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FG Plans Review Of Petroleum Industry Act

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The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Gabriel Aduda, says the Ministry plans to review the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
This, he said, would be with stakeholders in the upstream and downstream sectors, after two years of its implementation.
Aduda disclosed this at the ongoing Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL) Africa Week 2023, in Lagos, yesterday.
The theme of the 2023 OTL is “Energy, Synergy, and New Beginnings.”
He called on operators in the Nigerian downstream sector to work together and pool resources to invest in refining petroleum products to address the country’s energy crises.
He stressed that the quality of technology possessed by the operators should not be a barrier to investment in refining.
According to him, the review will identify the pros and cons of the Act and all the areas that need to be addressed.
“The review is expected to be held before the second week of December 2023, when all oil and gas industry players would gather to discuss all the fundamental issues that need to be addressed in the Act.
“It is crucial for all players in the oil and gas industry to embrace the spirit of synergy, adding that the energy landscape is rapidly evolving,” he said.
He emphasized that the solution to Nigeria’s product refining lies in the willingness of the private sector to make a difference, collaborate, learn, and inspire one another.
He noted that it is the responsibility of the players in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry to shape a future where energy is clean, accessible, and equitable for all.
“While much attention has been focused on the upstream sector (exploration and production) in discussions about energy transition.
“The downstream sector, which involves refining, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products, plays a crucial role in this transition.
“With the level of technology that is at their disposal no matter how crude they are.
“Why can’t we begin to think in the area of harnessing the limited potentials that we have and see how we can put things together to evolve a clear home-grown technology?
“That we can build on to be able to deliver the energy future of our dream,” the permanent secretary said.
Aduda also advocated the need for the petroleum industry regulators in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to offer supportive regulation to the investors in the sector.
According to him, the beauty of the regulation is to help the industry in Nigeria to be globally competitive and acceptable, to attract more investors, and to put a check on their activities.
Aduda further hinted that infrastructure in the downstream sector was a major factor facing the sector.
“Today, we embark on an investment road show globally to attract investors to Nigeria, but one of the major concerns being raised is lack of investment in the sector”, he said.
He, therefore, noted that the downstream sector is no longer confined to traditional boundaries.
According to him, it is about collaboration, innovation, and adaptability.
“The challenges we face are not unique to any single entity but shared by all.
“Together, we can overcome them and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.
“The energy sector is witnessing a renaissance of sorts, heralding new beginnings.
“As we move towards a more sustainable, eco-friendly future, our industry must lead the charge.
“Nigeria, as a significant player in the global energy landscape, faces the challenge of balancing its hydrocarbon-based economy with the need to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources,” Aduda added.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring the availability and guaranteeing the gas supply before the discussions around the conversion of buses to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) were put in place.
He said, “The downstream players must work with the government to expand trunk and distribution gas pipelines across the country, as well as supply and distribution of refining capacity expansion, supportive regulations, renewable energy integration, and workforce development.
“As laudable as the Presidential Initiative on CNG is for example, we must be careful not to put the cart before the horse, we need the buses, we need the converters but then where is the gas?”
Similarly, the Chairman Advisory Board, OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week, Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, said the event had a strong presence in the industry.
Oyebanji noted that the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East had continued to transmit volatility, while the energy transition had challenged markets and forced operators to innovate.
According to him, closer home, policy, and political changes remain a factor, with market players keen for clarity for their operations.
“These factors have combined to make OTL 2023 very important, as we look forward to robust engagements,” Oyebanji said.

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RIVPOLY Warms Staff Against Sexual Harassment, Sorting, Other Vices

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The Management of Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa Polytechnic (KENPLOY) has threatened to discipline any staff who prioritises harassment of female students in the campus.
The Polytechnic also said it would discipline any staff who is involved in sorting and other related vices in the institution.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Ledum S. Gwarah gave the warning at a one-day workshop for administrative, non-teaching staff of the Polytechnic, in Bori, yesterday.
Gwarah said, “Management would not condone acts inimical to the successful realisation of our target goals as discipline measures will be taken against staff who prioritise harassment of female students, sorting and related vices among others.”
The Rector said further that his administration would defend all staff who are unjustly treated by their superiors and ensure that justice and fair play supersede all primordial interest.
He charged the staff of the Polytechnic to be diligent, take their work seriously, and display responsible and credible job ethics.
Dr. Gwarah assured the readiness of the management to prioritize the welfare of all staff, saying the management is working on more practical measures to motivate workers.
He commended the staff and the newly employed for their contributions to the growth of the institution.
Earlier, the Registrar of the institution, Dr. Emmanuel Onwuka, said the workshop was conceived to reintroduce staff to the work ethics of the Polytechnic which has been ignored for some time.
According to him, the workshop is aimed at giving the entire non-teaching staff a new sense of belonging in the chemistry of administrative knowledge.
“When the right tools of instruction is given to a staff, he will enjoy job satisfaction which will inturn lead to greater productivity,” he said.
The Registrar enjoined the non-teaching staff to take their work seriously and avoid any act of indiscipline and disloyalty to constituted authority.

Chinedu Wosu

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Nigeria Partners UK, Germany, Others On Green Industrial Dev’t

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Nigeria is partnering with the United Kingdom(UK), Germany and the World Economic Forum towards the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s plans for a green industrial development of the country.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, Wednesday in Abuja, said that the meeting with the leadership of the UK-Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNAIF) centred on enabling a private sector-led, public sector-enabled programme.
“We (also) hosted a virtual discussion with the Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Center for Nature and Climate, Ms Gim Huay.
“We agreed to actionable next steps that will ensure greater collaboration with international investors and DFIs in accordance with our green industrial roadmap.
“On Wednesday evening, we hosted a fruitful session with a delegation from the German Embassy led by its Head of Climate Negotiations, Ambassador Johannes Lehne.
“Specific steps toward deepening collaboration on hydrogen and wind energy development were agreed upon with a follow-up next week,” he said.
The Tide’s source reports that in May, President Tinubu approved the establishment of a committee to oversee the Green Economic Initiative, known as the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions.
Tinubu also approved the appointment of Chief Ajuri Ngelale as Special Envoy on Climate Action and will retain his role as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity.
The committee was part of a strategic move of the President to ensure the advancement of his administration’s climate and green economic initiatives.
The committee is to coordinate and oversee all the policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development.
The UKNIAF is a technical assistance programme (2019 – 2025) that aims to transform Nigeria’s capacity to plan, finance, deliver and maintain climate-smart. critical infrastructure.
It aims to achieve transformation through technical support in two component areas: Power and Infrastructure Finance.
The key counterparts are the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies; selected state governments; the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Nigeria (FCDO); the wider development and development finance institution groups.

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Nigeria To Host Africa’s $5bn Energy Bank– Minister

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Nigeria has been granted the hosting right for the African Energy Bank (AEB) after beating Ghana, Benin Republic, Algeria, South Africa and Cote D’Ivoire in a keenly contested bidding.
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), told newsmen in Abuja yesterday, that the award of hosting right for the bank highlighted Nigeria’s robust energy sector.
He said “the award of the hosting right also highlights the country ‘s strategic vision for Africa’s energy future.”
Lokpobiri expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the support extended during the course of the bidding.
He also thanked the Council of Ministers of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) for the confidence in Nigeria’s capability.
The minister highlighted the collaborative spirit of the APPO members and their shared vision for a united, energy-secured Africa.
He emphasised that “this decision reflects our collective ambition to create African solutions to Africa’s energy challenges.
“The African Energy Bank will be instrumental to providing the necessary financial backbone for energy projects that will drive growth and development across the continent.
“The decision is a significant step for the continent’s energy sector and underscores Nigeria’s pivotal role in Africa’s energy landscape.”
The minister assured Nigerians and Africans at large that the establishment of the African Energy Bank would mark a transformative era in meeting energy needs.
He said that the initiative aligned with the broader objectives of African Union’s Agenda 2063, aiming for a prosperous and self-sustaining Africa.
“We are committed to ensuring that the bank did not only move Nigeria forward, but becomes a beacon of progress for the entire continent.
“Our goal is to foster sustainable energy solutions that are both innovative and inclusive.”
The Tide’s source reports that the bank is expected to facilitate access to funding for energy projects, thereby catalysing economic growth and enhancing energy security.

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