Oil & Energy
Oil Workers And Industrial Action
Oil company workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) recently issued a sevenday ultimatum to the Rivers State Government and the management of VAM Onne Nigeria Limited, to either resolve the industrial relations crisis in the company or have all oil and gas operations shut down indefinitely. The workers alleged that the company in collaboration with some politicians sponsored thugs numbering over 15 armed with dangerous weapons to harass, manhandle, assault them and disrupted the peaceful protest organised by PENGASSAN, Port Harcourt Zone against the management of VAM Onne Nigeria Limited.
In a petition addressed to the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi dated February 8, 2012 and signed by the Assistant General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Port Harcourt Zone, Mr Sunday Onyenachi, the workers said,” as a result our National Secretariat has directed that after seven days, with effect from February 9, 2012, there will be a complete shutdown of all oil and gas operations in Rivers State. If thereafter, the matter is not resolved within the period, the entire 10 states in Port Harcourt Zone including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Enugu, Imo and Rivers State will follow suit and this will escalate the crisis.”
They alleged that the country Manager of VAM Onne, Mr Engene Fogli victimised 27 PENGASSAN members who have been locked out for over three months without salaries. The workers accused the VAM manager of engaging in anti-union activities ranging from intimidation, harassment, lockout, victimisation and enslavement of Nigerian workers, flagrant abuse of our extant labour laws and release of Nigerians from employment without clearance from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). And more importantly, refusal to honour agreement which was reached at a meeting at the instance of Prince of Onne community, Prince (Dr) Jime Osaronu and Mr Sunday Dudu between the association and the management on November 15, 2011 at Novetel Hotel , Port Harcourt.
They also said Mr Fogli had started recruiting new staff to replace workers that were locked out because they exercised their fundamental rights to belong to trade union.
Similarly the independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ilorin branch penultimate Saturday threatened that the association would withdraw its services with effect from Tuesday last week because the lives of its members were being threatened by vandals of petroleum pipelines.
Chairman of the association Alhaji Holaji Agbolade bemoaned a situation where those arrested for pipeline vandalism by the Police, State Security Serviced (SSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were not properly persecuted.
He said : “Pipeline vandalism is an economic sabotage, we are worried about a situation where suspects are arrested and released within a few days without prosecution! According to the association, “we will likely withdraw our services and fuel will not be sold at the Ilorin Depot to any filling station. He gave an instance where about two years ago, the police arrested five persons who were each sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Federal High Court but were released two weeks ago without completing their jail terms by another court and called for the re- arrest of the convicted pipeline vandals.
All these came at the time when fuel tanker drivers embarked on their strike that triggered some days of petrol scarcity.
It is known that the prime function of trade unions the world over is to protect and improve the wages and working conditions of their members through collective action, whether by bargaining with the employers by promoting legislation. In fact, historically, one of the main reasons for the setting up of trade unions was that the workers might acquire a combined strength which would enable then to bargain more effectively with the employers and to replace the individual contract by a collective agreement.
In Nigeria, many employers and employees refuse to believe that this is what happens and they think that the collective agreements are fundamentally different in form and content from what obtains outside.
Another midely held belief is that the workers in Nigeria are not free to withhold their services if they are dissatisfied with their conditions of work.
Freedom of association does not merely imply the right of workers to form or join an organization and the right of that organization to have a legal existence. It also implies freedom for the organization to function. If freedom of association is to have its full value, the workers must be able to use their organization for collective action and must enjoy the right to strike if they regard their working conditions as unsatisfactory.
Another thing to be remembered is that the structure, functions and rights of the Nigerian trade unions cannot be properly appreciated unless the economic, political and social structure of the country is taken into account. Personal or group circumstance is less important in the case of the nation. The fact that the rights of oil workers are trampled on or tampered with as alleged by PENGASSAN and the IPMAN do not call for strikes that are not negotiated or dialogued before commencement. There are various methods for dealing with industrial disputes which were not adopted by the tanker drivers and oil workers in the current crisis.
The withdrawal of services by tanker drivers for about six days and the threats by the PPPRA, PENGASSA and IPMAN has resulted in enormous pressure on other sectors of the economy.
Oil workers should acknowledge the fact that the oil and gas industry is an important aspect of the nations economy and any action such as strike critically paralyses the economy and the movement of people.
Petroleum products distribution in Nigeria and Rivers State in particular in the past one week has continued to suffer from the negative effects of the marketers and oil workers. People are forced to pay exorbitantly for petroleum products which also affects transport fares. The reputation of some oil workers and their managements has been battered by their failure to come to terms.
Regardless of what the issues are, citizens of the country and government are not happy with the situation in which they find themselves while the fuel scarcity lasts.
Cheap and effective business and services are no longer guaranteed in the country. This is why it is incumbent on the state and federal governments to seize the initiative and end this improfitable standoff once and for all.
The Tide learnt that the Federal Government might have begun the process of calling a stakeholders meeting where some of the issues unearthed during the hearing on the subsidy claims by the National Assembly would be addressed with a view to checking the fuel scarcity.
The issues raised by IPMAN and the PENGASSAN concerning intimidation and other ill-treatments meted out to their members should be addressed just as perpetrators of pipeline vandalism should be treated according to the law as it concerns economic sabotage. Oil workers on their part should not in any way allow themselves to be used by anyone or group whatsoever to disrupt the distribution process of petroleum products.
Security agencies should take serious the issue of pipeline vandals because their activities are counter productive, especially now that there is the need for improvement in the allocation of petroleum products.
The Rivers State government would not wish to put itself in a position where it will be vulnerable to copycat strikes and it must be realised that the consequences of this quibbling have resulted in economic downturn and penury on the citizens.
When two elephants fight, the resultant effect is always on the grasses. While the oil workers or tanker drivers argue over the fine points of their grievances, the citizens are suffering.
As the body charged with overall well-being of the citizens, government should endeavour to bring the strike and threats under control. The welfare of the people is simply too important to be put on hold through strikes. The companies managements should see reasons with their workers and give them what they want if their demands are genuine.
There should be evidence of faith in the demands of the workers and it must be obvious that they are making a point. There is the need for negotiations between the government, company managements and the workers to find solution to the situation.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) alleged the fear of petroleum products scarcity as it claimed that Nigeria still has over 35 days sufficiency and more importers of petrol are in the business, so people should face what they are licensed to do rather than causing artificial scarcity of fuel.
There are many issues involved in the petroleum sector reform which need to be addressed. Insecurity in the nation’s high seas is one of the factors that bring about scarcity of petroleum products. Some oil companies have applied for as much as 160,000 metric tones but had not been able to get that quantity while some take their vessels to neighbouring countries such as the republic of Benin and Togo because of inadequate storage facilities at the country’s ports, so they have to split the products, which is a security risk because of the way pirates operate and the difficulty in the jetties.
As a way forward, there is need for re-classification of the oil companies in a bid to effectively reposition the oil industry. The dearth of facilities at our ports has also forced importers to use ports in neighbouring countries and there should be market forces to determine quality of fuel imported and the prices they are sold as an inspector is made to oversee the quality and quantity of import.
Shedie Okpara
Traders have not been this bearish on oil in months or so bullish on United States natural gas in years.
The latest data on money managers’ positioning in the WTI and Brent crude and U.S. natural gas futures showed two contrasting trends—speculators are betting that oil prices would remain low or go even lower while increasing the bets that natural gas prices would continue marching higher.
So far this year, geopolitical and supply and demand factors have been increasingly bearish for the oil price outlook and increasingly bullish for natural gas prices.
In the oil market, hedge funds and other portfolio managers have been slashing their bullish bets since the end of January, when the U.S. sanctions on Russia’s oil trade were the primary bullish driver of managed money to bet on a tightening market.
With U.S. President, Donald Trump, now in office, the sentiment has quickly soured amid the president’s insistence on lower oil prices, his efforts to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, and – most of all – the enormous uncertainty about on-and-off tariffs and tariff threats and their potential impact on the American economy.
As a result, market participants are preparing for lower oil prices, even amid expectations of declining oil supply from Iran and Venezuela due to President Trump’s hawkish policy toward these OPEC producers.
Speaking of OPEC, the wider OPEC+ group has just said it would begin increasing supply as of April, adding further downward pressure on prices.
Faced with all these bearish drivers, money managers have been reducing their bullish bets on crude oil futures, with the U.S. WTI Crude hitting the lowest net long position – the difference between bullish and bearish bets – in 15 years at the end of February.
In the week to March 4, the latest reporting week with data released on March 7, speculators bought WTI amid a major selloff in all other commodities except for U.S. natural gas.
The net long in WTI rebounded from the 15-year low, but it wasn’t because the market suddenly started betting on higher prices going forward. The rise in WTI buying and the net long was the result of short covering in the U.S. crude futures contract.
In Brent, hedge funds cut their bullish-only bets in the week to March 4 for the biggest decline in longs since July 2024.
Unlike in crude oil, money managers have become increasingly bullish on U.S. natural gas after inventories dipped this winter to below the five-year average as demand surged in the coldest winter for six years.
The net long in natural gas further swelled in the week to March 4, as the number of new bullish bets was four times higher than the new short positions.
“Natural gas continues to benefit from rising demand, both domestically in the US and towards exports via LNG,” Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, said, commenting on the latest Commitment of Traders report.
At the start of the winter heating season in November, U.S. natural gas inventories were higher than average for the time of the year as America entered the season with stocks at their highest level since 2016.
These stocks, however, were quickly depleted during the coldest winter for six years, with demand for space heating and power generation soaring. A month before the end of the winter heating season, U.S. natural gas inventories have now slumped to below the five-year average and well below the levels from the same time in 2024, at the end of a mild winter.
The lower inventories and the higher demand – both for domestic consumption and LNG exports – have pushed prices higher, encouraging producers to boost gas output this year. Traders bet that prices will go even higher as demand from LNG plants is set to accelerate with the ramp-up of new U.S. export plants.
Paraskova writes for Oilprice.com.
By: Tsvetana Paraskova
Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings says it has successfully completed the acquisition of 100 percent equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
Spokesperson of the company, Tony Okonedo, who disclosed this in a Press Release, Last Thursday, said Renaissance has completed all processes for the full transfer of ownership of SPDC to the consortium, adding that it will now operate as Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
“Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings today announced that it has successfully completed the landmark transaction between itself and Shell for the acquisition of the entire (100%) equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
“This follows the signing of a sale and purchase agreement with Shell in January 2024 and obtaining all regulatory approvals required for the transaction. Going forward, SPDC will be renamed as ‘Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
“Going forward, SPDC will be renamed as ‘Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited’.
“Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings is a consortium consisting of four successful Nigerian independent oil and gas companies: ND Western Limited, Aradel Holdings Plc. FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited and the Waltersmith Group, each with considerable operations experience in the Niger Delta, and Petrolin, an international energy company with global trading experience and a pan African outlook”, the statement reads.
Speaking on the acquisition, the Managing Director/CEO, Renaissance Africa Energy Holding,Tony Attah, said Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has a vision to be the leading oil and gas producer in Africa and to help the continent achieve energy security.
Attah expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its support and pledged the company’s commitment to the Petroleum Industry Act.
“We are extremely proud to have completed this strategic acquisition. The Renaissance vision is to be ‘Africa’s leading oil and gas company, enabling energy security and industrialization in a sustainable manner’.
“We and our shareholder companies are therefore pleased that the Federal Government has given the green light for this milestone acquisition in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act”, he said.
The CEO acknowledged the contributions of Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in facilitating the deal.
He said, “we extend our appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, the CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the CEO of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for their foresight and belief, paving the way for the rapid development of Nigeria’s vast oil and gas resources as strategic accelerator for the country’s industrial development”.
The Statement further revealed that Renaissance partner companies collectively have an asset base of more than $3 billion and currently safely produce approximately 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) from 12 oil mining leases and operate two functioning modular refineries in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
The Federal Government has cautioned oil-rich communities against infighting and disruption of oil production, saying it could hinder their access to the Host Community Development Fund.
Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made the appeal while speaking at the KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Lokpobiri noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was enacted to bring stability to the oil sector and address longstanding grievances about underdevelopment in host communities.
He lamented, however, that internal disputes among stakeholders have made it difficult for these communities to access and utilize the funds meant for their development.
Lokpobiri insisted that host communities must overcome internal conflicts that hinder their access to the funds.
“This KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum is to see how host communities can maximize the benefits from the Host Communities Trust Funds as prescribed by the PIA.
“If oil production is disrupted, everyone loses — the Federal Government, oil companies, and the host communities themselves. That is why host communities must collaborate with the government and oil companies to ensure smooth operations” Lokpobiri stated.
The Minister called on Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) in the Niger Delta to effectively utilize the 3% operational funds allocated to them under the PIA 2021 to drive sustainable development.
He further called that oil-producing communities should take ownership of the oil and gas facilities within their domains and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainable benefits.
“As stakeholders who have their respective stakes in oil and gas operations in the country, we should work together to ensure that we maximize the benefits of oil and gas.”
The minister also emphasized the global push for cleaner energy, warning that the relevance of fossil fuels depends on their extraction and marketability.
“Don’t forget there is a global campaign against the continuation of production of fossil fuel.
“Fossil fuel will never go away. Fossil fuel will not have any value unless you bring it out of the ground or from the sea to the market, that is why we need this collaboration,” he said.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Omotsola Ogbe, reaffirmed the board’s commitment to leveraging the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Represented by the Board’s Director of Legal Services, Naboth Onyesoh, Ogbe noted that the NCDMB’s Community Content Guidelines were designed to ensure sustained community engagement as local content is prioritized throughout the oil and gas value chain.
Ogbe praised the KEFFESO Host Community Development Trust for its efforts in ensuring that oil revenues benefit local communities.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, First E & P, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, described the KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum as a crucial platform for discussing and strategizing solutions to the challenges facing marginalized communities in the Niger Delta.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to fostering meaningful and sustainable development in the region.
The forum, themed “Envisioning Sustainable Community Development in Niger Delta Host Communities: Identifying Challenges and Actualising The PIA Paradigm Shift,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for maximising the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA).