News Nigeria: 🇳🇬
Nigeria’s former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, lauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for its transformation into a professionally managed entity, likening its operations to those of efficient private sector organizations.
Addressing a meeting of executives from his company, Geometric Power Ltd, alongside KSE engineers and Turkish investment partners at the Geometric Power headquarters in Aba, Abia State, Professor Nnaji commended the newfound professionalism exhibited by the leadership of NNPCL since its rebranding in July 2022.
Expressing surprise at the efficiency displayed by NNPCL, Professor Nnaji stated, “All of us are today astonished at the professionalism exhibited by the new NNPCL leaders.”
Geometric Power Ltd (GPL), under Nnaji’s leadership, is set to receive natural gas supplies from Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area in Abia to fuel its 188Megawatt power plant in the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba, facilitated through a joint venture between NNPCL and Heirs Holding Company over the operation of the Oil Mining Licence (OML) 17 oil field.
Highlighting the departure from the traditional image of state-owned enterprises in Nigeria known for inefficiency, Professor Nnaji emphasized, “The new NNPCL is not working like a state-owned enterprise noted in Nigeria for ineffectiveness and inefficiency, but rather like professionals from Shell, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, and the rest.”
OMNL 17, previously operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), transitioned to NNPCL’s oversight three years ago as part of efforts to enhance local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, following the government’s decision not to renew SPDC’s license.
Ogbonna Chukwueke, a former Shell executive and gas expert, shed light on the challenges faced during the transition period, emphasizing the need to upgrade associated gas gathering (AGG) infrastructure to ensure quality gas supply to Geometric Power plant in Aba.
Despite the imminent completion of the Aba Power project, technical commissioning awaits perfection of work standards, a testament to NNPCL’s commitment to excellence.
While sources close to both NNPCL and Geometric Power confirmed the forthcoming commissioning of Aba Power next month, they requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Professor Nnaji expressed optimism about NNPCL’s future trajectory, drawing parallels with successful state-owned enterprises like Petrobras of Brazil and Petronas of Malaysia, citing the diligence and professionalism of NNPCL personnel at OMNL 17.
In response to Professor Nnaji’s remarks, Mehmet Okay, a member of the KSE team from Turkey, highlighted the recommendation by General Electric of the United States to partner with Geometric Power, underscoring confidence in Nnaji and his team. He said “We are from Turkey, a fast developing country, so we understand the challenges Nigeria is facing now.
“We were recommended to partner with Geometric Power by General Electric of the United States, the world’s biggest electricity equipment manufacturing company because of its implicit confidence in Nnaji and his team”. Gmtnewsng.com
