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Nigeria Will Refine 900,000 bpd This Year

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modular refineries
  • Nigeria Will Refine 900,000 bpd This Year

Barring any distortion in plans, Nigeria will be refining at least 900,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) in the next 10 years. This was the submission of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.

In an interview with reporters in Abuja, the ex minister said the country is capable of achieving the feat in view of the efforts made by the Federal Government to crude production and refining in the country.

He said the country will be producing 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Dangote Petrochemical Refineries soon, ditto getting another 250,000 bcpd from 10 modular refineries in the Niger Delta region during that period.

Kachikwu said: ”The modular refinery, which was a concept we pushed in order to engender peace in the Niger-Delta region, is currently working successfully. Three modular refineries are nearing production, while seven of the refineries are at the verge of completing their Final Investment Destinations (FDIs) plans. So, if those 10 refineries come on board in the next two to five years, they will be providing 250,000 bpd.

He added: “This, when added to the output of Dangote Petrochemical Refineries, which is expected to refine 650,000 bpd, will bring the total refining capacity of Nigeria to 900,000 bpd. I tend to look at the refineries from the perspective of the volumes they are producing, not physical assets.

The refinery, Kachikwu said, is an export earner, adding that Nigeria needs to be able to supply product to meet the needs of countries in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.

He said he made efforts to increase the country’ s crude output, by holding discussions with countries in the Gulf region on how to refine crude oil for Nigeria.

“I also made efforts to talk to the governments of countries in the Gulf Region such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China by trying to see whether they would be interested in coming in both for the purpose of building refininery plants for Greenfield and Brownfield projects and the response has been positive,” he added.

Nigeria, he said, is at the threshold of signing a Memorandum of Understsnding( MoU) with South Africa, which will cover refineries, as well as construction of pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas( NLG) investment.

On PIB, the former Petroleum Minister, said the Petroleum Industry Bill will enable more investors come into the indudtry by widening spaces for them to contribute to the growth of the nation’s energy sector.

The bill, he said, will also protect the rights of those who have been given licenses, adding that through this, a safe operating environment will be created for investors.

Raising funds, Kachikwu said, would be made easier once there is a safe environment in the Industry.

He said the right to make the country proud behoves on all Nigerians, arguing that such idea would lead to the growth of the economy.

Achieving this feat, Kachikwu argued, would not happen if the country is looking at the economic growth from short term angle, adding that it was wrong on the part of Nigerians to conclude that the Federal Government has awarded oil blocks to some individuals in the last four yearrs.

The government, he said, has not given licenses out for operators in the maginal fields, stressing that Mr President intends to sanitise the industry, before oil blocks are giving out to Nigerians, who would make good use of them.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Economy

Nigeria’s Plan to Review Oil Companies’ Gas Flaring Strategies

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Oil

Nigeria is ramping up its efforts to address environmental concerns in the oil and gas sector with a comprehensive plan to review gas flaring strategies of international and indigenous oil companies.

The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced this initiative during a national stakeholders engagement meeting on methane mitigation and reduction held in Abuja, Investors King reports.

Gas flaring, a common practice in the oil industry, releases methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and posing health risks to communities near oil facilities.

Nigeria aims to end routine gas flaring by 2030, aligning with global climate goals and commitments.

Dr. Salako explained the importance of reducing methane emissions and highlighted the detrimental effects on public health, food security, and economic development.

He outlined practical steps being taken to tackle methane emissions, including the development of methane guidelines and the engagement of government institutions.

The ministry, through the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, will conduct periodic reviews of oil companies’ plans to ensure compliance with the gas flaring deadline.

Deloitte management consultants will assist in conducting comprehensive forensic audits to scrutinize the legitimacy of forward-contracted transactions.

President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to environmental sustainability underscores the government’s dedication to addressing climate change and fulfilling its multilateral environmental agreements.

The engagement event served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss methane mitigation strategies, existing policies, and implementation challenges.

Collaboration and dialogue among diverse sectors are crucial in charting a unified course towards sustainable methane reduction in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

As the country navigates its environmental agenda, ensuring accountability and transparency in gas flaring practices remains paramount for achieving a greener and healthier future.

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Economy

Interest Rate Jumps to 24.75% as CBN Takes Aggressive Stance Against Inflation

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Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant increase in the monetary policy rate, known as the interest rate, to 24.75%.

This move disclosed by CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso during the 294th Meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee press briefing in Abuja, represents a bold step by the apex bank to address the mounting inflationary pressures faced by the country.

With inflation soaring to 31.70% in February, the CBN aims to moderate this upward trend by tightening its monetary policy stance.

This decision follows the previous hike in the interest rate to 22.75% in February, showcasing the CBN’s commitment to combatting inflationary forces.

While the bank opted to maintain the Cash Reserve Ratio at 45%, the significant increase in the interest rate underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for decisive action.

Governor Cardoso emphasized that these measures are essential to stabilize the economy and safeguard the purchasing power of the Nigerian currency.

The 294th MPC marks the second meeting under Governor Cardoso’s leadership, indicating a proactive approach to addressing economic challenges.

The next MPC meeting is scheduled for May 20th and 21st, 2024, highlighting the ongoing commitment of the CBN to navigate Nigeria’s economic landscape amidst inflationary pressures.

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Economy

Nigeria Braces for 10th Consecutive Interest Rate Hike by Central Bank

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

As Nigeria grapples with persistently high inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is gearing up to implement its tenth consecutive interest rate hike in a bid to curb the soaring prices and attract investment.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg are anticipating a substantial 125 basis-point increase in the key rate to 24%, marking one of the most significant adjustments in the current tightening cycle.

The decision, expected to be announced by Governor Olayemi Cardoso on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Abuja, comes on the heels of inflation accelerating to 31.7% in February, far surpassing the central bank’s target range of 9%.

This surge has been primarily attributed to the sharp depreciation of the naira, prompting authorities to devalue the currency twice since June to narrow the gap with the unofficial market rate and encourage investor confidence.

While these measures have seen the naira strengthen in recent days and bolstered investment inflows, including a fourfold increase in overseas remittances and significant foreign investor portfolio asset purchases, there remains a palpable need for more decisive action.

Giulia Pellegrini, a senior portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors, emphasized the necessity for the CBN to intensify its tightening efforts to regain foreign investors’ confidence in the local bond market.

While acknowledging the positive strides made by the central bank, Pellegrini stressed the importance of a more assertive approach to prevent the diversion of investor attention to other frontier markets.

As the Nigerian economy navigates through these challenging times, the impending interest rate hike signals the CBN’s determination to address inflation head-on and foster a more stable economic environment.

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