Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has entered into a strategic partnership with Delta State government to develop the gas resources in the state in to promote economic growth.
Speaking during the inaugural meeting of the NNPC/Delta State Strategic Partnership on the Gas Master Plan in Asaba, the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo stated that the joint venture with the state was geared towards harnessing the abundant gas resources in the state with the sole aim of creating jobs through the numerous industries that would be established by investors.
Barkindo who was represented by the Coordinator of Liquefied Natural Gas and Power in the Corporation, Mr. Voka Mukoro noted that the partnership was in line with the transformation drive of the NNPC.
According to him, the Corporation was transiting from a cost centre to a commercial National Oil Company.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is undergoing a transformation process that would make her operate like other National Oil Companies such as the Petrobras of Brazil and the Petronas of Malaysia, this journey would help her become commercially viable”, Barkindo said.
He opined that the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, before the National Assembly if passed would go a long way in turning around the fortunes of the NNPC.Barkindo lauded the amnesty programme of the President Umar Yar’Adua administration saying the peace it has brought about in the Niger Delta region of the country has led to astronomical increase in daily production of petroleum products by the NNPC, the IOC’s and other indigenous oil companies.
The NNPC helmsman expressed the belief that the partnership would accelerate the industrial growth of the state in the areas of petrochemicals, fertilizer plants and other gas related factories.
In his presentation titled, “Delta State/NNPC strategic partnership on the Gas Master Plan: Overview of Strategic Partnership Approach”, the Group General Manager of Upstream and Senior Technical Adviser to the GMD, Dr David Ige, postulated that the partnership would develop the gas resources in the state in as short a time as possible in to attract investors to the state from all parts of the world.
He submitted that the joint team from the state and NNPC would develop an attractive fiscal, communication, marketing and security package that would motivate investors to see Delta State as a haven for investment.
Inaugurating the Joint Venture Committee from Delta State and NNPC, the governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan expressed the commitment of the state to the partnership saying the joint venture would improve the economic fortunes of the people and help to sustain the peace in the state.
Uduaghan said for the people of Delta State, gas was a critical resource and that the state was interested in the domestic utilization of its products. He disclosed that the state was starting a new independent power plant and gas would play a very important role in its operations.
He commended the NNPC for its interest in the state and observed that his administration was committed to exploiting the abundant resources in the state so as to boost the socio-economic well-being of Deltans.
Members of the Joint Venture Committee from the NNPC include Dr David Ige, Arinze Mngr, Ekundayo Akinmoyo, Edwin Udezi, Khadegah Uttman and Ohwomadu. Members from the Delta State government include Mr Izuka Osakwe, Comrade Ovuzourie Macaulay, and the Commissioners of Finance, Land, Powers and Energy among others.
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