NNPC denies political reasons, cites boosting of reserves for oil search in the North
Contrary to popular understanding that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is restlessly searching for oil in the north for political reasons when there lots of wells yet to be developed in parts of South East and even Niger Delta, the Corporation has claimed that the need to boost the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves remained the primary reason for the endless exploration activities.
It would be recalled that there are several identified oil wells in both Anambra (Nsugbe axis) and Ebonyi (Edda axis) that are known to NNPC for decades, but it has not given any indication of beginning their exploration, rather it has continued to waste billions of hard currency to search for what may not be in commercial quantity after all.
However, the unexplainable irony according to observers remains what could be the real reason for spending scare resources searching for what is in commercial quantity in other regions if there is no political undertone to the exploration?
However, in his presentation during a recent conferment on him with honorary fellowship of the Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS), the GMD of NNPC averred that “The Corporation was ready to work with the association to reinvigorate efforts towards growing the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves, said the search is targeted at boosting proven reserves”.
“Our search is primarily targeted at increasing the hydrocarbon reserves of the country and also to harness these resources which may be in other parts of the country.
“NNPC pledges to continue to work with you and every willing partner in the search for more hydrocarbon deposits in the country,” Baru noted.
He expressed regrets over the kidnap, release and death of some University of Maiduguri staff, who were working on the Chad basin exploration as well as the loss of one of the corporation’s staff working on the Benue Trough exploration.
He revealed further that the corporation planned to drill four wells in areas that it has acquired 1, 961kmsq 3D seismic data out of 3,550kmsq planned in the Chad Basin.
