13 April 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – Multinational oil company, ExxonMobil has reiterated its commitment to helping deliver power to Nigeria and to partner the Federal Government in the development of the oil and gas sector.
The company made the commitment when the company hosted Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to a meeting.
The meeting was also part of the ministers move to get oil companies operating in the country to invest more in the country, a move that had earlier seen the Italian firm, Eni, pledging to work with the government to repair the Port Harcourt refinery in addition to building a power plant in the country.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the US oil firm said it recognised the partnership with Nigeria and the work of the Federal Government to ensure the development and growth of the oil and gas sector..
The statement quoted the minister as urging ExxonMobil to invest in more practical deliveries in the area of human capital development and local growth of skill sets required in the industry.
Kachikwu, according to the statement, also made a case for the deepening of investment in the oil and gas sector by the IOCs operating in Nigeria.
The minister listed the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at reducing importation of petroleum products, adding that these would be boosted if the major IOCs operating in Nigeria invest in building signature refineries.
He said the refineries would be run on joint venture basis, with the Federal Government providing the necessary incentives.