If Nigeria could retain between 60 to 70 per cent of the oil and gas value chain in the country, the nation stood a better chance of emerging as a top 20 economy in the world, Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr Wole Ogunsanya, has said.
Ogunsanya expressed concerns that Nigeria is currently losing a lot due to its inability to produce up to its oil production capacity.
He pointed out that the country is underproducing to the tune of at least 500,000 barrels per day, which he said was a huge loss to the country.
He explained, “Essentially, if Nigerian organisations are involved in taking that oil out, taking it to a refinery owned by Nigerians and refining it. If we have petrochemicals refining the gas and the product, we are taking that gas, we are processing it in power plants, we run pipelines to connect all those power plants, this country will be top 20 economies in the world.
“And we believe very strongly that there is no better prescription of Nigeria’s economic solution more than that.
“In order to retain those value in-country at every stage of oil and gas process, Wole said a lot of gaps needed to be filled through government policy initiatives and collaboration with industry stakeholders.”
He expressed his association’s resolve in supporting the efforts of the Bola Tinubu-led administration toward increasing Nigeria’s oil and gas production for maximum value when the representatives of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) led by its Chairman, Mr. Ugo Amadi paid a courtesy and familiarisation visit in Lagos.
The PETAN chairman also assured NAEC of its commitment to consolidating the long-standing relationship existing between the two bodies.
He said the vision and intention of PETAN was to support the authorities to ensure that all the values existing in the oil industry stay in Nigeria.
Reiterating PETAN’s commitment to support the retention of those values, he acknowledged the Presidency’s high interest in increasing production.
He pointed out that the presidency had given the directives and had formulated a lot of gazettes, stating that PETAN aligned with those initiatives.
He said, “Our intention is to support this government, to support this country to increase production of oil and gas. I presented this vision to the whole house of PETAN exactly a week ago and the vision is very clear. PETAN wants to support Nigeria through innovative means to increase the production of oil and gas in this country.
“That is the mandate that the president has given. PETAN is going to come with very innovative ideas on how this is going to be achieved and even a low-cost approach that is being used in other countries. If you go to Indonesia where some of us have relationships, this is what they are doing. They are looking inwards on how to maximize returns from the resources that they have.”
Owing to the technical know-how of the members and the unique position of the association, the PETAN boss said they are working with the government to create value for the country.
He said the group’s commitment and response to the president’s mandate of increasing production was for them to be prepared to deploy all their assets at various locations in the Niger Delta to actualise that mandate.
He acknowledged the challenges facing the industry in Nigeria including funding, logistics and others.
He stressed the imperative of collaboration and partnership between PETAN and other critical stakeholders.
Ogunsanya maintained that his association cannot make progress with some of its plans without collaborating with either energy correspondents.
He added, “We cannot do without you. Our message cannot resonate and cannot get across without your partnership with us. So, let me assure you that what has happened in the past due to the circumstances of COVID that could have allowed some things to be put on hold will not happen again.”