19 January 2015, Lagos – UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) section of the British High Commission in Lagos has pledged its support for Pennwell Corporation to promote partnership opportunities in view of the 19th Annual Edition of Offshore West Africa (OWA) scheduled for January 20 to 22, 2015.
Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has urged key stakeholders in the industry to support Pennwell to continue to organise the conference in Nigeria.
The UKTI made the promise at a press conference on Thursday at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos.
The press conference was opened by Acting British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Purves.
Strategic Business Partner Manager, PennWell Corporation, Nick Richardson stated that under the auspices of the NNPC and endorsed by the Department of Petroleum Resources Nigeria, the OWA event, which will be sponsored by French oil giant Total, will once again address key technology and development issues for the West African offshore oil and gas market, through a comprehensive educational conference program and three-day exhibition, under the theme “Managing West Africa’s Major Projects”.
Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) Mr. Ranti Omole also expressed the organisation’s support for PennWell. Other speakers were Head Public Affairs Unit, DPR, Dorothy Bassey, Business Relations Manager SNEPco, Mr. Ijere Kanu, Manager Public Affairs at the NNPC, Dr Kenny Obateru, and Director of Operations Africa, PennWell Corporation, Dele Olaoye.
Speaking at the conference, Obateru, said the focus of the NPDC would be to showcase federal government’s efforts to develop gas in the country.
He said the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), upstream arm of the NNPC has is currently the largest supplier of domestic gas in Nigeria, supplying 560 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the domestic market.
Commenting on government efforts on gas development, he said: “As at yesterday, the company produced 560 million scf of gas to domestic market”.
“So the effort of the Federal Government is now paying off. The gas pipelines have increased by 500 kilometers and 300 kilometers of gas pipeline is ongoing while 1,400 is in the project development phase,” he added,
Obateru urged key stakeholders in the industry to support Pennwell to continue to organise the conference in Nigeria.
“As you are very well aware, the bulk of our production is offshore and we need them to be around to organise this conference so that issues can be discussed, problems can be discussed and solution provided, and generally just discuss offshore activities so that we can develop local capacity and also share experiences from other parts of the world. So we are pleased to be part of this and our key message is to let you know that the gas infrastructure of the federal government is paying off,” he added.
As a truly West African event, OWA promotes opportunities in the West African marketplace with numerous recent discoveries heightening the need for new intelligence, technology and investment. Offshore West Africa is well versed in providing highly specialised, market leading and thought provoking information, and we will continue this trend in 2015.
Highlights of the 2015 include a three-day Exhibition comprising of both prominent local and international organisations, displaying their latest products, services, technologies and industry innovations. Alongside the Exhibition is an impressive Conference program, beginning with the Opening Plenary Session on January 20 at 10am, including addresses from Managing Director/Chief Executive, Total Upstream Nigeria, Mrs. Elizabeth Proust; Group Managing Director,NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Honourable and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama. The keynote address on Wednesday will be delivered by the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria, Mr. George Osahon.
PennWell Corporation as expressed its delight to return to Nigeria once more for the 19th edition of Offshore West Africa and especially with the decision to host the event in Lagos
– This Day