Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, for its pivotal role in advancing local content development in the oil and gas sector over the past three decades.
The President noted that PETAN was instrumental in the success of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010, which has created opportunities for local participation.
Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, during PETAN’s 30th anniversary celebration recently, the President lauded the association’s contributions to Nigeria’s energy industry.
“For thirty years, PETAN has been a bastion of strength and resilience, championing the growth of indigenous oilfield service companies and ensuring Nigerians play a leading role in harnessing our petroleum resources.
“Founded to promote indigenous expertise in oilfield services, PETAN has grown into a key player in fostering local capacity and reducing dependence on foreign expertise in the oil and gas sector,” Ekpo said.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, hailed Nigeria’s drive for indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector, describing it as a global model of success.
Lokpobiri revealed that Nigeria’s emphasis on local expertise has not only bolstered the country’s energy sector but also drawn interest from other nations eager to replicate the model.
The minister commended PETAN for its pivotal role in advancing indigenous participation, urging the association to expand its impact beyond Nigeria’s borders.
He described PETAN’s 30th anniversary as a milestone but not a destination, challenging the organization to scale up its operations to the global stage.
While acknowledging the global energy transition, Lokpobiri stressed that fossil fuels remain indispensable to the global economy and urged PETAN to continue its collaboration with the Federal Government to attract investments and maximize the country’s oil and gas resources for economic prosperity.
