NEPL to onboard new oil-producing community trustees

NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited on Monday trained the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA) Board of Trustees for Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) on basic oil and gas exploration for non-professionals in Benin City, Edo State.

The training was carried out ahead of the inauguration of the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA) Board of Trustees for Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 11, 20, 26 and 28/30 units in host communities.

The participants were drawn from four OMLs 11, 20, 26 and 28/30 units in some communities in Delta, Abia and Rivers states.

Speaking during the training, Managing Partner, DAP Energy Consult, Victor Briggs, said the training, organised by NEPL, was a precursor to inaugurating the board of trustees for host communities

Briggs noted that the training was to give the board members a basic understanding of how the technical part of the oil industry works.

“The training is to put them through how the trust will impact them. And what the law expects of them in managing the trust in such a way that they will be able to attract not just the three per cent but also access additional funding from potential donor agencies.

According to Briggs, the training was just to prepare the board of trustees for OMLs 11 20 26 and 28/30 unit for the task ahead of them.

Briggs noted that the entire country had been surveyed and mapped.

He added that the mapping has helped experts in the oil industry to know where certain natural minerals for exploration were located in the country.

While speaking on the oil and gas profitability drivers, he emphasized the need for a more cordial and peaceful relationship between the operating companies and the host communities for maximum productivity.

Dr Jackson Nwaeke, a board member from OML 11, Afam field, Rivers state commended NNPC Limited/ NEPL for the training adding that it would guide the board of trustees on what was expected of them.

Nwaeke said: “We have learnt a lot from the lectures; we have been able to understand the PIA and its provisions. This training will guide us and teach us how to participate in the trust.”

He advised NEPL to immediately after inauguration commence implementation of every activity as provided in the PIA concerning the host communities.