Oil & Gas: Delta Govt Set To Host Investors At National Council On Hydrocarbons In Asaba

By Onomiguren Agbamu

Delta State Government is set to host the 8th National Council on Hydrocarbons (NCH) in Asaba, demonstrating its rising profile as a destination for investors in the industry.

The 8th NCH is expected to focus on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. Peter Uviejitobor disclosed this during a meeting with critical stakeholders, notably the Director-General of Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA), Hon. Emeka Elekeokuri and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in his office in Asaba.

Uviejitobor stated that the NCH will review, strengthen and initiate robust policies for the oil and gas sector to boost oil production in the country.

He noted that playing host would afford the state government the opportunity to bring the numerous challenges affecting the industry to the attention of policy makers.

He highlighted some of the identified lapses as implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), loss of oil wells and accrued revenue and the need to address boundary re-delineation, oil theft and assets surveillance dynamics, among others.

The Commissioner said it would offer oil producing states the opportunity to highlight achievements and challenges in the oil and gas sector as well as enable the realisation of their hydrocarbon potentials.

The NCH is the highest decision/advisory body in the oil and gas sector in the country with membership drawn from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, oil producing states through their relevant MDAs, host communities, among other relevant stakeholders.