Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, has outlined initiatives and strategies aimed at boosting investment, optimising production and enhancing transparency to position Nigeria as a significant player in the global energy landscape.
This was during his presentation on “Deep-Water Exploration and Production in Nigeria” at the 2024 Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week Conference in Abuja on Thursday at the International Conference Centre.
Speaking on future developments and opportunities in Nigeria’s deep-water sector, Engr. Komolafe highlighted that projects such as OML 145 – Nsiko field and OML 118 – Bonga Southwest/Aparo field present substantial investment opportunities. These matured fields and new field developments are expected to yield significant oil recovery.
According to Komolafe, Nigeria’s reserves and production distribution cut across different terrains, emphasising the potential for offshore and deep offshore fields. On the Licensing Round Schedule and Rig count, Engr. Komolafe pointed out that the 2024 Licensing Round, scheduled from May to December, is expected to further boost investment, with 31 blocks available for bidding. The rig count continues to increase since the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He added that the new Fiscal Provisions and Presidential Executive Order, including tax incentives for greenfield developments and deep-water projects, aim to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market. These measures also aim to streamline contracting processes and ensure compliance with local content requirements.
Also speaking on investment promotion and value creation, Engr. Komolafe was specific about the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, NGFCP, as an initiative to reduce methane emissions and promote carbon capture, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net-zero targets.
Engr. Komolafe provided insights on divestment achievements, optimising production and enhancing transparency.
