Total Group is poised to gladly carry out exploration activities in Nigeria’s prolific oil fields in if the federal government grants the licence

TOTAL Group, a key player in the oil and gas industry, has resolved to invest in new oil fields in Nigeria if granted fresh license by the federal government.

Patrick Pouyanne, chairman of Total, also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the long term development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and the improvement of the lives of Nigerians through the provision of clean and affordable energy.

He stated this when he visited Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s vice president, on Tuesday, April 30, in Abuja, during which he congratulated him and the president on their recent victory at the polls.

Reviewing TOTAL’s 60-year sojourn in Nigeria, Pouyanne expressed delight at the recent launch of the Egina field, which at its peak will add 200,000 barrels of oil per day to Nigeria’s production.

“Nigeria is important to the TOTAL Group as the country now represents about 10 per cent of the group’s global production. Nigeria has a lot of prolific oil fields and TOTAL would gladly carry out exploration activities if the government grants the licence”.

Pouyanne identified solar technology as “a cheap way to provide electricity”, and expressed the company’s readiness to work with Nigeria in the area of renewable energy especially solar to address the country’s electricity needs.

According to him, after Egina, Total is launching two other projects-Ikike and Prowei.

He also said that “Total is actively involved in the expansion of NLNG capacity through the Train 7+ project for which a Final Investment Decision is planned in 2019. Total has done a lot in Nigeria and is ready to do more.”

Responding, Osinbajo thanked Total for its demonstrated commitment to the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. He was particularly delighted at Total’s Nigerian content feat in the Egina FPSO, and implored  the company and its other partners to quickly bring the NLNG Train 7 into operation.

“The supply of gas to the domestic market is important to government. We are pleased with Total for its initiatives in the area of renewable energy and would want Total to take some pioneering steps to help meet the energy needs of the teeming population. Nigeria considers Total a strategic partner. We would like the relationship to continue.”

Earlier, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, lauded Total for Egina, which he said “renewed hope in the oil and gas industry” and promised to work with the office of the vice president to address concerns regarding exploration.

He implored Total to “explore the need for siting a refinery in Nigeria as a way of consolidating its foothold on the downstream sector where it is a dominant player.  – With reports from Orient 

– May. 1, 2019 @ 01:55 GMT |