According to a statement in Abuja, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru
yesterday, unveiled plans to collaborate with the Republic of Niger on the purchase of crude oil from the country for supply to the Kaduna refinery.
He stated this after a bilateral discussion with the Minister of Energy and Oil of the Republic of Niger, Hon. Foumakoye Gado, in Abuja.
Baru also stated that the NNPC would partner with Niger in the area of sharing geological data to further boost the ongoing exploratory activities in the Chad Basin and Benue Trough.
Commenting on the purchase of crude oil from Niger, he said: “We plan to set up the technical team to review the possibilities of how crude oil will be supplied to Kaduna refinery. Being bilateral, there are going to be two teams as discussed by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and the Minister of Energy and Oil of Niger.
“There will be steering committee comprising some Ministers and a technical committee which will involve the NNPC and the Nigerian Ministry of Energy and Oil and their operators.”
He further stated that there is an understanding between the NNPC and Republic of Niger to share data on the exploratory activities in the Chad Basin and the Benue Trough and to tap into that country’s
experience.
On his part, the Nigerien Energy Minister, Hon. Gado said his visit was to discuss issues of interest especially in the area of the oil sector with the NNPC, adding that the procurement of crude oil for
Kaduna refinery and its practicability was being worked out.
“One of the aims of this visit is to share geological information for us to draw the best profit out of the exploratory efforts,” Gado averred.
In another development, Baru disclosed that the Federal government’s amnesty programme is critical towards ensuring lasting peace in the Niger Delta region.
Baru made this known while hosting the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) in his office in Abuja.
