The Minister disclosed this during the on-going mid-term report on the progress and achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, otherwise known as Ministerial platform at the National Press Centre, Radio House, today.
According to the Minister, the key accomplishments of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the period, covered by the report include inter-alia, increased exploration, sustained crude oil production, increased upstream domestic gas supply.
Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke further remarked that other accomplishments of the Ministry include gas commercialisation, repair and upgrade of midstream oil facilities, ensured stable supply of petroleum products, effective and efficient administration of subsidies and increased domestic refining.
Allied to this, she explained that in the area of local capacity and job creation, the Ministry made impact by enhancing indigenous local investment in infrastructure and that upgraded training facilities represents another element in the Ministry’s score card in the period covered by the report and that leveraging gas as feedstock to key industries will culminate in job creation as maintained by President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the Minister, in a bid to move the oil and gas sector to the next level which connotes the strategic objective of the Ministry, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the interim will pay attention to the growth of Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) divestment and transference of Government equity to Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
She also predicted the growth scenario of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company to 250,000 barrel per day [bpd} by 2015.
The Minister further stated that recognizing the potential for tremendous economic growth inherent in the nation’s vast natural gas resources, President Goodluck Jonathan outlined a three point mandate for natural gas which include boost in gas supply to the power sector, stimulation of gas based industrialization around fertilizer, petrochemicals, methanol, effectively leveraging gas as feedstock to key industry.
The other is selective investment in high value regional pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports opportunities to boost revenues from gas sales.
She added that efforts are been made to deliver gas for at least threefold increase in generation capacity by 2015,create regional hub for gas based industries, transform gas sector to value adding sector and consolidate Nigeria position and market share in high value export markets.
The Ministerial platform that started on Monday, 3rd June, 2013 is still ongoing and a lot of Nigerians are of the view that it is a veritable platform for galvanizing mutual understanding between the government and the media on one hand and the populace on the other.
Many attendees are convinced that the ministerial platform is a worthwhile national media event that should be sustained.
No comments:
Post a Comment