Speaking at an award receiving ceremony from the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, Baru said the consideration for the extension of the gas pipeline was in furtherance of the corporation’s African integration drive.
Baru said that the Nigerian Government was working to also extend the West African Gas Pipeline to Morocco.
He told association that the Kolmani River-II Well, which spud-in was flagged off last month by President Muhammadu Buhari, was progressing satisfactorily, with drilling of 6,700 feet so far.
The statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja, stated that the target was 14,200 feet, although the depth could be longer, depending on finding.
According to Baru, prospecting for oil and gas in Kolmani River-II Well is one of the recent forays of the government into inland exploration in parts of the country.
Baru pledged to support the association, as he stated that “my pride in PETAN is that, today, we have the capacity and expertise as Nigerians to carry out any job in the industry that was hitherto done by foreigners.
“As a champion of Nigerian content, we will continue to support you in whatever way we can,” Baru said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of PETAN, Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, commended Baru and cited the resumption of exploration in the inland basins and the flag-off of Bonga South–West project, which had been in the shelf for more than 10 years, as fruits of his leadership.