In a strategic move to exceed the OPEC-imposed oil production quotas, Nigeria, led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, is on a trajectory to outperform expectations.
The recent 36th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting projected Nigeria’s oil production quota at 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024.
However, Lokpobiri revealed in a Twitter post that Nigeria currently produces 1.5 million bpd for crude and 300,000 bpd for condensate.
Addressing concerns about Nigeria’s ability to meet these targets, Lokpobiri assured, “What we are producing is much more than what is projected in the 2024 budget estimate.”
Despite discrepancies between OPEC’s projections and Nigeria’s budget estimates, the minister expressed confidence that the country would surpass the outlined targets.
Furthermore, to fortify Nigeria’s position in the global energy landscape, Lokpobiri engaged in a pivotal meeting with Baker Hughes Chairman, Lorenzo Simonelli, on the sidelines of the ongoing 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
Baker Hughes, a global energy technology company, expressed keen interest in sustaining and enhancing its investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Simonelli emphasized the company’s commitment to contributing to Nigeria’s energy transformation agenda and collaborating on sustainable energy practices.
Lokpobiri commended Baker Hughes for its longstanding partnership with Nigeria and affirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investments in the refinery sector.
The meeting set the stage for a promising collaboration that aligns with Nigeria’s objectives and contributes to global sustainable energy goals.