Energy

Credit: Tell Magazine By Ali Elias Nigeria’s downstream sector has received a major boost with the launch of Gasoline Associates International Limited’s (GAIL) flagship refinery in Ipokia, Ogun State — now the second-largest in the country after the giant Dangote Refinery.According to Tell Magazine, the Ipokia refinery begins operations with a daily capacity of 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), with bold expansion plans to scale up to 450,000 bpd in the near future. This growth trajectory promises a substantial increase in local production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Jet Fuel (ATK), and petrochemical derivatives.Located near the Benin Republic border, the refinery is poised to transform Ogun State into an industrial and energy...

Photo courtesy: Realnews By Ali Elias The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed recent speculation suggesting a halt in operations, assuring Nigerians and market stakeholders that its production remains uninterrupted and stable.In an official statement signed by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery described the reports as “false and misleading,” insisting that truck loading and production activities continue without disruption.“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is fully operational. There has been no shutdown, nor has there been any suspension of truck loading activities,” the statement read.The management clarified that the intermittent sale of Residual Catalytic Oil (RCO) — which recently triggered market rumours — is a routine aspect...

By PR The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has concluded a six-month Technical and Vocational Training Programme, equipping 100 Nigerian youths with high-demand technical skills in eight critical trade areas. The close-out ceremony was held on Friday at the Raw Materials and Research Development Centre (RMRDC), Abuja.  The programme forms part of the Board’s Human Capacity Development initiatives under the Nigerian Content 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, designed to close identified indigenous manpower gaps in the oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors. Beneficiaries were drawn from the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGI...

By PR The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commended Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, Westfield Energy Resources Limited, and their manpower development facilitators, Hommaston Limited, for their dedication to human capital development (HCD), particularly, the exceptional professionalism and technical depth of their training programmes. Speaking on Tuesday at the close-out ceremony of Westfield Energy Resources Limited – SAGS CEIP Tunu Transmission Node HCD Training at Woji, Port Harcourt, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that the programme spanned different competencies and skill sets, notably, civil and structural engineering designs, electrical and instrumentation engineering designs, onshore survey, and technica...

The NEPL/Seplat Energy Joint Venture has onboarded 650 teachers and Chief Inspectors of Education (CIE) in Edo and Delta States as part of its 2025 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP). This began with a two-day workshop in Benin City, with sessions expected to mark the transformative journey of teachers upskilling and professional development, with both Edo and Delta States having 325 participants each. The 650 participants were drawn from over 4,666 applicants who took part in an online selection process. The onboarding workshop is the critical foundation phase where collaborative dynamics, programme orientation, and android tablets are seeded ahead of the four-month virtual training and mentorship programme, which leads to Microsoft certification. The Seplat JV provides th...

By Ali Elias Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, on Monday, called for a coordinated and strategic push to make Nigeria’s energy sector more attractive to global investors, even as he set aside rumours about his alleged forced resignation. Ojulari, speaking virtually at the ongoing Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, addressed energy stakeholders with a message focused on competitiveness, sustainability, and investment readiness. His appearance effectively dispelled recent online speculation that he had been pressured to resign by some government agencies.  “In a world where global capital pools are vast, the competition for the...

By Ali Elias The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has restated its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s oil and gas industry through advanced technologies, sustainable practices, and stronger supply chains. Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, made the pledge on Monday in Lagos while delivering a goodwill message at the 48th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE), themed “Building a Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Policy.” Represented by Mr. Enorense Amadasu, Komolafe said the Commission was integrating cutting-edge technologies in exploration and production, including decarbonisation strategies and emissions reduction initiatives.  “Our role goes beyond regulato...

By Els William Nigeria’s literary spotlight shone brightly in Lagos over the weekend as the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) and The Nigeria Prize for Literature hosted a vibrant book party to honour the 11 authors longlisted for the 2025 edition of the prestigious award. The event, held in partnership with the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), marked the first public appearance of the longlisted writers, selected from a record 252 entries by a three-member judging panel led by Professor Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu of Kwara State University. Professor Stephen Mbanefo Ogene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Mr. Olakunle Kasumu, host of Channels Book Club, served as co-judges. The celebration featured book readings, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, with authors participating both p...

By PR The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with Chevron Nigeria Limited and Geoscape Nigeria Limited on Wednesday held a close-out ceremony to mark the successful completion of a one-year Human Capital Development (HCD) training programme on Composite Repairs, Leak Sealing, Machining & Bolting, Managing & Working Safely and Entrepreneurship/Business Management Skill & Clarity 4D.  The programme was part of the Board’s mandate to enhance in-country human capacity in the oil and gas industry. Speaking at the ceremony which held in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, FNSE, represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile congratulated the eleven graduates...

By Ono Yima The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has given the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) a three-week deadline to respond to 19 audit queries over unaccounted transactions totalling N210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Wadada, clarified that the sum was neither “stolen” nor “missing,” but remained unaccounted for in the company’s audited financial statements as flagged by the Auditor-General of the Federation. He explained that the figure comprised N103 trillion in liabilities and N107 trillion in assets, both of which must be reconciled and explained.Appearing before the committee on Thursday, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, apologised for failing to honour earlier invitations and pleaded for more time ...