Buhari Seeks Crude Oil Supply From Niger Republic

SAN FRANCISCO, November 25, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is exploring the possibilities of piping crude oil from Niger Republic for refining in Kaduna, NNPC Group Managing Director, GMD, Maikanti Baru, said on Friday .

Baru who visited the Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari was personally committed to the project adding that it was important to explore alternative crude supply to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, which has been affected by vandalism of pipelines and age.

“Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery has been epileptic,” he said.

“This we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of a pipelines of over 1, 000 kilometres from Agadem to Kaduna.

“That efforts is being championed by Mr. President himself.

“We have already started engagements with the Nigerien Minister of Petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem.”

Baru also pledged to sustain efforts at enhancing energy supply to power industries in Kaduna through the development of Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, as well as development of power plants in Kaduna and Abuja.

“These projects will be given special attention during my tenure,” he said.

The GMD disclosed that the College of Petroleum Resources in Kaduna would start operation on January 1, 2017 , and thanked the state government for undertaking to construct internal roads in the school.

He urged the governor to sensitise residents of Kaduna against sabotage of the nation's oil assets due to its adverse effect on the community, environment and national economy.

Story by Oputah David