By Munachimso Obienyi
The Federal Government through the Ministry of State for Petroleum Resources, has called on local and international oil companies to join hands to tackle energy poverty in the country.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, stated this at the commencement of operation of the TotalEnergies’ Ikike Oil Field, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday.
Whilst noting that collaboration with the private sector will help Nigeria meet the growing energy needs of the populace, Sylva called on local and international oil companies to join hands with the Federal Government to tackle energy poverty in the country.
“We want to encourage other operators be it indigenous oil companies or international oil companies to emulate TotalEnergies in partnering with Nigeria to achieving a just energy transition and liberate us from energy poverty”, He said.
Sylva who was represented by his Senior Adviser on Media & Communications, Horatius Egua, vowed that the Ministry is doing all it can to increase crude oil production to 3million barrels per day (mbd/d).
According to him, the 50,000bpd from Total Energy will contribute to the attainment of the target.
He said, “The major mandate of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is to increase crude oil production to 3 million bpd from its meager 1.2 million bpd stressing that the 50,000 bpd from TotalEnergies Ikike Oil Field will no doubt contribute significantly to achieving this mandate.”
