BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The President/CEO of TotalEnergies worldwide, Mr. Patrick Pouyanne, has announced that the company has registered for the 2024 Oil Licensing Round to expand operations.
Mr. Pouyanne also expressed his company’s interest in exploring additional areas for investment, and promised to commit billions of U.S dollars investments in the oil and gas sector.
The TotalEnergies CEO made this pledge during his visit to the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, at the Commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
A statement from the NUPRC further showed that key issues surrounding divestment, investment, and regulatory consent, addressing ongoing initiatives related to the Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture (SPDC JV) deal which covered the deal’s current status and its potential implications for future investment opportunities in Nigeria’s Upstream petroleum sector were discussed.
The TotalEnergies participation for the current bid round, signals its commitment to exploring new opportunities and gaining insight into the NUPRC’s perspective on the process. These include the Commission’s approach to contract types and the necessity of partnerships within the bidding framework.
Other areas of interest for TotalEnergies also included Nigeria’s domestic crude oil supply obligations, with the aim of strengthening operational efficiencies and aligning with mutual objectives between the company and NUPRC.
Mr. Pouyanne also noted his company’s interest in the regulatory aspects of decommissioning and abandonment, crucial components as Nigeria seeks to modernize its Upstream Petroleum landscape.
The TotalEnergies CEO commending NUPRC for restoration of investors’ confidence in the Nigerian Upstream Sector.
Responding, the Commission Chief Executive Engr. Komolafe highlighted the NUPRC’s commitment to fostering a favorable business environment.
He emphasized that as an enabler of business under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the NUPRC is developing new regulations designed to streamline operations, encourage foreign investments, and simplify business processes in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
