BY DENNIS UDOMA, Uyo
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo has commended the NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL) and Natural Oilfield Services Limited (NOSL) for maintaining a robust relationship with host communities in the Niger Delta.
The Minister shared his thought with the companies and communities during a visit to OML-13, the operational base of NEPL and NOSL in Akwa Ibom recently and, expressed satisfaction with the company’s strong ties with the communities, which have fostered peaceful operations.
Ekpo urged both NEPL and NOSL to expedite action on the establishment and implementation of the Host Community Development Trust Fund, as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act 2022, and also extend power supply from their flow stations to communities, so that they can experience the positive impact of their operations.
He emphasized that, the operations of NEPL and NOSL would enhance the country’s gas production capacity assuring that, the Federal Government was ready to support the company in achieving its production targets.
The management of NEPL-NOSL, declared that the company, has a production facilities with a capacity of 60,000 barrels of oil per day and 90 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The Company expects to meet its full production capacity before the end of the year.
“We consider our host communities as critical partners, and we have given utmost attention to our community development projects (CDP). Our priority is to ensure our communities are positively impacted by being involved in our day-to-day operations.
“The company has executed several programmes and projects that have directly improved the lives and living standards of the host communities, with many more projects in the pipeline.
“We have carried out numerous community development projects, including medical outreaches, scholarship grants for students in higher institutions, the provision of medical equipment to hospitals, skills acquisition training programs, construction of boreholes, roads, and bridges, distribution of school furniture, laptops, electronic tablets, transformers, and more. The company is planning additional community development programs for the people”, he stated.
The visit provided the Minister and his team, firsthand assessment of the oil and gas use production facilities at OML-13 in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
