Business
Oil Reserve: Minister Forecasts 40bn Barrels By 2020
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, says the nation’s oil reserve could grow to 40 billion barrels by 2020 with daily production capacity of four million barrels.
Alison-Madueke, represented by Mr Andy Yakubu, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said this on Monday at a three-day annual conference and exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Lagos.
Alison-Madueke, highlighting the strategies to be implemented to achieve growth in the nation’s economy, said that the Nigerian deep and shallow waters have the capacity to increase the productivity level.
She said that this could generate additional one million barrel per day within the next few years.
Alison-Madueke said that it would also contribute to the global supply of oil and gas, if it could be achieved before year 2020.
“The future of Oil and Gas: Right Balance with Sustainable Stakeholders Participation”.
The minister said that the aggressive reform embarked upon by the Federal Government would reposition the oil and gas industry.
She said, “Critically, the current Nigerian crude oil reserve is over 36 billion barrels and a production capacity of about 2.5 million per day.”
The minister said that these had made Nigeria the high supplier of crude oil, adding that the opportunity should be used to increase the country’s production capacity.
Alison-Madueke said that if the oil and gas sector was further exploited, “it shall provide the much needed increase in revenue, employment generation for our youths and further increase in the growth of other sectors of the Nigerian economy”.
She commended the efforts of the society toward addressing some issues that were very crucial to the industry.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.