Energy
Offshore West Africa: A major instrument of growth
Joseph BAMIDELE
LAGOS-THE Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition, owned and produced by the PennWell Corporation, is delighted to introduce delegates, exhibitors and visitors to the upcoming 20th anniversary edition in Nigeria.
The first of its kind in West Africa, the event premiered in 1996 in Nigeria to an international audience of delegates, exhibitors and partners. Borne out of a need to provide a networking and technical knowledge sharing platform in the West African Oil & Gas sector, this annual event has grown from humble beginnings into the Oil & Gas phenomenal event it is today.
The Offshore West Africa Conference has over its rich 20-year history been instrumental to the growth of the Oil & Gas Sector globally by delivering a first class networking platform in West Africa and continues to do so. To mention a few, The paradigm shift in the Nigerian Oil & Gas Sector from land and swamp operations to Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration and Production, with the major International Oil and Gas companies delving into the use of FPSOs (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessels) as the ‘new way’ in offshore E&P (Exploration & Production) operations in the last 15 years.
The Offshore West Africa forum has also played a significant role in showcasing new and relevant technologies that have been instrumental to the discovery and development of new and major offshore Oil & Gas Fields in West Africa as was the case with the Ghanaian Oil & Gas industry when hydrocarbon deposits were discovered in commercial quantities in the last 10 years.
“This in turn has attracted more international Oil & Gas companies to the West African Offshore E&P market as well as generate new frontiers in far off Asia for the manufacture of FPSOs, allied technology, products as well as requisite global training of manpower to operate new systems and operate in fresh markets.
Indeed, the Offshore West Africa Conference is truly indigenous to the countries where the forum has held over the years – as our continuous partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and various similar institutions in the West African Oil and gas sector has proven.
International Trade Missions with global reaches such as the United Kingdom Trade & Investment Council (UKTI), the Scottish Development International (SDI) and the International Trade Council (ITC) as well as Regional Industry government heavyweights such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), International Oil Companies – IOCs (such as Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Addax, Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Saipem), EPIC companies, major financial institutions operating in West Africa have also continuously partnered with the Offshore West Africa Conference over the years. This list is still growing.”
The report reads further that Foremost Institutions such as the African Energy Association, the Energy Institute Nigeria and Lonadek have also continued to partner with the Offshore West Africa Conference as Strategic Partners for the 20th annual Offshore West Africa in 2016. As featured during the Offshore West Africa 2015 conference, the Year 2016 conference will also feature a Continuous Development Programme for fresh engineers and a Youth Empowerment Programme for a stipulated number of university students from Ghana and Nigeria.
“These programmes will be run in conjunction with Lonadek and the Energy Institute’s Young Professionals Network and they form a part of PennWell’s overall corporate social responsibility initiatives. The programmes involve Career Counselling, Industry Related Awareness and an Empowerment Workshop.
As plans are being finalised towards the 20th anniversary edition of the Offshore West Africa Conference, the event promises to be better than ever.
Taking place on 26-28 January 2016 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, Nigeria, Offshore West Africa will build on the success of the 2015 event, which also took place in Lagos and attracted a record breaking international audience of almost 2,400 leading oil and gas industry professionals from more than 30 countries worldwide.
The event will continue to feature a technical and strategic conference program developed by an Advisory Board comprised of leading industry experts, as well as an exhibition showcasing products, technologies and services from global and regional oil & gas companies, held concurrently, bringing together exhibitors and attendees from around the world for three days of education, networking and new business development.
Offshore West Africa is a truly West African event and addresses key technology and development issues for the West African offshore Oil and Gas market, through a comprehensive educational program and three-day exhibition and conference, with the 2016 event focusing on Positioning for a Sustainable Future as the core theme.
Offshore West Africa welcomes you to join in the celebrations as the event hosts its 20th anniversary celebrations, and will provide further news shortly on the announcement of new strategic partners, supporters, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers. “the report reads in part.
Energy
Nigeria’s Gas Output Increases By 2.9%, Reaching 2.29 MSCF
Amid a slight increase in gas production, Nigeria’s oil output experienced a substantial rise in November 2024.
Gas production saw a 2.9% month-on-month (MoM) increase, reaching 2,292,951 million standard cubic feet (MSCF) from 2,292,471 MSCF in October.
However, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the growth was minimal, with a mere 0.02% increase in output for the first 11 months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
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The latest gas report from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also revealed a 1.6% increase in domestic gas consumption.
A total of 606,658 MSCF was consumed locally, compared to 596,861 MSCF during the same period in 2023. Gas exports, meanwhile, rose by 6.9%, reaching 829,156 MSCF, up from 775,547 MSCF in the corresponding period of 2023.
This growth in exports continues to play a vital role in bolstering Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
Despite these positive figures, sources close to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) noted that oil remains the dominant force in Nigeria’s energy sector, with gas taking a secondary role.
On the other hand, the NUPRC’s oil production report revealed a remarkable surge.
Nigeria’s oil output, including condensates, rose by 13.3% year-on-year in November 2024, reaching 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.5 million bpd in November 2023. Month-on-month, oil production also increased by 10%, from 1.5 million bpd in October 2024.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), discussed the broader structural dynamics within Nigeria’s economy, highlighting the dominance of the non-oil sector.
In his 2025 Outlook, Dr. Yusuf noted that the non-oil sector contributed 94.43% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q3 2024, while the oil sector accounted for just 5.57%.
“However, the economy is characterized by a paradox of the oil sector contributing an estimated 90% of foreign exchange earnings, while the non-oil sector accounts for about 10%,” Dr. Yusuf said.
“This is a structural shortcoming in our economy which needs to be addressed, as sectors that contribute hugely to GDP have no corresponding contribution to foreign exchange earnings.”
He further emphasized the need to address the challenges faced by the non-oil sector, which include issues related to productivity, infrastructure, funding, and regulatory constraints.
“The policy implication is that more should be done to fix the challenges of productivity and competitiveness of the non-oil sector of the economy,” Dr. Yusuf added
Energy
JUST IN: NNPC Ltd Reopens Warri Refinery
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced that the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Warri, Delta State, has become operational.
This is coming about a month after the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, made the disclosure during a tour of the facility on Monday.
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A video posted by Channels TV on Monday showed Kyari addressing a tour team, which included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
Before the tour commenced, Kyari explained that the inspection aimed to show Nigerians the level of work completed so far.
According to him, although the repairs on the facility are not yet 100 per cent complete, operations have commenced.
He said, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
Located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Warri, the petrochemical plant produces 13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black.
Commissioned in 1978 and managed by NNPC Ltd, the WRPC was built to supply markets in the southern and southwestern regions of Nigeria.
The mechanical completion of the facility was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, according to the Spokesperson of the NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
“Warri should be done by Q1 (first quarter) 2024,” Soneye stated.
The WRPC is one of Nigeria’s four refineries. Others include the old and new Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State.
Energy
Dangote Partnership: MRS Urges Nigerians To Insist On N935/Litre Petrol Price Nationwide
MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, a prominent player in the Nigerian downstream oil industry, has implemented a new petrol price of N935 per litre across all its retail service stations nationwide.
The company has also called on Nigerians to monitor and report any outlets that fail to adhere to the new price structure.
Biztellers reports that this is consequent upon an announcement by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to offer petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets, following a reduction in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre.
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It was gathered that MRS Oil Nigeria Plc has instructed all its outlets to implement the new price immediately, setting up a digital platform and monitoring team to ensure full compliance.
In a statement on Monday night, the company declared, “Petrol is now being sold at N935 at MRS Filling Stations nationwide. If you find any station not following this price, please report it. Call 08009447853 or email: NG-FMKPMGWHISTLEBLOWING@NG.KPMG.COM”
Emphasising the eco-friendly nature of its products, MRS Oil added, “We call on all petrol station owners to join MRS Oil Nigeria Plc in improving the supply chain of our beloved country, ensuring product quality and availability in every corner of Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
In Lagos, commuters were seen queuing at MRS filling stations to purchase petrol, with many expressing their gratitude to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil and Gas, urging other marketers to support the indigenous refinery rather than import off-spec products into the country.
A commuter at the MRS station at Alapere on the Lagos Ibadan Express way, Ibukun Phillips, could not hide her joy as her husband filled up their car.
“I am very happy today. This is a victory for Nigeria,” she said. “The price reduction is the best gift of the season. But beyond just the reduction, we are buying standard, eco-friendly petrol at a lower rate. My husband and I have decided we will only be using MRS from now on because we are confident in the quality of the product and supporting the economy.”
A commercial bus driver, Adio Ajibade described the price reduction as a great relief, especially during the festive season.
“The reduction is a great relief. It will reduce transportation costs and benefit Nigerians. God will continue to bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” he said.
A public affairs analyst and university lecturer, Dr. Tunde Akanni, said the collaboration between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil represents a significant step towards improving the affordability, quality, and sustainability of petroleum products in Nigeria.
According to Dr. Akanni, “this move will not only help ease the financial burden on Nigerians but also promote a more environmentally conscious approach to fuel consumption, benefitting both the economy and public health in the long term.”