Energy
Nigeria assures of sustainable power by 2020
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the country is on the path of achieving sustainable power for all citizens by the year 2020
…starts construction of 3050MW Mambilla Hydro in 2013
ABUJA – Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the country is on the path of achieving sustainable power for all citizens by the year 2020.
Jonathan, who made the remark earlier today at the launch of the Sustainable Energy for All, SE4All, an initiative of the United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO), in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital noted that the programme “aims at assisting Nigeria to refine its energy plans and programmes to provide access to affordable, clean and reliable modern energy services to all citizens.”
Whilst applauding the UN initiative, President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said Nigeria is “fully committed to achieving our set targets in less than a decade. All tiers of government are being mobilized to play their roles in ensuring that Nigeria achieves its targets.”
He noted that the programme is a pledge that the administration has made, adding that only the other day, the HMO signed a Performance Agreement with the Nigerian government in keeping promises to project implementation and delivery, mindful that it will safeguard the prosperity of the people.
The United Nations had in September 2011 launched the sustainable energy for all initiative to accelerate the attainment of the overall objectives of the declaration of 2012 as International Year for Suatainable Energy for All.
“This determined response to the challenges of energy poverty in the world requires all stakeholders to take concrete measures towards achieving universal access to modern energy services. It also requires he doubling of both the share of renewable energy in the global mix, and the global rate of energy efficiency. These three critical interlinked objectives are all to be achieved by 2030,” the President observed.
According to Jonathan, “Limitless opportunities abound in renewable energy. Bearing this in mind, we have set national goals and developed a Power Sector Roadmap that will fast-track our realization of the UN targets. At our current rate of power development, through the full implementation of the roadmap, we plan to meet these targets by the year 2020.”
He added that, “Our administration is highly committed to strengthening the power sector so that it can efficiently deliver adequate, qualitative, reliable and affordable power in a deregulated market. The roadmap for the Reform of the Power Sector, launched two years ago, brings into practical effect the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Act.”
Jonathan further noted the fact that hydro power generation sources are being exploited. “Only yesterday we had our initial meeting with the consultants and contractors for the construction of the large Mambila Hydro-power plant that will produce 3050mw.
“The processes for the construction of Zungeru 700mw hydropower plant have reached an advanced stage. Several small and medium hydropower projects are also in progress; as well as solar power projects an MOU has already been signed with SEIMENS of Germany for the production of 450mw (with 7 states as 1st phase).
“Bauchi state is already off-taking. 30mw coal to power is being pursued under PPP arrangement as well as a pilot wind power scheme in Katsina with 10mw. Waste-to-power schemes are also being implemented in various states. To support the expected developments in addressing power, we are also addressing other areas that are militating against our growth. Education/ Transport; railway-waterways seaports, airports/ Agriculture, etc.,” he added.
This point was emphasized by the Director-General of UNIDO, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, who stressed that Nigeria was on a path to achieving the goal of sustainable energy a whole decade ahead of the target.
He noted that, “As a country with vast oil and gas reserves, abundant sunlight and significant hydropower potential, Nigeria should not be suffering energy crisis. Over the years, the challenge has been in formulating a consistent energy policy.
“However, going by the discussions we have had with officials of the Nigerian government, and the vision we see that the administration has already put in place, we are confident that the country is on a viable road to meeting the targets as set by the United Nations towards sustainable energy for all.”
Yumkella further noted that the scale of policy challenges in energy infrastructure render the current efforts insufficient in scale and scope. “What is now required is a sustained political focus. Energy access must move up the political and development agendas to become a central priority,” he added.
The UNIDO boss stressed that the Sustainable Energy for All initiative has created a momentum for a specific path to be pursued to concrete action to address energy poverty. “The obstacles to energy access are well known. These barriers, while complex, can be overcome and international cooperation can help this process.”
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) rode on new wells, optimized reservoir and optimal facility management to produce more oil at Bonga in 2023 than the previous one, a review of operations has shown.
Biztellers reports that Nigeria’s first deep-water development produced some 138,000 barrels of oil per day (boepd) in 2023 compared to around 101,000 in 2022.
The improvement, Biztellers gathered, was driven by drilling of new wells, optimising reservoir and facility management and excellent asset management, inter alia.
Managing Director, SNEPCo, Elohor Aiboni, said, “Bonga continues to justify the investments and hard work that led to its discovery.
“The uptick in production is the result of commitment by staff, continuous improvements in production processes and maintenance and the support of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) and our co-venture partners – TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Agip Exploration and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited.
“Working together, we will continue to power lives and deliver value to all stakeholders.”
Recall that Bonga began production in November 2005 through the 225,000-barrels-per-day capacity Bonga FPSO, anchored 120 kilometres offshore. The FPSO exported the 1 billionth barrel of oil last year.
The operations have resulted in remittance of taxes and royalties to the Government of Nigeria to finance development, development of indigenous contactors and service providers, and a wide-ranging social investment portfolio which has improved lives across the country.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reassured industry stakeholders that oil and gas service companies that have established capacities in the country will continue to enjoy patronage.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe made this commitment on Friday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State when he led officials of the Board and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) to visit companies that deliver pipe coating and related services.
The team visited Brightwaters Energy Limited, formerly known as Willbros Nigeria Ltd, Solewant Nigeria Limited and Pipe Coaters Nigeria, managed by Tenaris Nigeria Ltd.
According to the ES, the visits were to assess the companies’ facilities and determine how the Board can galvanize the industry to patronise them.
He underscored the importance of getting first-hand information on in-country capabilities before making key decisions on oil and gas projects. He insisted that operating companies must support and patronise local oil and gas service companies in compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Ogbe emphasized that activities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry must be used to create employment opportunities for the nation’s teeming youths and help to resuscitate the economy, in line with the aspirations of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The Chief Executive Officer of Brightwaters Energy Limited, Scott Gregory thanked the ES for leading the visit while highlighting that Brightwaters carried out Nigeria’s first pipe coating in 1962.
He recalled that the facility had 3,000 employees some years back, executing various spheres of oil and gas projects. He conveyed the management’s aspiration to return the
firm to those high-performance levels and sought the Board’s support to win oil and gas projects that would resuscitate the sprawling facility.
“We feel that we can be a positive contributor to Nigeria through the capacities that we have. We want to bring real, true value to the table,” he added.
He admitted that the coating facility had suffered downtime, but assured that the plant would be up and running within 60 days of the award of a new contract.
The Chairman of Tenaris Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Nwapa welcomed the NCDMB’s team to PCNL’s facilities.
He commended the efforts made by the agency to push local content in the industry, attributing it to the good culture that had been established at the Board over the years.
Nwapa, who was the pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB expressed delight that some of the oil and gas projects that had been pending for nearly ten years were now being developed and expressed hope that existing local capacities would be maximized in the execution of those projects.
The team was taken around the company’s facilities and shown the various equipment of PCNL in readiness for the award of new contracts.
Nwapa pledged the commitment of the company to meet the expectations of clients as well as allow them to participate in the supervision of the work in their factory.
The PCNL facility covers an area of 160,000 m2 in the Onne Free Trade Zone. The company offers Anticorrosion, CWC, Thermal Insulation, Internal and Bends Coating plants as well as Double Jointing and Anode Installation Facilities.
At Solewant Group, an EPCI and Pipe Coating Company, the NCDMB delegation was shown round the company’s facilities as well as the new investments, such as the 5mega watts generators, procured to guarantee power supply to the facility.
Accompanying Engr. Ogbe on the facility visits were the Director Projects Certification and Authorization Division (PCAD), Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, General Manager PCAD, Engr. Maurice Iwhiwhu, Special Technical Assistant (STA) to the Executive Secretary, Engr. Mofe Megbele, Deputy Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Obinna Ezeobi, and other staff members of the Board.
The SPDC team was led by the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Mr.Lanre Olawuyi.
The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NNPC E&P Ltd), NNPC Ltd’s flagship upstream subsidiary, and Natural Oilfield Services Ltd (NOSL), a subsidiary of Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO), has announced the successful commencement of oil production at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Biztellers reports that the production commenced on the 6th of May 2024 with 6,000 barrels of oil with expectations to be ramped up to 40,000 barrels per day by May 27th, 2024.
The first oil flow from OML 13 is a historic milestone in the partnership between NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL, highlighting their dedication to driving growth and development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which remains a vital component of the nation’s economy.
The achievement does not only signify the culmination of rigorous planning and execution by the teams involved, but also represents a new era of economic empowerment and development opportunities for the host communities.
Furthermore, for Nigeria, the first oil from OML 13 holds some significance as it contributes to the country’s efforts to increase its oil production capacity, which is crucial for meeting domestic energy needs and driving economic growth.
The NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL partnership is also committed to operating in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to the local communities.
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