Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, says that the government is committed to optimising assets and increasing oil and gas production.
Ekpo told the 26th Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Council on Thursday that achieving higher production required a deliberate convergence of digitalisation, capital investment and robust policy frameworks.
“Digitalisation is transforming oil and gas operations through artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and automation.
“These technologies improve efficiency, reduce downtime, enhance safety and lower operational costs across the value chain.
“Government remains committed to supporting digital integration to keep Nigeria competitive in the global energy space,” he said.
On investment, he said that capital remained vital for sustaining infrastructure, especially within a transition-driven global energy market.
According to him, regulatory improvements and executive directives are strengthening governance and ease of doing business.
Ekpo said that the Decade of Gas initiatives aimed at expanding infrastructure, boost domestic utilisation and support industrialisation.
He stressed the need for environmental sustainability, including reducing emissions, ending gas flaring and adopting low-carbon technologies.
The forum commemorates the 1956 discovery of commercial oil in Oloibiri in Bayelsa State in SouthernNigeria and .the forum’s theme was ‘Beyond the Three Million Barrels Target: Harmonising Digitalisation, Capital, and Policy Frameworks for Intelligent Operations and Asset Optimisation’.
GIK/APA