NNPC Seeks $48m Energy Investments

Nigeria sees itself securing oil and gas investments worth $48 billion between 2018 and 2025, which is 25 per cent of a $194 billion surge of capital anticipated to flow into Africa during the eight-year period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday.

“The nation’s energy outlook appears very positive even amidst the difficult operating and economic headwinds across the continent,” outgoing Group Managing Director, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, said at an oil and gas conference in Abuja “For Nigeria, therefore, oil and gas remain essential building blocks for our economic growth,” he added.

Crude output for Africa’s largest producer is currently in the region of 2.2 million to 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd), with reserves at 37.5 billion barrels, the second-biggest in Africa after Libya’s, according to Baru. Nigeria also has the ninth largest gas reserves at 201 trillion cubic feet and an estimated potential of 600 trillion cubic feet, he said.

These resources provide opportunities for investors and the government is determined to create the environment that will help drive the necessary investments in a sustainable manner, Baru said.

He said: “The recent fiscal challenge experienced by the nation places a burden for change. Hence, we have undertaken to broaden the base of investment sources.”

Baru, who will officially retire from the corporation on July 7, will be succeeded by Mele Kyari, the former Head, Crude Marketing Division of NNPC.