Tag: Heineken Lokpobiri

In order to address the challenges of crude oil pipeline vandalism, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri at the weekend asked illegal operators to emulate the model of the ongoing Ebenco Global Link Limited refinery in Koko, Delta State to replicate other modular refineries.

Addressing reporters after inspecting the refinery, he urged them to acquire modular refineries with the support of credit facilities from the Federal Government.

Lokpobiri said when they acquire modular refineries, the operators will procure crude oil, pay tax and in on the other hand, generate employment.

He said the solution will be beneficial to both the government and the present operators of illegal refineries.

His words: “Producing modular refineries locally is one of the solutions to pipeline vandalisation that is going on by those who want to do illegal refining.

“When Ebenco modular is completed, we want to see how this could be replicated in collaboration with stakeholders so that those who are breaking pipelines don’t need to break pipeline. 

“They need to just acquire this (modular refinery) and if they don’t have money we will see how we can procure them. And then they will pay back in over a period of time.

“We have to find ways to solving that problem vandalisation by those who are doing coal fire. By the time we come up with this solution, they will buy the crude, pay taxes, we will have sustainable employment for them and at the end of the day, it will be win-win for everybody.”

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He expressed satisfaction with the level of establishment the indigenous modular refinery has reached. Lokpobiri pledged to commission the plant when it is completely established.

According to him, in partnership with Chinese and others, Ebenco has acquired technology and domesticated it in line with global standards.

The minister said, “This is what other countries do, you acquire technology and then domesticate it.

 You bring it home. When I got here and saw Ebenco in partnership with partners from other countries with a view to ensuring that whatever it produces in this place will meet global standards.

“ So, I am very impressed with what I am seeing and it is what is recommended for those who what to operate in the midstream. Anybody who wants modular refineries instead of going outside the country should come to Ebenco and then see what is being done here.”

He pledged Federal Government’s support for the fledging local modular refinery.

The minister vowed to draft the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Ogbe and the management team to assess Ebenco modular refinery for possible partnership.

Speaking, the Ebenco Chief Executive Officer, Ebenezer Oluwagbemiga Akin said the plant is at its final stage of development.

It is highly of local content to address the fuel scarcity as the minister has charged them.

He said although the company has a license for 30,000 barrels per day plant, it is developing 1000 barrels capacity at the moment.

According to him, the firm will soon invite the minister for the commissioning of the modular refinery.

A modular refinery has capacity to produce Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Kerosene, Naphtha and FPSO, he said stressing “that is what the main license is for.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Director of Liquid, Ngozi Nwankwo said the refinery has brought innovative local technologies to bear which even NMDPRA has to understudy.

She said the refinery will not grapple with paucity of fund like other modular refineries because of its unique local technology.

Nwankwo noted that some other plants keep incurinng cost of production even when they are out of operation, which increases their cost of operation but Ebenco will not face such issues.

According to her, most of the local refineries are always facing lack of crude oil supply as their challenge.

She urged local investors to borrow a leaf from the refinery.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, yesterday reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that every barrel of crude oil produced in the country contributes to meeting both domestic and international obligations.

Lokpobiri gave this assurance yesterday in Lagos at the opening ceremony of the Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) 2025 summit with the theme: “Refinery – Key to Energy Security in Africa.”

He was represented by his Technical Adviser, Ndah Adaba.

He said that as part of deliberate policy and broader strategy, the Naira for crude sale agreement will continue to be a major step to reduce cost of fuel production, mitigate the exposure to the fluctuating exchange rate and to generally support indigenous refining.

The minister said that through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the government has streamlined the licensing regime: from Licence to Establish to Construct and Operate — ensuring that genuine investors are supported, not hindered, by bureaucracy.

According to him, Beyond licensing, government has continued to consolidate on facilitating the access to crude oil supply through the effective implementation of the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DSCO) because no nation can claim energy independence if it cannot refine its own crude.

Lokpobiri said under the Renewed Hope Agenda of his President Bola Tinubu, indigenous refining has been identified as a critical pathway to energy independence, job creation, and industrial revitalisation.

“Today, we have seen indigenous success stories such as Dangote Refinery & Petrochemical, Waltersmith Petroman Refinery, Aradel Holdings, etc. which collectively demonstrate that Nigerians have both the capacity and the will to refine Nigeria’s crude oil locally.

“These projects are more than facilities; they are symbols of confidence in our policy direction, and we are committed to replicating them across all oil-producing states,” he added

He said in the bid to extending refining obligation beyond the shores of this country, the West African Fuel Reference Market was launched to position Nigeria as a regional refining and product supply hub to other West African sub-region.

He added that with increased local refining capacity, Nigeria will not only meet its domestic demand but will also serve as a dependable supplier of refined products to neighbouring countries, thereby reducing the region’s reliance on distant refineries and maritime imports.

“This aligns with the African Union’s vision for energy integration and intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).

Lokpobiri assured that the government will ensure feedstock security for all licensed refiners and also deepen fiscal incentives to attract more investment. The minister said that the government will also foster collaboration among African nations for product exchange, logistics and shared energy infrastructure, maintain that the path to Africa’s energy security runs through the gates of our refineries and its interrelated institution.

He said that the federal government remains fully committed to supporting indigenous refiners, strengthening regulatory institutions, and creating an enabling environment for sustainable downstream growth.

“Let this CORAN Summit 2025 serve as a renewed call – to industry players, regulators, investors, and policymakers to unite in achieving an Africa that refines what it produces and powers its future through its own resources,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Authority Chief Executive, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, said the authority has created Nigeria’s most transparent and predictable petroleum regulatory framework.

Ahmed, represented by the South-West Regional Coordinator of NMDPRA, Ayo Cadoso, noted that the Authority has developed and gazetted 18 key regulations covering every phase of refinery development, from establishment through to operations.

“These regulations were not developed in isolation. They were co-created with industry stakeholders to ensure they are practical, bankable, and investor-friendly. This is what we mean by regulatory certainty — clarity of rules, fairness in enforcement, and confidence in outcomes,” he explained, adding that NMDPRA ensures Naira-denominated crude sales to shield refiners from foreign exchange volatility.

Besides, the Authority’s boss said the organisation is actively facilitating industrial growth.

“We are working across agencies and the entire value chain to guarantee crude oil supply to all licensed refineries through structured nomination and supply mechanisms.”

He added that the authority ensures efficient evacuation and logistics for refined products to reach markets while promoting transparent practices for fair competition.

He added that NMDPRA has accelerated approvals and permits under clear service-level agreements, providing technical and commercial support throughout project lifecycles.

“These initiatives form part of our optimisation framework, which converts regulatory stability into investment confidence and boosts domestic refining capacity,” he said.

Ahmed stressed that investor confidence depends on consistent policy and regulatory integrity.

“Investors must trust that rules will not change midstream and that their returns are secure within a fair market structure,” he noted.

He highlighted major reforms achieved in the past four years, including downstream liberalisation and updated transportation codes to support modern infrastructure.

“These are not mere policy statements — they are actionable goals under our 2025 Refining Acceleration Plan.

“Nigeria’s energy future will be defined by clarity, confidence, and collaboration.

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“We are not just refining crude oil — we are refining our economic destiny,” he stated.

Ahmed said that when regulators act with integrity, investors trust the process, and consistent policies can enable Nigeria to power itself and the rest of Africa.

“At NMDPRA, our promise is simple — to regulate with clarity, facilitate with credibility, and lead with courage.

“Today, I speak not just as a regulator but as a firm believer in Nigeria’s capacity to redefine her future.

“For too long, we exported crude and imported refined products — a paradox that weakened our economy. But that story is changing,” Ahmed said.

He acknowledged the transformative impact of the Dangote Refinery and the growing number of licensed modular and conventional refineries.

“Nigeria stands at the threshold of a historic transformation — from dependency to dominance, from importer to net exporter of refined petroleum products,” he said.

According to him, two key pillars will drive this refining revolution — Regulatory Certainty and Investor Confidence.

Ahmed also commended the summit’s engagements, including the Women in Refining session and the keynote dinner on ‘Private Refining as a Catalyst for Energy Security.’

“We reaffirmed that refining is not just a business — it embodies energy sovereignty, economic resilience, and industrial strength,” he said.

• 200,000b/d, $5.5b expansions

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Oil Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has said the divestments by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the Nigerian petroleum upstream sector have added 200,000 barrels per to national production.

He also said the divestments have unlocked over $5.5 billion in final investment decisions (FIDs) within months.

Lokpobiri spoke on behalf of President Bola Tinubu at the Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.

He declared that Nigeria is “open for business” and actively pursuing policies that prioritise investment, efficiency, and long-term growth in the oil sector.

“This gathering is more than a conference, it is a call to action,” he said, stressing that Nigeria is ready not just to participate in the global energy market, but to lead reform and growth on the African continent.

Lokpobiri outlined the bold policy measures implemented under President Tinubu’s administration, particularly the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which provides a clear and predictable fiscal and regulatory environment for investors.

 The PIA has laid the foundation for licensing transparency, host community engagement, strengthened regulatory oversight, and a fair contractual framework. “What makes Nigeria now different is the legal, regulatory, financial, and structural transformation we are delivering,” the Minister said.

Nigeria’s upstream sector is showing signs of strong recovery. The “Project One Million Barrels” initiative, launched in October 2024, has raised daily crude oil production to between 1.7 and 1.83 million barrels per day, with a notable increase of 300,000 barrels per day in July 2025 alone.

Additionally, the number of active drilling rigs has grown from 31 in January to 50 by July 2025, a clear signal that reforms are unlocking value across the sector.

Of particular note were the recent asset divestments by international oil companies (IOCs), which the Minister said have unlocked over $5.5 billion in final investment decisions (FIDs) within months.

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 “These are not just transfers of assets, they are transfers of confidence, capability, and ownership.

The divestments have already added approximately 200,000 barrels per day to national production.”

On the broader African context, Lokpobiri urged the continent to retain more value from its hydrocarbon resources by focusing on infrastructure, industrial development, and localized value chains. He noted that Africa spends over $120 billion annually on hydrocarbons, largely through imports, calling it a missed opportunity for economic transformation.

He advocated for stronger intra-African collaboration and financing, emphasizing that Africa holds nearly $4 trillion in domestic capital, including pension and insurance funds. “The question is no longer about the availability of funds, but how we can channel them into productive investments on our continent,” he said.

Addressing the topic of the global energy conversation, the Minister called for balance and equity. He insisted that the narrative must shift toward a diverse energy mix, not abandonment of any resource. “The focus should be on availability, accessibility, and affordability of all forms of energy,” he stressed. He made it clear that Nigeria, like other nations, will continue to utilize its oil resources responsibly while building a diversified and sustainable energy base.

 Lokpobiri reaffirmed Nigeria’s role as a leading energy player in Africa. “We are offering opportunities at scale, reform with consistency, incentives with clarity, local participation with respect, and a vision that modernizes with purpose,” he declared.

To global investors, he extended a direct invitation: “Come to Nigeria. Be part of the energy revolution.” With strong reforms, ambitious targets, and an open-door policy, Nigeria is charting a bold path forward in Africa’s energy future.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has told global investors that now is the time for United States and global investors to become part of Nigeria’s energy success story.

He said, “now is the time for U.S. and global investors to become part of Nigeria’s energy success story.”

The minister tasked the global investors to seize emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s rapidly transforming oil sector, citing strong reforms, enhanced production capacity, and regional influence as key drivers of growth.

Speaking during a keynote remark at the United States–Nigeria Council’s session on oil sector collaboration, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2025 in New York, Lokpobiri highlighted the country’s renewed policy focus and expanding market potential.

His Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor made this known in a press statement yesterday.

The statement quoted the minister as saying “At the heart of Nigeria’s renewed energy agenda is a clear and deliberate policy direction: to open our oil sector to deeper, smarter, and more strategic partnerships. “The time to invest is not just now — it is ripe.

“Recall that for over ten years, prior to the coming of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria did not have any new investment in the oil sector but with the reforms we have carried out, which have created an atmosphere that is globally competitive and attractive, we now have new investments running into billions of dollars”, the minister added.

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“All inactive blocks during the period of no investments, are in the basket now and up for grabs. We have long standing relationships with US and US companies, beyond these relationships, there are new opportunities for new investors, both in the upstream sector and other sectors.”

The Minister noted that, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s oil sector has witnessed significant progress over the past two years, including increased production output and a more attractive investment climate.

“Thanks to bold reforms and globally competitive fiscals, Nigeria has significantly ramped up production and repositioned itself as a dependable energy hub across West Africa and the continent,” he said.

Lokpobiri attributed this transformation to the successful implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which he described as a “robust, investor-friendly legal framework” that is driving growth and restoring investor confidence.

He also emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to energy transition efforts, affirming that the country would continue to leverage its fossil fuel reserves to finance its energy mix, while adhering to international climate agreements.

“We are fully aligned with the Paris Agreement, and remain committed to cleaner, more sustainable exploration,” he said. “Our doors are open, our laws are clear, and our environment is conducive — now is the time for U.S. and global investors to become part of Nigeria’s energy success story.”

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri yesterday said the Federal Government has engaged a consultant who is a member of the Oil Producing Trade Section (OPTS) to work in partnership with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to harmonize the 273 fees in the oil and gas industry.

The consultant has been mandated to study the fees of other oil producing countries and fashion the Nigerian fees after them in line with international best practices.

He spoke in a Ministerial Panel session of the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week in Abuja.

Lokpobiri said without the harmonization of the fees investors would avoid the Nigeria for other climes.

He said: “And we agreed that there should be an international consultant to benchmark our fees away with other countries in the world so that we can be competitive.

“Otherwise, nobody would come and invest in a place where there would be 272 fees arranged and more were coming.”

The minister urged the stakeholders to downplay the campaign for energy transition because Nigeria only caused a negligible carbon emissions.

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In a renewed push to meet its Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota and 2025 budgetary targets, he declared an end to the era where oil companies acquire field licenses and leave them dormant.

The government warned that it would no longer tolerate operators lacking the technical and financial capacity to develop oil fields, stressing that such licenses would be withdrawn.

He said the government was determined to maximize oil production by ensuring that only serious investors retain access to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.

The conference had the theme: “Accelerating Energy Progress Through Investment, Global Partnerships and Innovation”.

He said: “In our ongoing drive to boost national oil production, the Federal Government remains resolute in ensuring that maximum value is derived from upstream assets currently held by operators.

“This objective has taken on greater urgency as global financing for oil and gas projects continues to tighten, making it increasingly difficult for all operators to secure the capital needed to develop these assets.

“It is no longer acceptable for critical national resources to remain in the hands of companies that lack the technical or financial capacity to optimize them or worse, those who use such licenses merely as a lever to access scarce capital, only to divert it to unrelated ventures.

 “Our oil and gas industry has witnessed far too many cautionary tales of this nature, and we must now draw a clear line.”

Also speaking, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo said Nigeria had proven gas reserves of over 200 trillion cubic feet, yet value would only be created when resources were developed and utilised.

Ekpo said through the Decade of Gas initiative, the country was focused on translating its vast gas wealth into tangible socio-economic benefits.

This, he said, included driving industrialisation, expanding power generation, increasing domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) usage, deepening gas-to-transport adoption, and growing gas export capacity.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari said the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline has successfully crossed the River Niger, boosting the hope of the project’s completion by Q4 2025.

Ojulari, who described the development as a significant milestone, said the feat was achieved through effective and innovative contract reengineering and industry collaboration.

He also disclosed that for the first time in a long while, the nation enjoyed 100% crude oil pipelines availability throughout June 2025.

He said the feat which was possible through the industry-wide security interventions led by the NNPC helped to boost crude oil production.

He however called for more investments to boost production, adding that NNPC Ltd has been able to turn the narrative around by consistently meeting its cash-call obligations to Joint Venture operations.

He said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has placed NNPC Ltd in a good position to live up to its responsibility of leading the industry in financing projects.