Oil
Reps commend PPPRA for N409bn subsidy savings
ABUJA – The House of Representatives has commended the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency for being able to save N409bn subsidy claims in 2012.
The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream oil sector), Mr. Dakuku Peterside, said the agency’s efforts in saving N409bn in subsidy claims in 2012 and the reduction in petroleum products consumption volume from 60.25million litres a day in 2011 to 33.66million litres in 2012 were commendable.
Dakuku, according to a statement from the PPPRA, said this in Abuja when the committee paid an oversight visit to the PPPRA headquarters.
He was quoted as saying, “We can clearly see that the agency has put its efficiency to work to save such enormous amount in one year and this is deeply commendable. Our prayer is that you sustain the tempo. It is good to ensure that Nigeria enjoys maximum gain from the subsidy we pay.”
The chairman urged the agency to do more and stressed that it was the responsibility of the lawmakers to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed value for every kobo paid on subsidy.
Dakuku said, “As we intend to commend you, we say we are not still satisfied; we are not where we ought to be. There is still more work to be done to ensure that we bring subsidy to the best that it is supposed to be.”
In his reaction, the Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Mr. Reginald Stanley, said the agency had achieved up to 67 per cent in the number of participants in the subsidy scheme.
According to him, the agency has ensured that only the owners of downstream facilities participate in the scheme. He added that this had resulted in saving N409bn in subsidy claims in 2012.
He noted that the PPPRA took steps to boost the local content initiative of the government by encouraging indigenous participation in downstream activities, adding that this had attracted investments to Nigeria in excess of N60bn in the past two years.
The PPPRA boss said reforms by the agency in 2012 led to the elimination of petroleum product wastages, scarcity and malpractices in the supply chain.
Stanley said, “There was improved Premium Motor Spirit availability nationwide at a regulated price and there was no experience of supply shortfall related to fuel scarcity in the years 2012 and 2013. This was coupled with over 32-day PMS sufficiency and serving fuel stock.”
– THE PUNCH
Oil
FG Introduces New Incentives To Revitalize Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Industry
In a strategic move to revitalize Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Federal Government has unveiled two key fiscal incentives aimed at attracting investment and enhancing energy security.
The announcement was made by Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Wednesday.
The first initiative, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order 2024, introduces critical exemptions for essential energy products and infrastructure, including Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, and Clean Cooking Equipment.
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These exemptions are designed to reduce living costs for Nigerians, promote energy security, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy alternatives.
The second initiative, the Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil & Gas Production, offers new tax relief options for deep offshore exploration projects.
This measure aims to position Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for international oil and gas investments, boosting the country’s appeal to foreign investors.
These reforms are part of a broader set of policy initiatives, known as Policy Directives 40-42, endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The directives reflect the administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in the energy sector and enhancing Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global oil and gas market.
Business
Tinubu set to approve ExxonMobil-Seplat oil deal, expands CNG bus initiative
By Yemie Adeoye
NIGERIA’s President Bola Tinubu has announced that the protracted ExxonMobil-Seplat upstream oil divestment will be formally approved by the Minister of petroleum within a matter of days, just as he announced his government’s intention to expand the Compress natural Gas, CNG buses initiative.
The President who stated this during his Independence day nationwide broadcast stated that the move is in line with his administration’s commitment to free enterprise, free entry and free exit in investments which is the hallmark of his administration investment policy.
“Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.”
The President also seized the opportunity to plead with Nigerians to be patient with his administration’s reform policies. “As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel”.
“Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.
Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace”. he enthused.
Oil
ExxonMobil To Invest $10bn In Nigeria’s Deep-Water Oil Operations
As part of the administration’s push to improve Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed support for ExxonMobil’s plan to invest $10 billion in the country’s deep-water oil sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, during a meeting with ExxonMobil executives at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Shettima called the investment “a clear testament to the administration’s economic reforms and investor-friendly policies.”
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This announcement follows news that international maritime company DP World intends to develop a multibillion-dollar port project in Nigeria.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, shared the development in a statement on Wednesday. He quoted Shettima as saying: “ExxonMobil’s potential investment aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for a more investment-friendly Nigeria.
We are committed to fostering an environment that supports such transformative projects.”Shettima also discussed the administration’s broader efforts to improve the ease of doing business, highlighting the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to simplify bureaucratic processes, enhance transparency, and offer fiscal incentives to attract global investors.
“Our administration has taken bold steps to unify the exchange rate, remove fuel subsidies, and implement tax reforms. These measures, though challenging in the short term, are intended to create a stable and predictable business environment in the long term,” he added.
On the oil and gas sector, Shettima mentioned that the government is revising the fiscal framework for deep-water operations to attract investment while ensuring fair returns for the Nigerian people.