By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), and its joint venture (JV) partner in the Awoba Unit Field, Newcross Exploration and Production Ltd., today, announced the restreaming of production at the Awoba field.
This, they said, will help the partners to optimise production and boost revenues from the nation’s hydrocarbon assets and meet Nigeria’s OPEC production quota.
A statement by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, production is expected to be ramped up to 12,000 per day (Kbpd) within 30 days, up from current average of 8Kbpd as of April 13.
NNPC also noted that the field last contributed production to the Bonny Terminal in 2021, and was finally shut down in February 2022, due to evacuation issues and crude oil theft.
It added that with the restart of the Awoba field by the JV partners, it is also expected to significantly boost gas supply to the power sector and other gas-based industries.
The company has achieved the restart of production at OMLs 29 and OML 18 in late 2023, which have steadily contributed an average of 60,000bpd to the nation’s production output since their restart.
The statement further said that the Awoba Unit, which straddles oil mining leases (OMLs) 18 and 24 is located in the mangrove swamp south of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and are both under the management of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS).
It added: “NNPC Ltd has been recording a string of production successes from the JV portfolio which have significantly lifted overall national production.
“Besides, the recent start of production at the Madu Field by the NNPC Ltd/First E&P JV, the company has achieved the restart of production at OMLs 29 and OML 18 in late 2023, which have steadily contributed an average of 60,000bpd to the nation’s production output since their restart.”
Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, was said to have ascribed the achievement to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s success in providing an enabling operating environment for businesses to thrive.
He also expressed appreciation to all stakeholders (staff, operators, host communities, government security agencies, and private security contractors) who played a pivotal role in achieving the feat.
