pointed out that what sets Nigerians apart is not merely the audacity of their ambition, but their unique understanding of where the world is headed.
He said: “This FPSO vessel is more than just a technological achievement; it is a symbol of Nigeria’s ambition and our readiness to meet global energy demands. Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we are witnessing the transformation of the oil and gas sector, which is central to our economic revitalisation efforts”.
The vice president lauded the Executive Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Muhammadu Indimi for his remarkable contributions to the industry.
“Over the decades, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi has stood as a model businessman and symbol of excellence in the oil and gas industry. So, it’s not surprising that his vision has transformed Oriental Energy Resources Limited into a global phenomenon.
“This outcome testifies to what is possible when ambition is matched with perseverance and expertise. His journey reminds us that Nigeria is a land of opportunity, and with dedication, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”
Expressing delight in the project, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, said, “Today is one of my happiest moments to stand before this gathering. I make my brief remark because Alhaji Ndimi is from Borno State, and I’m happy to note that the production of this vessel was born 100 per cent by his own company, which has never happened in Nigeria. This goes to show how committed Alhaji Mohammed Ndimi is to the growth and development of not only Borno State but the entire country.”
On his part, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, applauded Indimi, and his technical partners, noting that to truly appreciate the oil mogul, it would be best to know that he wasn’t the only person that was allocated an oil block in the 90s.
Earlier, while welcoming the Vice President and his entourage to the event, Indimi revealed that the facility is the first FPSO to be fully funded by a Nigerian indigenous company.
The vessel named ENEM FPSO, Ndimi added, has heralded an effort for an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas company to independently develop a marginal field, stressing that it is an important milestone for Nigeria and its indigenous oil and gas sector.
“When operating at full capacity we expect the Okwok Oil Field to produce up to 30,000 barrels of oil a day, significantly enhancing Nigeria’s oil production and contributing to the government’s ambition to increase oil revenue to fund Nigeria’s development.
“The Okwok field is just one step towards our long-term ambition to deliver 100,000 barrels of oil per day of production in Nigeria. We have a strong set of proven assets and a development pipeline that can deliver it.”
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Drydocks Dubai, Dr. Antolovic Rado, stated that the vessel, when fully operational, will contribute significantly to the sustainable development of the Okwok oil field region and would support economic growth and energy security.
On his part, a representative of partners, HBA & World Carriers Corporation, Mr Hassan Basma, said the vessel, EMEM, with many features, is significant in many ways, especially being the first of its kind (indigenous-owned project) in Nigeria, financed wholly in Nigeria and predominantly done by a Nigerian workforce.
Meanwhile, the NNPC Limited has taken its ongoing stakeholders’ sensitisation programme to Taraba State, where drivers and park operators showed significant interest in the usage of CNG.
Just like the earlier sensitisation exercise in Maiduguri, Borno State, some lucky stakeholders went home with gift items and freebies following raffle draws at various motor parks.
The sensitisation exercise is part of NNPC’s efforts to increase awareness and core understanding of the oil and gas industry’s role in national development while schooling stakeholders on the efficient use of petroleum products.
Tagged: NNPC & You, the sensitisation campaign got off to a flying start at the popular Taraba State Transport Company (TSTC), Park in Jalingo with commercial vehicle drivers and park operators commending the state-owned company for the introduction of CNG as a viable alternative to petrol.
TSTC Park Manager, Abdullahi Musa while commending the company for the CNG initiative however appealed that the product be made available to motorists in the state.
He also called on NNPC Ltd. to extend the hours of operation of Its retail outlets to improve service delivery and eliminate queues.
At the Jalingo main motor park, Danjuma Hayatu called on NNPC to enforce existing regulations which prohibit the sale of petrol in kegs and jerry cans noting that though “nobody can buy fuel in cans inside NNPC Retail stations” we find people hawking fuel on the streets of Jalingo.
At the Pullo Motor Park, Ali Salandy Wukari echoed the CNG request and appealed to NNPC Ltd. to work out a hire purchase arrangement that would enable drivers and vehicle operators to have access to the CNG-powered vehicles under a pocket-friendly approach.
The NNPC team later visited two more major parks in Taraba namely: The People Choice and NARTO Park where stakeholders harped on the need for the state-owned company to sustain the sensitisation exercise by making the programme a periodic event and not a one-off activity.
