The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has
said that three out of the 40 planned modular refineries would likely
come on stream by end of 2019.
said that three out of the 40 planned modular refineries would likely
come on stream by end of 2019.
 |
| Dr. Ibe Kachikwu |
Kachikwu disclosed this at the three-day Biennial International
Conference for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) organised by
Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Lagos on Monday.
Conference for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) organised by
Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Lagos on Monday.
“Out of the 40 licenses issued, only 10 have shown progress by submitting their programmes and putting something on the ground.
“ By end of 2019, we are assured that three private modular refineries would come on stream,’’ he said.
The minister said that the conference was a forum for pooling ideas
and research findings for the incubation of enduring and game-changing
oil and gas policy initiatives.
and research findings for the incubation of enduring and game-changing
oil and gas policy initiatives.
“Perhaps this edition of the conference could not have come at a
better time, first to allay the popular fear that the days of oil and
gas as an international commodity and energy source are over.
better time, first to allay the popular fear that the days of oil and
gas as an international commodity and energy source are over.
“And secondly, to stimulate new ideas on sustainable ways of
developing this resource in a manner that will both prolong its
acceptability as an energy source and also help the nation reap optimal
benefits,’’ he said.
developing this resource in a manner that will both prolong its
acceptability as an energy source and also help the nation reap optimal
benefits,’’ he said.
Kachikwu said that environmental sustainability was a key component
of the Seven Big Wins initiative of the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration for the oil and gas industry.
of the Seven Big Wins initiative of the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration for the oil and gas industry.
He urged the DPR to come up with new initiatives to end the menace of
gas flaring to truly incentivize the flare-out policy by creating the
new National Gas Policy.
gas flaring to truly incentivize the flare-out policy by creating the
new National Gas Policy.
He said that the policy was aimed at ensuring that all currently
flared gas, including those previously considered as non-technically
feasible and non-commercially viable, is gathered and utilised for
various economic utilities that are financially rewarding to the
producers.
flared gas, including those previously considered as non-technically
feasible and non-commercially viable, is gathered and utilised for
various economic utilities that are financially rewarding to the
producers.
He added that the collectors and interested investors converted it
for power generation, petrochemicals and other beneficial uses.
for power generation, petrochemicals and other beneficial uses.
“ Aggressive efforts are being made within the ambits of HSE
sustainability to convert more gas to LNG through new and existing
investors to retain Nigeria in its currently threatened fourth position
as an LNG exporter.
sustainability to convert more gas to LNG through new and existing
investors to retain Nigeria in its currently threatened fourth position
as an LNG exporter.
“Our push for the increased investments in modular and conventional
refineries is not only targeted at helping the nation benefit from its
resources by providing products to the entire West African sub-region, but also essentially to stop the scourge of local unconventional
artisanal refineries that have led to massive oil spills that have been
hard to manage for nearly a whole decade,” he said.
refineries is not only targeted at helping the nation benefit from its
resources by providing products to the entire West African sub-region, but also essentially to stop the scourge of local unconventional
artisanal refineries that have led to massive oil spills that have been
hard to manage for nearly a whole decade,” he said.
The Director of DPR, Mr Modeccai Ladan, urged stakeholders to
galvanize efforts at maximizing Nigeria’s production and minimize
wastage.
galvanize efforts at maximizing Nigeria’s production and minimize
wastage.
Ladan said that the oil and gas industry seemed to be under a new
threat of renewed dislike and global war against fossil fuels and the
quest for renewable and cleaner energy, purely for environment
considerations, including global warming.
threat of renewed dislike and global war against fossil fuels and the
quest for renewable and cleaner energy, purely for environment
considerations, including global warming.
“Over the years, the threat against fossil fuels had always been on
paper, but today, it is more real than ever, based on some clear
evidence I like to draw our attention to.
paper, but today, it is more real than ever, based on some clear
evidence I like to draw our attention to.
“Three among the biggest technology companies have made attempts at electric cars to replace gasoline and diesel engines.
“While the attempt of Apple may not have made it to production yet
and that of Google was suspended after clearly successful street trials
that of Tesla actually took the world by surprise.
and that of Google was suspended after clearly successful street trials
that of Tesla actually took the world by surprise.
“Not only did the first two releases of Tesla outsell sales
forecasts, they were actually oversubscribed, and the demand keeps
rising while new models are being added,’’ he said.
forecasts, they were actually oversubscribed, and the demand keeps
rising while new models are being added,’’ he said.
Ladan said; “As we speak, some of the big International Oil Companies
(IOCs) here seated are funding gigantic researches into alternative
fuels, which include the use of cheap, common algae.
(IOCs) here seated are funding gigantic researches into alternative
fuels, which include the use of cheap, common algae.
“ As sweet as Nigeria’s crudes are renowned to be globally, we have
recently lost our most valued customers and our gas buyers are
themselves now competing with us in the same market space as suppliers.
recently lost our most valued customers and our gas buyers are
themselves now competing with us in the same market space as suppliers.
“Ladies and gentlemen, all of these points to one fact, namely, if
Nigeria is to continue to benefit from its vast petroleum resources, now
than ever is the time to build sustainability into its prospecting,
drilling, production, transportation and usage as well as management of its wastes. And this task rests on the shoulders of not only the DPR but all stakeholders.
Nigeria is to continue to benefit from its vast petroleum resources, now
than ever is the time to build sustainability into its prospecting,
drilling, production, transportation and usage as well as management of its wastes. And this task rests on the shoulders of not only the DPR but all stakeholders.
“Little wonder then that we have chosen a befitting theme for this
current edition of the conference, which is: “Driving Sustainability in
the Oil and Gas Industry through Improved Stakeholders’ Environmental
Stewardship,” he added.
current edition of the conference, which is: “Driving Sustainability in
the Oil and Gas Industry through Improved Stakeholders’ Environmental
Stewardship,” he added.
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