….As Buhari Tasks Firm On Protection Of Environment
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday spudded the Ebenyi-1 oil well located in Obi Local Government area of Nasarawa State as part of the Federal Government’s drive for oil and gas exploration and production in the frontier basins across the country.
In his virtual speech delivered during the historic spud-in event, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed optimism that the E&P operations on the oil well would enhance energy security and Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The President, who directed the Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Adbullahii Sule and the NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive, Mele Kyari, to perform the spudding on his behalf, charged the NNPCL to ensure environmental protection of the communities remained its priority during the oil drilling of the well.
Buhari said: This spudding event is in line with the ongoing campaign for the exploration of crude oil and gas in the frontier basins, including the Benue trough basin, Anambra basin, the Calabar embankment, Sokoto basin, Bida basin, as well as the deep water Niger Delta. This is an occasion to commence drilling and exploration activities which is consistent with the commercial discoveries of the Kolmani discovery.
“I am pleased to note that activities are currently ongoing to develop the combined petroleum discovery’s commercial production to add to the nation’s hydrocarbon assets. I am encouraged by the enormous work done by the NNPC Limited to exploit the prospects in the middle of the Benue trough leading to the event today.
“I congratulate NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and other partners for their immense contributions and for making this event possible. Furthermore, I am happy that the consequent positive outcomes of these drilling campaigns will lead to greater prosperity for our people and especially enhance overall energy security for our country”, the President added.
In his speech at the occasion, Kyari disclosed that the industry was working on increasing the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves from 37 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels.
He explained: “The positive outcome of this campaign will contribute to national aspiration of increasing our hydrocarbon reserves from the 37 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels in the short and in the medium term.”
The NNPCL’s Group CEO also hinted that NNPC had plans to boost daily production from 1.7 million barrels per day to three millions barrels per day.
In addition to its recent oil discovery in Nasarawa, Bauchi and Gombe States, NNPC Limited also plans to prospect for oil in other frontier states of Niger, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to boost Nigeria’s oil output in the years ahead.
