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Tag: Ndu Ughamadu

  • Nigeria to cut oil production by 100% in October

    The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva on Thursday said that Nigeria has agreed to cut oil production by 50% this month, by 100 percent in October this year.

    A statement of the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu disclosed that.

    It quoted the minister as saying “We have agreed to comply with production cuts of 50% this month (September 2019) and 100% from October this year.”

    The statement noted that Sylva made the commitment at 16th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

    According to the statement, OPEC commended Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the stability of the global oil market which spanned many years of its membership of the organization.

    This commendation came from the Chairman of OPEC’s 16th JMMC, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman.

    Bin Salman, who doubles as the Saudi Arabian Energy Minister noted that since the 1980s when Nigeria’s late Oil Minister Dr. Rilwanu Lukman reigned at the helm of the Organisation, the West African nation’s role has been very pivotal in helping OPEC achieve stability in the oil market.

    “Nigeria has always brought commitment and obligation towards the OPEC cause. I always thought of how we would have crossed the uncertainties of the global oil market of the 1980s without Nigeria,” Bin Salman added.

    According to him, Nigeria’s role cuts across compliance with OPEC charters as well as mediation and reconciliation among member countries over the years.

    Read Also: ‘Why Sylva is backing Lyon for governor’

    During Thursday’s JMMC, OPEC reiterated its determination to accelerate concerted action towards addressing market challenges and adapting to future developments.

    While enjoining non-compliant members to fully observe their production commitments, the JMMC also underscored the need for continued commitment for the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) in support of oil market stability on a sustainable basis.

    Earlier in his remarks, Sylva said OPEC’s endorsement was a testimony to Mr. President’s efforts at ensuring that Nigeria remains a stabilizing force within the organization.

    “The rest of OPEC have always looked up to us whenever there are problems. Recall that as OPEC Secretary General, our late Oil Minister Dr. Rilwanu Lukman was highly influential and since then we have played a central role and have been taken very seriously by member countries,” he stated.

    Sylva, who was in his maiden outing at the OPEC described the endorsement as “heartwarming”, adding that it would go a long way to spurring and encouraging the country to do better.

    The next meeting of the JMMC comes up on the 4th December 2019 at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.

     

  • NNPC explains increase in price of Kerosene

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has attributed the increased in the price of household Kerosene in the country to the pressure of demand and supply.

    The NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that the price of the product had been deregulated.

    “The point remains that the prices of the kerosene is deregulated.

    “It is not as controlled with reference to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as Petrol, that is why we see the prices moving up and down.

    “The important thing is that the trend you are seeing there had to do with supply and demand. The more the demand, the higher the price locally,’’ he said

    Ughamadu said that the NNPC remained the sole importer of the product and had been augmenting it with the skeletal production from the refineries.

    He reiterated the commitment of the corporation to the adequate supply of petroleum products for Nigerians.

    “The corporation is doing everything to ensure that we import more volumes of kerosene because, we believe that this is the energy source that the low income earners in the country use,’’ he added

    A check by NAN in some outskirt of the Federal Capital territory indicated that the price of Kerosene ranged between N400 and N500 per litre.

    NAN reports that most filling stations along the Kubwa express road, Dutse, and Zuba hardly sell the product.

    Most of the consumers buy the products from the road side.

    Read Also: NNPC has no secret account — Kyari

    At Dutse market, the price was N400 per litre while within Kubwa it is sold between N450 and N500 per litre.

    Mrs Halima Saidu, a seller at Kubwa village market, told NAN that she buys from filling stations at different prices.

    “I sell at N450 per litre now but if I buy at higher price at the filling station, I will sell above that,’’ she said.

    It will be recalled that he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its National House hold price watch in June said the average price per litre paid by consumers for Kerosene increased to N316.43 in June 2 from N315.91 in May.

    The NBS said the price of kerosene increased by 0.17 per cent month-on-month and 13.14 per cent year-on-year in the period under review.

    The report said states with the highest average price per litre of kerosene were Anambra at N381.25; Abia, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom N356.67 and Enugu N352.78.

    NAN

  • NNPC warns violators of pipelines’ right-of-way

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has raised the red flag on what it called “flagrant and dangerous” violation of its pipelines’ right-of-way by some individuals and communities along the corridor of the system 2E pipeline network stretching from Port Harcourt (Rivers State) through Aba (Abia), Enugu (Enugu) up to Makurdi (Benue).

    In a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, the NNPC said the infringement on the statutorily guaranteed 25-metre setback for the infrastructure was not only detrimental to the free flow of petroleum products but was far more harmful to dwellers of illegal structures and shanties due to the combustible nature of hydrocarbon.

    The corporation noted the inseparable link between the cases of oil pipeline right-of-way-encroachment and incessant pipeline vandalism cum oil theft with attendant negative effect on the economy.

    According to the NNPC, the creation of the minimum 25-metre buffer for the pipeline is designed to allow for maintenance, repairs and replacements of pipelines as need may arise while ensuring the security and safety of the facility.

    Read Also: NNPC secures $3.15b financing for OML 13

    The buffer also ensures that those living contiguous to the lines are shielded in cases of leakage, rupture or explosion, the corporation said.

    It added that as a first step towards eventual removal of such structures by the team of Army Engineering Corps, its downstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC), embarked on extensive consultation and enlightenment targeted at violators in affected communities.

    The corporation noted that the safety and wellbeing of the people remained paramount to its management.

    The NNPC explained that based on penetrating reconnaissance executed by the Army engineers – stretching from Ogale-Eleme community in Port Harcourt-Aba axis to Otade community in Enugu-Makurdi leg – structures in violation of the pipeline safety corridor have been identified and clearly marked with notice of imminent removal served on affected occupants.

    The corporation noted that the essence of the red flag was to bring urgency to the situation along the PHC-Aba-Enugu-Makurdi line whose level of violation is about 75 per cent stating that the position is intolerable with clear cases of individuals channelling products into private homes.

    “Such incidents are not only crystal clear cases of economic sabotage but pose unimaginable danger to the entire neighbourhood,” the statement said.

     

  • ‘NNPC recorded N174.63b petroleum products sales in March’

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recorded N174.62 billion sale of white products in March, the corporation’s Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) for March 2019 has stated.

    A release on Sunday in Abuja by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, disclosed that the March sales figure is higher than the N168.65billion recorded in February 2019.

    The statement explained that the total revenue generated from the sale of white products from the period March 2018 to March 2019 stood at N2,780.79 billion, with Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise called petrol contributing about 91.09 per cent or N2,533 billion.

    According to the report, in terms of volume of the total sales by the NNPC Subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), in March 2019, the report said a total supply and distribution of 1.36billion litres of white products was made, compared with 1.33billion litres of February 2019.

    The statement noted that a “further products breakdown indicated that the March volume comprised 1.29billion litres of petrol, 0.023billion litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 0.047billion litres for the diesel component.

    “Total sale of white products distributed for the period, March 2018 to March 2019, stood at 21.99 billion litres, with petrol accounting for 20.63 billion litres or 93.8 per cent. The report stated that 6.4billion litres of special products were sold during the period.

    “Within the period, 111 pipeline points were vandalized, indicating a 19 per cent drop from the 137 points recorded in February 2019. Ibadan –Ilorin and Benin –Ore axis accounted for 46 per cent of total pulverised points, while breaks in other locations made up the balance.

    Read Also: Fed Govt Sues NNPC, Agip, Shell, NPDC

    “In the Gas sector, the MFOR diclosed that gas production increased by 15.4per cent at 263.48billion cubic feet compared to the output in proceeding period of February 2019. This translated to an average daily production of 8,499.58million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd).

    “Out of the volume of gas supplied in March 2019, 155.01bcf of gas was commercialized, consisting of 40.35bcf, and 111.66bcf for the domestic and export markets, respectively.

    “The report indicated that 58.81 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialised, while the balance of 41.19 was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared.

    “The March 2019 NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report was the 44th in the series.”

     

  • NIPR commends NNPC for promotion of PR

    The Abuja Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for effective deployment of Public Relations (PR) tools and professionals in managing its image and reputation.

    Dr Tayo Haastrup, the Chairman of Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the NIPR, made the commendation in Abuja during a visit to the Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr Ndu Ughamadu.

    He said that the NNPC remained a critical promoter of professional PR practice in Nigeria.

    Haastrup also commended the NNPC for appointing a registered and certified member of the NIPR to manage the reputation of the corporation as required by law.

    He said that the NIPR took the menace of quackery in the profession seriously, adding that actions were being taken against those on the wrong side of the law.

    Read Also: NNPC spends $1.2b on Brass LNG project

    He called on defaulter organisations to redeem themselves before the law would catch up with them.

    Haastrup lauded the expertise and professionalism of the Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC for its competence in managing the image and reputation of a critical organisation like the NNPC.

    “As the body regulating the activities of public relations in the country, it is our duty to monitor the activities of our practitioners in the field to offer professional advice or assistance where necessary and commend those who are making the institute proud.

    “We have watched closely since your re-appointment as the spokesman of the NNPC and observed that you are living up to expectations as a certified practitioner and a fellow of the institute.

    “Since your assumption of office, we are proud to state that the reputation of the corporation has consistently moved upwards.

    “Your publications – the NNPC News, NNPC Quarterly Magazine and your weekly television production are very professional in content and packaging.

    “They satisfy readers’ industry information needs in most professional manner. They come with variety, simplicity and appealing designs.” he said.

    Haastrup said that the chapter was re-positioned to continue to add value to practice of PR in the capital territory.

    Responding, Ughamadu, extended the compliments of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, to the NIPR, saying the NNPC would continue to emphasise professionalism and excellence in its operations.

    He said that his division, in demonstration of its value for professionalism, had ensured that its staff were members of the NIPR and had also extended its advocacy to subsidiaries of the corporation nationwide.

    Ughamadu commended the FCT Chapter Chairman of NIPR for “excellent work and expressed his readiness to further support NIPR for the continuous growth and development of the institute.”

    NAN

  • NNPC to depots: don’t sell petrol above N133.28/litre

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has warned depot owners or terminal operators not to sell Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, above the official ex-depot price of N133.28k per litre.

    The Corporation also cautioned petroleum products marketers not to sell the product above N145 per litre.

    Ex-depot price is the ceiling at which depot owners or terminal operators sell products to marketers, while the pump price of a product is the amount consumers buy it from fuel stations.

    READ ALSO: NNPC pledges commitment to gas development

    A release yesterday in Abuja by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the subsisting ex-depot petrol price of N133.28k per litre was consistent with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency’s (PPPRA) template and should be adhered to.

    Ughamadu stated that NNPC held stock of over 1billion litres, adding that imports of 48 vessels of 50million litres each have been committed for the month of April alone.

    He advised Nigerians to remain vigilant and volunteer information to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Industry regulator or to any law enforcement agency around them, on any station which sells petrol beyond N145 per litre.

  • NNPC recruitment enters second phase

    The Phase One of the ongoing recruitment exercise by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which kicked off via nationwide advertisements in the national dailies and online media on Wednesday, March 13 ends tonight with the closure of the corporation’s application portal.

    READ ALSO: We are recruiting, NNPC confirms

    A release on Wednesday in Abuja by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the Second Phase of the exercise involving shortlisting of qualified candidates had started.

    He explained the qualified ones among them would be invited to participate in computer-based aptitude tests.

    Ughamadu said in the release that tests would be administered in about 50 centres across the country, saying those who emerge successful in the tests would subsequently be invited for oral interviews for final selection.

    NNPC, an equal opportunity employer in the Oil and Gas Industry value chain, including exploration, refining, transportation and marketing of petroleum products, recently placed advertisements to recruit some categories of new hands to buoy its operations nationwide.

    These are: Graduate Trainee; Senior officer and Supervisory Cadre and Managerial Cadre.

  • NNPC pledges commitment to gas development

    The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has expressed the corporation’s commitment to support any project that would encourage production and utilization of natural gas for the benefit of the nation.

    Disclosing this recently at the signing ceremony of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) Train 7, Nigerian Content Plan, in Abuja, Dr. Baru, who was represented at the occasion by Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gas and Power, Engr. Saidu Mohammed, said the signing ceremony was important as one of the major processes to bring the Train 7 project on board.

    The NNPC spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu disclosed this in a statement Tuesday.

    He noted that the project had a lot of potentials that would benefit the nation, but called on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to ensure that Train 8 and any other LNG projects in the future should be designed to accommodate more local content in the fabrication of facilities.

    Commenting on the corporation’s interest in the signing agreement, he said that the Train 7 project was in line with NNPC’s vision of prioritizing the use of natural gas to the greater benefit of Nigerians.

    “Apart from being 49 per cent shareholder in NLNG, we are more interested because it will enhance the development of gas in the country. Bringing the gas to this Train 7 would involve a robust gathering system that will connect trunk lines from offshore to the hinterland, looking beyond NLNG to domestic market, which will open up a flexible system that allows us to swing gas either way, depending on need. This implies that if NLNG is not running, the gas meant for it can be sent to the local market, and when the local market has difficulty in getting the gas consumed, same can be sent back to NLNG.

    READ ALSO: NNPC boss seeks energy integration in Africa

    Baru stated that NNPC’s 49 per cent share in the NLNG meant more dividends to the corporation, even as he advised NCDB to make room for more Nigerian Content in subsequent LNG projects

    The GMD called on other partners in the project to obey the rules of engagement.

    “My fellow shareholders please let us continue to provide the necessary support that NLNG as a company requires and always remain compliant with what we are signing today”.

    Earlier in his address, NLNG Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Tony Attah, expressed gratitude to the management of the NNPC for its roles in seeing the project to this critical stage.

    Speaking in the same vein, Engr. Simi Wabote, NCDMB Executive Secretary, said that NNPC’s presence at the signing ceremony was an indication of the corporation’s commitment to ensuring that the Train 7 project gets to Final Investment Destination (FID) this year as projected.

  • NNPC begins rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt refinery

    Nigeria’s effort at ensuring local sufficiency in refined petroleum products was bolstered on Thursday with the formal commencement of the first phase of the rehabilitation of the 210,000 barrels per day capacity Port-Harcourt Refinery complex that comprises the 60,000 barrels per day old Refinery built in 1965 and the 150,000 barrels per day, new Refinery, commissioned in 1989.

    The exercise, flagged–off by an elated Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, at a formal kick–off meeting in the premises of the refinery in Port-Harcourt, came 19 years after the last Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) exercise of the nation’s premier refining plant.

    NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in a release in Abuja, said the project would be executed by Milan-based Maire Tecnimont S.p.A, in collaboration with its Nigerian affiliate, Tecnimont Nigeria.

    The release disclosed that Maire Tecnimont S.p.A is listed on Milan Stock Exchange with interest in international engineering and construction, technology and licensing, and energy business development, adding that the Tecnimont group had operations in 40 different countries, numbering about 50 operative companies with a workforce of about 5,500 employees.

    The NNPC’s spokesman quoted the GMD as saying that at the end of the phase 1, the Refinery complex should be able to reach 60 per cent capacity utilisation.

    Ughamadu stated that NNPC was engaging eni/NAOC as Technical Advisor to support the Rehabilitation of PHRC, saying NNPC/PHRC would leverage eni’s extensive refinery supply chain network and warehouses to procure critical materials for the programme.

    He noted the first phase of the rehabilitation contract which would run for six months will involve detailed integrity check and equipment inspection of the Port-Harcourt Refinery complex beginning from end of March, 2019.

    The integrity test comes as a forerunner to the second phase of the rehabilitation project which entails a comprehensive revamp of the complex aimed at restoring the refinery to a minimum of 90 per cent capacity utilisation.

    Subject to the successful completion of the integrity checks, Phase 2 of the project would be executed on an Engineering Procurement Construction basis by Tecnimont in collaboration with the original builders of the plant, JGC of Japan.

    READ ALSO: We are recruiting, NNPC confirms

    Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Antonio Vella, Chief Officer, Upstream, Eni, said all the companies involved would deploy all available modern resources to ensure effective upgrade of the plant.

    Vella enthused that with the commitment of all parties involved, it was certain that NNPC would be able to celebrate the revamp of the PHRC that would lead to its full capacity utilization on schedule and in full safety.

    Speaking on behalf of the workers unions, Comrade Odor Victor Ayiri, Branch Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and Comrade Dibiah Joseph, Chairman of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), jointly pledged the support of workers to ensuring a smooth turnaround of the facility.

    It will be recalled that the NNPC had to abandon its earlier funding strategy by its DSDP Term Contractors/Consortia due to onerous conditions demanded after more than twelve (12) months of negotiations.

     NNPC has resolved to immediate direct funding from internal cash flows while it goes to the financial markets for debt financing.

    NNPC further segmented the Rehabilitation to begin with Port-Harcourt Refinery Complex and then progress to Warri and Kaduna Refinery complexes using the same methodology.

  • NNPC boss seeks energy integration in Africa

    The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has called for more integration among countries within the West African sub-region towards providing lasting solutions to the region’s numerous energy challenges.

    Baru made the call during a meeting with the United States Energy Secretary, Rick Perry and some African petroleum ministers, on the sidelines of the 19th CERAWeek Conference taking place in Houston, United States.

    NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in a release in Abuja Thursday, said Dr. Baru disclosed at the meeting that energy integration across the sub-region was necessary as it would drastically reduce unemployment and restiveness as well as improve the economies of the affected countries.

    “Nigeria as a regional leader has already encouraged regional integration by first putting up the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to ensure gas is available to West Africa. We are also doing the Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline (TSGP), even as we are intent on extending the WAGP to Morocco,” Baru told the US Energy Secretary at the occasion.

    He said the intent was to come up with a West African Power Pool that would put up power plants and other gas-based industries along those areas within the respective countries.

    The GMD said Nigeria’s crude oil production had seen tremendous improvement in recent years, due to Federal Government’s laudable efforts in ensuring security in the Niger Delta region.

    He said Nigeria and US had been very good partners with about $35bn worth of trade between the two countries.

    Earlier in his remarks, the United States Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, expressed his country’s commitment towards helping Africa achieve energy independence for the benefit of their people.

    “For our part we will support progress by engaging economically as well as championing open markets in societies. We endorse the modernization of critical oil and gas infrastructure which leads to better security and diversification of energy supplies and exports,” he noted.

    Describing innovation as the surest path to energy security, Perry added that once countries innovate, they are greeted with greater economic growth, opportunities and national security.

    “We support efforts to improve the regional interconnectivity. We also see energy access as critical to increasing prosperity and combating the cycle of poverty,” he added.

    He said as the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world, the US was more than well-positioned to not only share its resources, but also its technology and know-how.

    He said his country would work towards transforming the Africa’s domestic energy systems so that it would provide power, create jobs, foster development, open up new opportunities and improve almost every facet of human existence on the continent.

    “The US is very eager to share its energy resources and expertise with the African continent. As we go forward, we want to be a desired partner in ensuring that the global energy markets are supplied with the diversity of energy sources,” he stated.

    Other Ministers and high level energy executives from African countries such as Ghana, Mali, South Sudan, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone participated in the meeting.