Minister of Sate Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to transiting to cleaner energy.
The Minister made the reaffirmation on day-3 of the 6th National Council on Hydrocarbons, with theme: “Unlocking the Potentials and Prospects of Nigerian Oil and Gas (Energy) Industry through Efficient Implementation of PIA, 2021”, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday.
“The passage and signing into Law of the PIA, 2021 had dawned a new era for the petroleum industry in Nigeria for the petroleum industry in Nigeria”
Sylva who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo said, “in addition to producing liquid hydrocarbons, we are using our abundant gas resources as a bridge between the fossil of today and the renewable energy of tomorrow”.
Sylva noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would remain the vehicle through which value will be unlocked into the nation’s economy adding that then the Implementation Steering Committee which is chaired by Sylva would ensure that government adds value to the oil and gas sector in the direction of profitability.
Acknowledging the rising cost of domestic gas, which has become unaffordable to many households, the Minister, said Nigeria must find a way out to address the issues with a view to ameliorating the hardship of the masses.
In his closing remarks, Governor of Rivers State Mr Nyesom Wike who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources Dr. Peter Medee, thanked the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for hosting the event in the state.
He stated the successful hosting of the event in the state attests to the fact that Rivers State was safe business and tourism.
In an earlier welcome address Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources Dr Sani-Gwarzo, commended the efforts of the experts and other stakeholders who critically examined and discussed the memoranda submitted to the Technical Session and noted that there could not have been a better team to examine the theme of the 6th edition of the Council.
Sani-Gwarzo, who was represented at the event by the Director, Human Resources Management of the Ministry, Dr. Famous Eseduwo, stated that, the passage and signing into Law of the PIA, 2021 had dawned a new era for the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
Those who sent goodwill messages at the event were the Niger State Government represented by the State’s Commissioner for Minies and Mineral Resources. Mr. Daniel Sunday Kolo, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), representative of Traditional Rulers in Rivers State, representative of International Oil Companies (IOCs), representative of the Host Communities, and the Rivers State Chapter of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria.
At the end of deliberations at the 6th National Council on Hydrocarbons, a total of thirty-eight (38) papers were presented, considered and thoroughly examined by the Technical Session of Council.
From the figure, twenty-seven (27) were presented to Council, five (5) were marged due to similarities, another five (5) were recommended for further consultations and administrative process, while one (1) was recommended for review and representation at the next Council.
The highlight of the conference was the adoption of a communique.
SOURCE: thebridgenewsng.com