The report that oil and gas companies have committed to gas flare reduction in Nigeria though some of them opposed the enforcement of penalties for gas flaring as contained in the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 is one of the leading stories in Nigerian newspapers on Friday.
The Punch reports that oil and gas companies have committed to gas flare reduction in Nigeria though some of them opposed the enforcement of penalties for gas flaring as contained in the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Speaking during a session at the ongoing 2022 Nigeria Oil and Gas conference in Abuja, the Managing Director, TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mike Sangster, said efforts by operators were being increased to reduce carbon emissions from gas flaring.
He, however, stated that the adoption of penalties to address the concern was not an answer, stressing the international oil company, as well as others had developed programmes to manage the situation. Sangster said, “I don’t think penalties are the answer to reducing gas flaring. Likewise we have a very active programme at the company to reduce carbon footprint.
“So every month we are looking at our fuel gas consumption, we are looking at emissions and also looking at ideas and ways that we can drive down on carbon emissions. Therefore I don’t the think penalties are the way to go.”
The TotalEnergies boss stated that oil firms should be encouraged to move towards more gas production for the indigenous market and for export.
Sangster said, “I think we have to make good business sense and I agree to the transition towards more gas development. We will maximise our oil production for sure, but I think we all want to move towards more gas for the domestic market and also for export.
“So anything that can be done to facilitate the demand for gas is encouraging. And I know there is an idea to move at some point towards a willing-buyer willing-seller model in the PIA.”
The newspaper says that the Nigerian Federal Government on Thursday began uploading the data of 60 terrorists and other criminals to the International Criminal Police Organisation database.
The terrorists and the other criminals were among those who escaped when a terrorist group, the Islamic State of West African Province, bombed the Kuje Correctional Centre on Tuesday night.
As of press time, it was learnt that the details of most of the escapees had already been uploaded.
The Spokesman, Nigeria Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, who confirmed this to The PUNCH on Thursday, disclosed that the names, pictures and other data of the inmates have been circulated to other security agencies.
When asked if the NCoS has dispatched the data of the terrorists to Interpol, Abubakar said, “They are working on it; the ones they uploaded are not too clear to my liking and the management’s liking. Hopefully, they should be through tonight.
“Yes, we have access to the (Interpol) database. Every inmate or suspect that is brought to our facility, we photograph him and have the details about him before it goes to our database.
“They are trying to upload it and work on it so we can have the details of the offences committed and have the next-of-kin and take appropriate actions.”
The Guardian reports that consistent business collaborations of private sector stakeholders across countries on the African continent would surely guarantee its economic growth, eradicate poverty and place Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on a better platform for transacting business with European countries.
The Consular General of the South African Consulate in Lagos, Darkie Africa stated this at the 2022 South African/Nigeria Trade Mission Business Networking Seminar put together by Grandeu Nigeria Limited in collaboration with Western Cape Tourism Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (WESGRO), Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and Tshwane Economic Development Agency (TEDA) in Lagos.
According to the Consular General, there is a need for Nigeria and South Africa, being the two biggest economies on the continent, to come together and bridge the gap so that both countries can get the right trajectory for economic growth.
“There are South African manufacturers of products that are in high demand in Nigeria. They are here to seek possible investment opportunities. Nigerians who understand logistics and channel of distribution can partner with them,” he said.
The Managing Director, WESGRO, Michael Gamwo, on his part, identified continuous partnership between private sector stakeholders in Nigeria and South Africa as the only means of guaranteed African economic growth.
He said that is the only way forward for onward African growth, which will go a long way in reducing poverty to the barest minimum on the continent.
Representative of South African/Nigeria Business Chambers, Owolabi Salako, said Nigeria and South Africa had a bi-National Commission Agreement last year December and also launched the Joint Ministerial Advisory Council with the aims and objectives basically for governments of both countries to work with private sector stakeholders.
The newspaper says that the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued a new date for the completion of the new airfield lighting work on Runway 18 Left of the
And between today, July 8, and September, the runway will be out of service for all flight operations.
The new September date is contrary to the July date that was initially given for the installation, to bring to an end the 14-year blackout on the critical infrastructure.
The Runway 18L that services the local airport was 2008 rehabilitated but without provision for airfield lighting. The current administration in July 2021 awarded a new contract for the airfield lighting and estimated completion in six-month.
“However, stakeholders are to note that there will be no disruption of in-flight services. All normal flight operations will be conducted through runway 18R/36L (of the international airport). A Notice to AirMen (NOTAM) to this effect has already been published and disseminated accordingly,” Hope-Ivbaze said.
The impact of the routine blackout and attendant under-utilisation of the local facility is telling on local airlines’ schedules, with the airport exposed to “operational nightmare”, especially at nightfall or in bad weather.
Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, said the authority remained committed to improving the safety and efficiency of flight operations and had concluded arrangements to complete the installation of the CAT III Airfield Ground Lighting system on the local runway.
“The project, which will commence effectively on Friday, July 8, 2022, is expected to last for 90 days. Consequently, Runway 18L/36R will be closed to flight
The Nation reports that the award of oilfield licences has, for decades, remained a significant part of the oil sector transformations.
The 2020 bid rounds conducted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) were not different. The enthusiasm, the passion and expectations that greeted the exercise captured the impact stakeholders expect the exercise to have on the economy.
With the oil bids finally awarded last month, stakeholders are expecting a great outing that will lift the oil sector, operators and the economy.
The Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, said with the issuance of the Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPL), the winners of the awarded oilfields would move to site for preliminary prospecting activities.
He also disclosed that in the process of getting to conclude the bid rounds, about N200 billion was raked in from the 57 oilfields into the coffers of the Federal Government, plus an additional $7 million in signature bonuses and others.
In addition, the NUPRC announced the unveiling of the Template and Procedure Guide for the Host Communities’ Development Trust (HCDT) for commencement of implementation of the provisions of Section 235 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The unveiling of the template on host communities fund administration was a major development for oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta who are expected to benefit from the three per cent operating expenses of oil companies in the area.
GIK/APA