Wednesday, 8 November 2017

NNPC Commences Oil Search in Benue Trough


The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has
commenced mobilisation for oil exploration in the Benue
State sector of the Benue Trough.
A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja said the Group
Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, led a
delegation from the Corporation to the Governor of Benue
State, Mr. Samuel Ortom.
The statement was signed by the NNPC Group General
Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ndu
Ughamadu.
Baru in the statement disclosed that all was set for
seismic data acquisition work to commence in the state
adding that apart from oil exploratory work, NNPC was
also ready to kick-off its biofuel project located in the
Agasha/Guma area of the state.
He explained that the Corporation’s upstream company,
Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL), would carry out oil
exploratory work in Makurdi, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West
and Logo Local Government Areas of the state.
According to him, the work on the Nasarawa end which
has commenced will cover the Ondori area (boundary
between Benue and Nasarawa States).
“I am convinced that the success of the results from
IDSL’s seismic data acquisition will lead to the drilling of
exploration wells in these areas, which hopefully, would
launch Benue state into the league of oil producing states
in the country,” he said
He added that the oil search was in fulfillment of the
Presidential mandate of exploring for oil in the nation’s
inland basins which was driven by the urgent need to
increase Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves.
This, he said would thereby improve revenue streams and
create more business and employment opportunities for
Nigerians.
The GMD informed that the NNPC team was in Benue to
sensitise the government and people of the state on the
mission.
On the biofuel project, Baru disclosed that when
completed, Benue state stood to benefit a lot especially
the area of employment generation as the project had the
capacity to generate about one million direct and indirect
jobs.
Other benefits include the sugar cane feedstock plantation
of about 20,000 hectares; a cane mill and raw/refined
sugar plant capable of producing 126,000 tonnes annually
as well as a fuel-ethanol processing plant capable of
producing 84 million litres annually.
“With the bio-fuels projects, we also hope to establish the
Bagasse cogeneration power plant which will generate 64
MW; a carbon dioxide recovery and bottling plant that will
produce 2, 000 tonnes annually as well as an animal feed
plant that will produce 63, 000 tons annually,” Baru added.
He also called on the governor to facilitate the release of
the Certificate of Occupancy for the 50,000 hectares of
land required for the expanded biofuels project in the
state.
Responding, Ortom expressed delight over NNPC’s oil
exploration and bio-fuels projects in the state, adding that
all the people of Benue were behind the two projects.
“I can assure you of our total support for these projects.
We will work with our traditional institutions to sensitise
our people on the need to massively support you,” he said
Ortom instantly set up a committee headed by the Deputy
Governor, Benson Abounu, to work with the NNPC team
to ensure seamless execution of the two projects.
It would be recalled that, the Corporation, had on Tuesday
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Ondo State Government to establish a 65 million litres per
annum biofuel plant in Okeluse area of the state.(NAN)

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