NNPCL Announce another oil discovery in Northern Nigeria

BY: News Peddlers

The oil discovery in Nasarawa State has been announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the corporation's spokesperson, Garba-Deen Mohammad, NNPCL's Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, said the results of exploratory activities confirmed the presence of significant hydrocarbon resources in the state.

It stated that the discovery was made as part of its ongoing oil exploration activities in the country's inland basins, and that it planned to drill the first oil well in Nasarawa State in March 2023.

On January 5, 2023, it was announced that NNPCL was prospecting for crude oil in additional locations throughout the north, following the discovery of the commodity in Bauchi and Gombe states.

According to the report, NNPCL is taking coordinated steps for more frontier exploration in the region as part of efforts to boost the country's oil output and reserves.

According to a document on the NNPC's frontier exploration services activities from 2020 to 2022, some prospective states where oil is expected to be discovered include Niger, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe.

Beyond the north, the Anambra basin was mentioned as another location where the NNPCL was looking for more oil.

Prospecting is the first stage in the discovery of oil and gas fields, during which seismic surveys are conducted.

When the Governor of the state, Abdullahi Sule, led a delegation of prominent indigenes on a courtesy visit to NNPCL in Abuja, Kyari announced the oil discovery and the planned spud-in.

He also urged quick action on the project, citing a drop in investment in fossil fuels as a result of the global energy transition.

"Because the entire world is transitioning away from fossil fuels due to energy transition, the sooner you get to market, the better for you," Kyari stated.

"Otherwise, no one will agree to put money in the petroleum business unless it comes from your cash flow," he added.

He stated that community support and a conducive environment were critical to a successful operation in the area in order to avoid the Niger Delta experience.

In his response, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule congratulated the NNPC boss on the successful start of oil production and the Kolmani Integrated Development Project, which President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated in November 2022.

He thanked the President for his assistance and assured NNPCL of a favourable environment.