The Nation Newspaper

Category: Energy

  • NIPCO promotes Venkatapathy, others

    NIPCO Plc has elevated its former Managing Director, Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy to  Group Managing Director (GMD).

    In a statement, the company  named Mr. Sanjay Teotia as Managing Director; the former Executive Director, Corporate Services, Alhaji Abdulkadir Aminu is Group Executive Director (GED), Corporate Services.

    The appointments followed the acquisition of ExxonMobil’s 60 per cent equity in Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc by NIPCO, which is now the firm’s majority shareholder.

    Venkatapathy joined NIPCO in 2009 as Head, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and was made the Managing Director in January 2011.

    With the new promotion, he would be overseeing the  NIPCO Group, which consists of NIPCO and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc.

    His exposure in the hydrocarbon industry covered refinery operations, LPG operations and market development, strategic management and business development, among others.

    Venkatapathy is a shrewd personality with numerous awards for innovations in LPG operations and marketing and he is currently an ex-officio member of the council of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), a non-profit organisation that promotes the progress of the gas industry.

    Sanjay has over 28 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry across Asia and African regions with core competencies in project management, downstream/midstream/upstream operations, human resource management, among others.

    A graduate of Birla Institute of Technology, Bihar, India, where he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) with First Class.

    Sanjay prior to joining NIPCO was the Deputy General Manager (DGM) Origination, Trading & Marketing H-Energy Mumbai, India, a world-class company in LNG and heavy crude business. He was Head, Downstream Operations, Lake Oil Limited, Tanzania, and Vice President, Liquid Terminals, Adani Ports & Sez Limited, among others.

    Aminu is a civil engineer and one time Chief Engineer of Adamawa State and had chaired the Adamawa Task Force on petroleum products distribution through which he ensured product availability and stoppage of sharp practices at filling stations across the state.

    He served on the boards of several regulatory agencies in the petroleum sector, including the Petroleum Products Pricing & Regulatory Agency (PPRRA) and Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF).

    Aminu, who is Chairman of A A Mbamba Limited, a fuel marketing company with scores of service stations in the country, holds the  chieftaincy title of Sarkin Hurmi, Adamawa in the state emirate council.

     

  • Kachikwu opens $0.6m Austin Avuru geosciences building at UNN

    Kachikwu opens $0.6m Austin Avuru geosciences building at UNN

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, graced the opening of a new geosciences building at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State as special guest of honour.

    According to the Africa oil gas Report, the building was constructed over a period of two years at a cost of N190 million, (about $0.6 million) by Platform Petroleum Limited (PPL), an independent Nigerian E&P company, which operates the 1,800 bopd Egbaoma field.

    Platform donated the new building to the university in honour of Austin Avuru, the company’s founder, who was also its first Chief Executive.

    Avuru is the Chief Executive ,  Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, a London listed E&P firm established  as an incorporated joint venture between Platform and Shebah Petroleum.

    Kachikwu, an alumni of UNN,  attended the ceremony alongside,   Edmund M. Daukoru, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and a pioneer Chairman,  Board of Directors  Platform Petroleum Limited, as well as Dumo Lulu-Briggs, the company’s chairman and  Sylvester Adegoke, a professor of geology and former Chairman of Platform.

    Other distinguished guests include ABC Orjiako, chairman of SEPLAT, Bolaji Ogundare, Managing Director of Newcross Petroleum, a 40 per cent joint venture partner with Platform on the Egbema field; and the University’s Vice Chancellor, who is the chief host. Chief executives of other oil companies were also expected.

    According to Platform Petroleum, the facility, which is christened Austin Avuru Building, “is the first corporate social responsibility (CSR) intervention by the firm outside of its operation site and host communities around the Egbema oil field, came out of the desire of the company to support Mr. Avuru’s desire to reduce the huge infrastructural deficit at his alma mater.”

    The new building is much bigger than the old dilapidated departmental building and will provide office space for lecturers as well as laboratories and lecture halls for students.

    Platform Petroleum Limited is wholly owned by Nigerians, Operator of the Egbaoma field (formerly Asuokpu/Umutu) located in the northern Niger Delta of Delta State. Platform Petroleum Limited is in a Joint Venture partnership with Newcross Petroleum Limited. Egbaoma field is located oil mining lease (OML) 38 with Over 200 Nigerian staff.

  • ‘Nigeria’s oil earnings to fall further’

    Nigeria’s crude earnings may dip further if current realities in the global oil market are anything to go by.

    The country’s oil earnings has reduced to $103.5 million in June 2017, from $114 million recorded in May, this year, and the earnings may decline further if the fall in the prices of crude oil persists. By this, the country has lost $11.5 million within a month.

    Brent crude fell from $47.06 per barrel on Monday, last week to $45.70 on Monday, this week. The price may fall further as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), struggles with United States shale oil and increased output from Nigeria and Libya.

    The former President, International Association of Energy Economists (IAEE), Prof Adeola Akinnsiju, said the price of crude oil would continue to fall, until OPEC puts concrete measures in place to mitigate increase in production of crude oil by some member countries, among others.

    He said the news of increases in supply by several key producers has weakened OPEC attempt to support the market and boost price through an output freeze.

    According to him, the development will have grave consequences on Nigeria’s economy since it relies on crude oil exports earnings for over 70 per cent of its revenue to run the economy.

    The country had benchmarked its budget at 2.2 million barrels per day and at a price of $42.5 per barrel, before the Senate pushed the benchmark to $44.5 a barrel with hopes that the black gold would stay around $50 a barrel.

  • Govt records progress in generation, says Fashola

    Govt records progress in generation, says Fashola

    The Federal Government has said it is recording progress in power generation and transmission network to improve service delivery to consumers.

    This is contained in a com-muniqué issued at the end of the 16th monthly meeting of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, with operators of the power sector held at Ugwuaji transmission sub-station in Enugu State.

    The communiqué noted that progress on incremental power was being made, adding that damaged transformers at Afam IV have been repaired and gas supply will restart shortly for additional 100megawatts (Mw) of power to the national grid.

    The East Power project at Afam III is also on course for completion with 240 Mw supply expected before the end of the year, while Azura 450 Mw is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2018. About 160,000 households are expected to benefit from a more stable, effective and efficient power sector delivered by the inauguration of these plants, the communiqué added.

    It also stated that progress was being made on the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) line to Magboro in Ogun State, adding that the line was being tested and that power should reach customers from Oke Aro to the Mountain of Fire Ministry (MFM) area within one week.

    The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has also made considerable progress on the Okija distribution substation as transformer equipment are installed in Okija Town, close to the Police Station. Progress was announced on Alaoji to Onitsha line, which will bring power to the vital industrial clusters of Ihiala and Nnewi in Anambra State and Orlu community in Imo State, while also supplying the Onitsha metropolis, with completion slated for the first quarter of 2018. NDPHC announced that work to supply power to the Omotosho host community is expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year.

    The energy sector stakeholders agreed that energy theft is a limiting factor in quality service and also a small population bears the large cost of energy consumption. The minister directed that the public be encouraged to extend the whistle blowing policy of government to the power sector to ensure energy theft is brought under control.

    Stakeholders were also encouraged to name and shame energy thieves as a deterrent. The minister also directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to take decisive action with regard to disconnection of households with prepaid meters, as this action leads to low level of public trust in the sector.

    Operators at the ministerial meeting include NERC executives, Managing Directors and Chief Executives of Generating Companies (GenCos), Distribution Companies (DisCos), and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). Others are the gas companies, government agencies such as the NDPHC, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET), Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

  • How we support gas production, by Shell

    How we support gas production, by Shell

    Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture is developing various gas projects to support domestic consumption, especially by industrial concerns and power generating firms, it was learnt.

    Shell, in a document obtained by The Nation, noted that several projects are ongoing, which will aid the development of about 2.8 trillion standard cubic feet (scf) of non-associated gas.

    Entitled: Shell’s role in supplying gas to markets, it shows the oil giant’s gas production dropped in 2016 compared to 2015 due to security issues.

    It said: “Shell companies in Nigeria have played a pioneering role in onshore, shallow and deepwater gas exploration and production and its delivery to domestic consumers and later, export markets since the early 1960s. Since 2010, the SPDC JV has also been producing at Gbaran Ubie integrated oil and gas plant in Bayelsa State, which has the capacity to process one billion standard cubic feet of gas per day for the domestic and export markets. Several projects are currently underway at Gbaran Ubie and nearby Kolo Creek and at Soku to develop around 2.8 trillion scf of non-associated gas. Natural gas in a reservoir which contains no crude oil is called non-associated gas.

    “This additional gas infrastructure will be used to sustain gas supply to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant at Bonny and continue to fuel 225megawatts (Mw) capacity power plant built in Gbaran by the Federal Government under the National Integrated Power Project.

    “The SPDC JV also produced more gas in from the Agbada Early Gas Production Facility, which is expected to further boost gas availability on the eastern Niger Delta domestic gas network and enhance power generation by over 150Mw of electricity. In addition, the SPDC JV operated Okoloma gas plant supplies gas to the Afam VI power plant, which alone contributed approximately 12 per cent of Nigeria’s grid-connected electricity in 2016. Afam VI uses combined cycle gas turbine technology that burns 40 per cent less gas than plants using older open cycle technologies. This also contributes significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emission.”

    Shell companies in Nigeria, according to the report, remain committed to working with the Federal Government to increase gas supply to domestic market. For example, the Assa North/Ohaji South project in Imo State, which is a joint development involving SPDC, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Seplat Petroleum Development Company, a leading indigenous producer, has the potential to be one of the largest domestic gas projects in the country, supplying 600 million scf per day. This translates into almost 2,400Mw of potential electricity generation when it comes to fruition.

    Other Shell companies in Nigeria continue to play a crucial role in the national energy gas mix. The Bonga deepwater field operated by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) produces gas that is piped from the Bonga floating production, storage and offloading facility to the NLNG plant on Bonny Island, it added.

    Also Shell Nigeria Gas Limited (SNG) supplies natural gas as fuel for various industrial processes and power generation in Nigeria. In 2016, SNG distributed an average of 33 million standard cubic feet a day (mmscfd) of natural gas against 42mmscfd in 2015 to industries and factories in its areas of operation in Ogun, Abia and Rivers states.

    The lower supply volume in 2016 was due to damage to equipment from attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta. SNG also supplies natural gas to private companies that specialise in the delivery of compressed natural gas to industries located far from existing pipelines. SNG carries out its operations with an all-Nigerian staff and engages the services of a range of Nigerian companies as contractors, it said.

     

  • Uncertainty greets introduction of low-sulphur fuel

    There is an air of uncertainty over the planned introduction of low-sulphur fuel into the Nigerian market next year as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the initiator of the idea, is shying away from the implementation dateline.

    NNPC had fixed July, this year as a date the country would switch from high-sulphur content fuel to  low sulphur content. Izts Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ugbamadu, in an interview with The Nation, said the NNPC was still working out modalities for the introduction of low-sulphur fuel into the market.

    Asked whether the NNPC would switch to the lower sulphur fuel next month as earlier stated, he said: “Discussions are ongoing on the issue of introducing fuel with low sulphur content into the market.”

    The NNPC spokesman said the decision to embrace low-sulphur fuel was borne out of the need to reduce toxic emission and further join countries that have taken similar steps.

    In an interview with The Nation, Ughamadu said the issue of refining and consuming fuel with low sulphur content is a global initiative and that Nigeria cannot be an exemption. He said NNPC has taken some measures to meet the deadline for conversion into lower-sulphur fuel.

    Parts of the measures, he said, include liaising with reputable environmental protection institutions to ensure proper certification of lower-sulphur fuel and enlightening consumers on the benefits to derive from using the product.

    Ughamadu said: “We at the NNPC are  working with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Ministries of Industry and Environment and other institutions that have quality control as their primary goal.”

    He said fuel has to be examined and certified before being supplied to the market for consumption. “Though the process of converting to lower-sulphur fuel in Nigeria is ongoing, the Corporation is working towards meeting the July deadline set for its introduction into the Nigerian market,” he said.

    He added: “The decision by the Federal Government to change the fuel used in the country from the one that has higher concentration of sulphur to the one with lower sulphur, would bring about a  socio-economic growth. Besides the fact that the idea would help in reducing toxic fumes and improve the wellbeing of the people, it would also assist users and owners of vehicles and other equipment in cutting down wastage.”

    NNPC fuel imports accounted for over 70 per cent of the total fuel Nigeria consumes per day. Also, the Ministry of Environment and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have declared their intentions to help NNPC achieve its goal of introducing fuel with lower sulphur into the market. The two institutions have promised to ensure a switch to 150 parts per million (ppm) gasoline and 50 parts per million (ppm) diesels. Parts per million is a measurement used in measuring the quality of the fuel produced in the country. Based on this, Nigeria will be joining South Africa, which currently uses low sulphur grade diesel of 50ppm.

  • Pamir Energy wins 2017 international Ashden award

    Pamir Energy wins 2017 international Ashden award

    Pamir Energy has been announced the winner of the 2017 International Ashden Award for Increasing Energy Access for its work in bringing hydropower to 220,000 people in East Tajikistan and 35,000 people in North Afghanistan, as well as to many businesses, schools, and health centres.

    The Ashden Awards are a globally recognised measure of excellence in the field of sustainable energy. International winners receive £20,000 in prize money as well as a tailored package of business support to scale up their work.

    The area of Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshan (VMKB), where Pamir Energy operates, is not connected to the main Tajik national grid and lost most of its electricity infrastructure as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Fifteen years ago only 13% of households in the region had reliable energy.

    To address these crippling energy issues, in 2002, the Government of Tajikistan, the International Finance Corporation and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) established Pamir Energy, Tajikistan’s first public-private partnership. Pamir Energy (an AKDN project company) has an agreement with the Government of Tajikistan to supply power to the whole of VMKB until 2027.

    Since 2002, Pamir Energy has restored 11 micro hydro power plants and upgraded 4,300km of transmission lines, as well as distribution facilities. During critical phases of the project, the Swiss government, through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), provided vital support through an innovative customer support scheme and the provision of technology that ensured affordable access for the poorest households in VMKB.

    Today, 96% of households in VMKB, some 220,000 people, have access to clean, reliable and affordable energy. In 2008, the company began exporting energy across the Panj River to communities in northern Afghanistan – some receiving electricity for the first time in their history. Currently, 35,000 Afghans are connected. The company plans to reach thousands more customers in Afghanistan in the coming years and to expand its operations to Northern Pakistan by 2025.

    The advent of hydropower has been life-changing for many in the VMKB region. Domestic life is less of a struggle: cooking and washing and ironing clothes is easier, water can be boiled quickly and showers are hot. People are healthier now that the risk of respiratory disorders – due previously to burning wood for heating and cooking – has been reduced and the average household energy cost has been cut from around $98 to $15 per calendar month.

    The reduction in deforestation for fuel is helping to cut the risk of landslides and avalanches and reliable power has brought opportunities to the area. Schools have internet access and commercial enterprises like cafes and bakeries are flourishing. Medical facilities are more effective now that medication can be safely chilled and surgeons are able to use safer and more modern equipment.

    According to the Ashden judges: “Pamir Energy’s approach to providing hydropower to a whole population in a remote mountainous area is highly replicable and could apply to other hard to reach mountainous parts of the world. By tackling the full range of energy needs and effective distribution the company is bringing about a massive step change in the lives of local residents.”

    Usmonali Usmonzoda, Minister for Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan, said: “The Government of Tajikistan is proud to receive this prestigious award which recognises the efforts that have been made to provide a clean, reliable and affordable energy service to mountainous communities in VMKB. Partnering with the Aga Khan Development Network, the International Finance Corporation and with other development partners such as SECO, KfW, the Patrip Foundation, the Norwegian Government and USAID has allowed us to leverage a variety of different skills and strengths to help make this utility a successful one that is supporting the socio-economic development of the VMKB, Tajikistan as well as helping strengthen ties with our neighbours in Afghanistan.”

    Daler Jumaev, Pamir Energy’s General Director, said: “Pamir Energy is honoured to be partnering with the Government of Tajikistan and to be recognised by the Ashden International Awards committee as a model of sustainable energy development. This award is a testament to the power of public private partnerships and development partners to provide sustainable energy in Central Asia and to promote regional socio-economic development.”

    Pamir Energy will receive its Ashden Award on Thursday 15 June 2017 at a prestigious ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy will host the Awards and former Vice-President of the US Al Gore is the keynote speaker. 

  • Renewable energy employs 15,000 in Nigeria, others, says agency

    The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has said no fewer than 15,000 people were employed in the renewable energy sub-sector of the power industry in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and other countries in West Africa and Southern Africa (excluding South Africa) in 2016.

    The Agency, a renewable energy research group, in an online report on the rate of employment in renewable energy sub-sector in countries across the world, said 9.8million employment was recorded globally in 2016.

    The Agency further stated that considering the enormity of renewable energy potentials in West and Southern Africa countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Namibia, among others, the sub-sector supposed to create much more employment than the 15,000.

    According to IRENA, the employment figure in the renewable sub-sector is expected to increase to 30million in 2030 from the current 9.8million as more countries are taking steps to combat climate change while investing in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, bio-mass and others, in order to improve electricity supply.

    In an online report on the rate of employment in renewable energy across the world, the firm said 9.8million employment was recorded in last year. Out of this, West and Southern Africa countries employed 15,000 workers; North Africa 16,000; South Africa 30,000; Germany 334,000; France 162,000; rest of European Union (EU) 667,000; United States (US) 777,000; Brazil 876,000; India 385,000; Japan 333,000; China 3.6million; Bangladesh 162,000 and others.

    The Agency said last year’s employed 9.8million marked an increase of 1.1 per cent from that of 2015. It further said global renewables employment has been increasing since 2012, adding that jobs creation in the sub-sector would increase in the years to come.

    The firm’s Director-General, Abu Dhabi, said employment in renewables excluding large hydro power, increased by 2.8 per cent to 8.3million people, with China, Brazil, US, India, Japan and Germany leading the job markets. Global renewables employment, he said,  has been increasing since 2012.

    Nigeria’s renewable energy subsector is also growing as organisations from Germany, France and others have indicated interest in providing technical assistance, among rendering other services. One of such institutions is Green Elec, which is helping to generate solar energy in the country. Green Elec has offices in France and Lagos and plans to build mini-solar grids in five states in the country.

  • Stakeholders back proposed restructuring of NNPC, DPR, PPPRA

    STAKEHOLDERS have endorsed restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

    It will bring about a profit-driven, efficient and virile petroleum industry if it is carried out, they said.

    The stakeholders include former Country Presidents, International Association of Energy Economist (IAEE) Professors Wunmi Iledare and Adeola Akinnisiju.

    They said Senate’s pronouncement  on repositioning the three agencies to achieve growth is a good omen for the industry, adding that the decision will unlock the potentials of the industry after several failed attempts.

    They said the passage of the PIGB and the subsequent restructuring of NNPC, DPR and PPPRA will help in bringing Direct Foreign Investments (DFIs) into the sector and reduce liquidity gaps.

    Iledare said NNPC, DPR and PPPRA are not scrapped by the Senate as Nigerians are being made to believe, noting that the agencies are being restructured for better performance. He said the  Senate has implemented parts of the industry reforms by restructuring the three agencies, stressing that operators have waited patiently for the reforms.

    He said:“The conclusion in some quarters that the Senate has scrapped or outlawed NNPC, DPR, and PPPRA was wrong. The three parastatals are still much in existence even though they are going to operate under new managements and names. What Senate did was to make the agencies stronger and result-oriented.

    “Due to the restructuring, a National Oil Company (NOC) will emerge to replace the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). With NOC on ground, there will be an effective regulatory control in the oil and gas sector. Just as we have the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulating and supervising activities in the banking industry. The petroleum sector will be regulated by the National Oil Company.”

    He said transformation of the industry is long overdue, noting that operators have been expecting the sector to provide growth for the economy.

    Iledare, who was formerly with the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the restructuring will help in improving regulatory and commercial activities in the industry as NOC will be saddled with the responsibilities of facilitating commercial activities in the sector.

    Akinnisiju said under the new arrangement, NOC will be in a better position to drive growth by bringing in more local and foreign investors into the sector, adding that following the restructuring of the sector, NOC and other agencies would generate revenue for the government and other stakeholders in the value chain.

    “I foresee a situation whereby NOC would be operating as a commercial entity like Shell and other multinational oil companies. It would make money and provide dividends to its shareholders and the economy would be better for it,”he said, urging the Federal Government to provide conducive environment for operators in order to facilitate the much needed growth in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

  • July deadline for low-sulphur fuel remains unchanged, says NNPC

    July deadline for low-sulphur fuel remains unchanged, says NNPC

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is working to meet the July 2017 deadline  for switching from  fuel with higher concentration of sulphur to fuel with lower sulphur content.

    Its Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu,  said by changing to lower-sulphur fuel, Nigeria wants to start using fuel that creates less toxic fumes as against the current grade of fuel, which produces black smokes with its attendant environmental hazards for the country.

    The NNPC spokesman said the decision to embrace low sulphur fuel was borne out of the need to reduce toxic emission and further join countries that have taken similar steps.

    In an interview with The Nation, Ughamadu said the issue of refining and consuming fuel with low sulphur content is a global initiative and that Nigeria cannot be an exemption. He said NNPC has taken some measures to meet the deadline for conversion into lower-sulphur fuel.

    Parts of the measures, he said, include liaising with reputable environmental protection institutions to ensure proper certification of lower-sulphur fuel and enlightening consumers on the benefits to derive from using the product.

    Ughamadu said: “We, at the (NNPC), are  working with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Ministries of Industry and Environment and other institutions that have quality control as their primary goal.”

    He said fuel has to be examined and certified before being supplied to the market for consumption. “Though the process of converting to lower-sulphur fuel in Nigeria is ongoing, the Corporation is working towards meeting the July deadline set for its introduction into the Nigerian market,” he said.

    He added:“The decision by the Federal Government to change the fuel used in the country from the one that has higher concentration of sulphur to the one with lower sulphur, would bring about a  socio-economic growth. Besides the fact that the idea would help in reducing toxic fumes and improve the wellbeing of the people, it would also assist users and owners of vehicles and other equipment in cutting down wastage.”

    NNPC fuel imports accounted for over 70 per cent of the total fuel Nigeria consumes per day. Also, the Ministry of Environment and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have declared their intentions to help NNPC achieve its goal of introducing fuel with lower sulphur into the market. The two institutions have promised to ensure a switch to 150 parts per million (ppm) gasoline and 50 parts per million (ppm) diesels. Parts per million, is a measurement used in measuring the quality of the fuel produced in the country. Based on this, Nigeria will be joining South Africa, which currently use low sulphur grade diesel of 50ppm.