No More Approval For Gas Projects Without Zero Flare Modalities, NNPC Says

…plans commercialisation of flare sites

As part of efforts to end gas flaring in the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said approvals would no longer be issued to new gas projects which do not have adequate zero flare modalities.

Group Managing Director of the national oil firm, Dr. Maikanti Baru stressed that the corporation would make sure that no new gas project would be approved without zero gas flare modalities.

He also disclosed that for already existing gas flare projects, the NNPC was exploring various options to commercialize the gas flare for the benefits of the host communities and country at large.

Dr Baru (right), welcoming High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi and his entourage

Dr Baru stated this on Tuesday while receiving the leadership of Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCOM) led by its National Chairman, High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

“The corporation would make sure that no new gas project would be approved without zero gas flare modalities… for already existing gas flare projects, the NNPC was exploring various options to commercialize the gas flare with a view to eliminating it,” Dr Baru said.

He commended HOSTCOM for restoring sanity to the Niger Delta region, saying the relative peace had given operators the leverage to concentrate on production for the benefit of the nationa economy.

Gas flaring

“I want to thank the Oba of Benin for midwifing HOSTCOM and the traditional rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMCON). For us as operators, we will continue to dialogue with the bodies so as to create enabling operating environment for the business and for the communities,” Dr. Baru stated.

He however, urged HOSTCOM, as a pan cultural organization, to partner with NNPC in stemming the incessant pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and illegal crude oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, adding that the elimination of those vices would reduce to the barest level, incidences of environmental pollutions.

Baru also stated that the clean-up of Ogoniland had commenced with the release of the first tranche of the funding for the project since last year while urging HOSTCOM to help ensure that the environment, water and aquatic animals of the region are not impacted negatively by illegal bunkering and breaking of petroleum products pipelines.

He pledged the commitment of Oil and Gas Operators to abide by Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOUs) entered into with the communities and noted that GMOUs should not be seen as a replacement for government interventions in communities.

Dr. Baru displaying a document received from High Chief Tamaranebi

He further pointed out to the delegation that given the global nature of oil and gas business, a hospitable operating environment is needed to encourage investors to continue to prefer Nigeria to other investment destinations in Africa.

Earlier, Chief Tamaranebi gave the assurance that HOSTCOM and TROMCON would continue to collaborate with the federal government for the common good of all.

While commending the federal government for the ongoing clean-up of Ogoniland, he said other communities with similar challenges should be cleaned up as well in the interest of the well-being of members of such communities.

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