Nigeria’s crude oil production hits record 2.4 million bpd

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that the nation’s crude oil production capacity has recorded a quantum leap in the aftermath of the amnesty programme and the return of peace in the Niger Delta area.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, who said this during a visit to the Oyibgo Gas Plant in Rivers State operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company.

Barkindo who was accompanied on the tour by the governor of River State , Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, commended the governor for the role he played in bringing about peace in the region.

According to Barkindo, “We are pleased to announce that the first time in nearly three and half years, our crude oil production yesterday (Thursday) peaked at record 2.4 million barrels per day.”

He said that for many months, the corporation had been concerned on the rising idle capacity which had reduced the nation’s crude oil production capacity to a record low of 1.7 million barrels per day as a result of the issue of insecurity in the Niger Delta.

He added, “We are here to show our will to partner with you and to sustain it even further because it is one thing to achieve this and another to sustain the momentum in the long run. We want you to see us as your natural partners in the process of going forward.

“It is not only in crude oil production export but we are also beginning to see a rise in the volume of gas either for domestic or for export destinations.”

Barkindo noted that the challenge of providing domestic gas particularly for power was paramount, adding that the government had agreed to a plan in order to have a stabilized power situation in the country before embarking on a short-medium and long term programme for both gas and power.

“However, we still have the challenges of transmitting this gas to the required power stations. So, at the moment we have a significant amount of stranded gas particularly in the eastern part of the country but the blueprint for the infrastructure is being implemented in phases particularly the pipeline network that will link the east and the west and other parts of the country at an advanced stages of implementation,” he added.