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Total, Egi MoU And Prospects Of Dev

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Egi Clan in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State is a major host community to multinational oil giant, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG).
The corporate partners had over the years operated on a well defined policy thrust, driven by Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a community engagement model in which the basis of their corporate relationship is made explicit.
The implementation of previous MoUs in Egi clan to a large extent impacted positively on the lives of the people through a thriving rural economy in which the people were major determinant of their economic development.
There was relative peace and a strong communal bond that made Egi a centre of social and economic attraction.
Events in the area however assumed a dangerous twist, following the inundation of the entire Egi clan by a growing spree of insecurity resulting to the shattering of the fledgling economic activities in the area.
Homes were deserted and the corporate partnership between Total and Egi stakeholders was threatened. These ugly trends made the downward review of previous MoUs in the area inevitable.
However, the return of peace to Egi clan and ONELGA in general through the concerted effort and instrumentality of critical stakeholders, has again heralded vistas of hope and opportunities for the corporate partners to forge ahead.
A major breakthrough in this direction was the recent signing of a renegotiated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG) Egi Clan, Oil and Gas at the Corporate Headquarters of Total in Port Harcourt.
The well attended event was a platform for the stakeholders to rekindle faith with the MoU process. Managing Director of NEPNG, Nicolas Terraz expressed hope that the new MoU as a product of mutually acceptable agreements will form the basis of the company’s relationship with the beneficiary communities for the next five years.
The MD thanked all stakeholders, especially the negotiators for “their sacrifices, understanding and incisive contributions which culminated in the agreement.”
He pointed out that the content and depth of the new MoU are quite far reaching especially in its provisions for infrastructural and human capital development, but expressed deep concern on the implementation and management of the MoU process.
While assuring that TEPNG will not hesitate to disburse the needed funds to drive the MoU process, the MD drew attention to critical issues in the implementation process. He said, “basic principles of sustainability need to be integrated sufficiently into community development project choices, while project nominations and development should be to address identified needs and not contract driven.”
The MD also expressed concern over the management of the scholarship scheme, especially the skills acquisition trainings, which he noted were yet to “bring out established entrepreneurs from its horde of beneficiaries.”
Terraz stressed the need for strict compliance among the MoU stakeholders to the companies compliance regime which is in line with the current global anti-bribery and compliance policy.
The Monarch of Egi clan (Eze Egi) MRM, King (Prof.) Anele U. Wokoma who received the signed MoUs on behalf of the Egi stakeholders, expressed joy over the successful signing of the new MoU.
The Egi Monarch emphasised the need for sustainable peace in Egi land, stating that the rigorous endeavours of the negotiators of the new MoU would amount to an exercise in futility without peace in the area.
As the custodian of the culture of the people and a natural ruler, he said the interest of Egi was paramount in his development objectives and called on all stakeholders in the area to support the peace process.
The Eze Egi also urged the management of TEPNG to be faithful and committed in the disbursement of fund for the implementation of the MoU process and the overall development of Egi land.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, ONELGA, Barr Osi Olisah thanked Egi stakeholders for the return of peace in the area, and called for vigilance against anti-peace forces.
The ONELGA Council boss also tasked the management of Total on the development of Egi clan, stating that the company should; “think globally and act locally.” According to the C.T.C. chairman, the company’s community development policy in Egi can only make more meaningful impact in Egi through the domestication of international best practices in its operational policies.
A major negotiator in the MoU process, Prof. Cheta Williams, who spoke with The Tide in an interview shortly after the signing of the new MoU, said the new agreements took care of the shortcomings of previous MoUs.
He said proper consultations were conducted among all concerned stakeholders to address all contentious issue.
The leadership of the Egi People Assembly (EPA) and the Oil and Gas landlords were also represented at the event.
In his remark, President General of Egi People Assembly, Apostle Magnus Elemele said the new MoU would bring lasting peace and development in the area, as the interest of all the stakeholders are taken care of. He said modalities would be put in place to ensure the smooth implementation of the MoU process.
However, a major concern of the Egi people was the retention of the employment clause in the new MoU.
But against the backdrop of a recessed economic environment, the TEPNG MD said, “the scenario doesn’t look good to support a robust pursuit for a marked employment quota at present, but effort will be made to clear out all outstanding employment commitment contained in the previous agreement while looking into the future with hope of improvement in the company’s operations.”
A cross section of the participants at the MoU signing who spoke with our correspondent, expressed conviction over the prospect of economic development in Egi land through the tenants of the new corporate agreement.
But they also expressed reservation over the need for sincerity of purpose, transparency and accountability in the implementation process. They urged the newly inaugurated implementation committee for the MoU to be guided by the virtue of transparency and due process in the discharge of the duties.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a community engagement model has been used by multinationals and other corporate organisations in host community relations, but the implementation of such MoU has equally been prone to contentions among the partners.
The negotiated TEPNG/Egi MoU is therefore another platform for the corporate partners to improve on the shortcomings of the past and consolidate on the gains of the future.

Taneh Beemene

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FG Inaugurates National Energy Master Plan Implementation Committee

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The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Energy Master Plan Implementation Committee (NEMiC), in a major step towards repositioning Nigeria’s energy sector.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, disclosed this in a Statement issued by the minister’s Senior Special Adviser, Robert Ngwu, in Abuja, at the Weekend.
According to the statement, the inauguration which marked the beginning of the full implementation phase of the National Energy Master Plan (NEMP), tasked the committee with the responsibility of spearheading the country’s transition to a cleaner, more inclusive and sustainable energy future.
Nnaji urged the committee to deliver real impact to households, industries, and communities nationwide.
“The National Energy Master plan is not just a document; it is a blueprint for transforming our energy landscape. NEMiC must fast-track the deployment of energy solutions that are reliable, affordable, and climate-friendly.
“The work you do will directly influence Nigeria’s economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability,” the minister said.
Nnaji expressed optimism that the committee would deliver on the assignment.
“The decisions and actions taken by this Committee will define Nigeria’s energy trajectory for decades to come.
“This is a responsibility of the highest order, and I am confident NEMiC has the capacity, the vision, and the commitment to rise to the occasion,” he said.
It would be noted that NEMP is a comprehensive framework designed to guide Nigeria’s energy diversification, strengthen energy security and align national development with global climate action goals.
Constituted on Oct. 17, 2024, by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), NEMiC is tasked with mobilising funding and investing in renewable energy infrastructure.
It also has the responsibility of accelerating the deployment of technologies that expand access to reliable and affordable power.
The committee would oversee projects across solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and other emerging technologies while also advancing the operationalisation of the National Energy Fund, meant to channel resources into domestic energy efficiency and infrastructure projects.
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How Solar Canals Could Revolutionize the Water-Energy-Food Nexus

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Globally, demand for food, water, and energy is sharply on the rise. The World Economic Forum says that by 2050, food demand could increase by over 50%, energy by up to 19% and water by up to 30%. The increasing scarcity of these resources – and potential solutions to their sustainable management – are deeply interconnected, calling for integrated solutions.
“Disruption in one amplifies vulnerabilities and trade-offs in others,” wrote the World Economic Forum in a July report. “Such disruptions also create opportunities for sustainable growth, enhanced resilience and more equity.” The idea of synergistic nexus solutions is starting to pick up steam in both public and private sectors.
A new project in California, aptly named Project Nexus, aims to do just that. The novel project seeks to find synergies for water management and renewable energy production in some of the nation’s sunniest and most water-stressed agricultural lands by covering miles and miles of irrigation canals with solar panels, yielding multiple benefits for the water-energy-food nexus.
While the panels generate clean energy, they also shade the canals from the harsh desert sun, mitigating water loss to evaporation and discouraging the growth of aquatic weeds that can choke the waterways. Plus, the presence of the water acts as a built-in cooling system for the solar panels. The $20 million state-funded initiative could produce up to 1.6 megawatts of renewable energy “while producing a host of other benefits,” according to a report from SFGATE.
In addition to these benefits, placing solar panels on top of existing agricultural infrastructure could offer key benefits compared to standard solar farms. They are more easily and quickly greenlit, as they don’t face the same land-use conflicts that utility-scale solar farms are facing across the nation. Plus, “placing solar panels atop existing infrastructure doesn’t require altering the landscape, and the relatively small installations can be plugged into nearby distribution lines, avoiding the cumbersome process of connecting to the higher-voltage wires required for bigger undertakings,” reports Canary Media.
The result of Project Nexus and similar models appears to be a win-win for water, energy, and food, all while using less land. “The challenges of climate change are going to really force us to do more with a lot less … so this is just an example of the type of infrastructure that can make us more resilient,” says project scientist Brandi McKuin. While Project Nexus isn’t releasing figures on the project’s performance until they have a full year’s worth of data, McKuin says current analysis shows that the project is on track to meet its projected outputs.
Project Nexus is not the first project to place solar panels over canals, but it’s still among just a handful of such projects in the world. The United States’ first and only other solar canal project came online late last year in Arizona, where the project produces energy for the Pima and Maricopa tribes, collectively known as the Gila River Indian Community. While many large-scale renewable energy projects have run up against land-use issues with tribal lands, the Arizona project shows that the canal model can be an excellent alternative solution.
“Why disturb land that has sacred value when we could just put the solar panels over a canal and generate more efficient power?” David DeJong, director of the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project, was quoted by Grist. In keeping with the spirit of water-energy nexus solutions, the Project is currently developing a water delivery system for the water-stressed Gila River Indian Community.
Of course, these pilot projects produce a whole lot less energy than utility-scale solar farms. But research suggests that if the solar canal idea is scaled across the United States’ 8,000 miles of federally owned canals and aqueducts, it could have a significant impact. In 2023, a coalition of environmental groups calculated that installing panels on all that existing federal infrastructure could generate over 25 gigawatts of energy and potentially avoid tens of billions of gallons of water evaporation at the same time.
By Haley Zaremba
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Oil & Energy

Dangote Refinery Resumes Gantry Self-Collection Sales, Tuesday

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has announced that it will resume self-collection gantry sales of petroleum products at its facility beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, September 23, 2025.

This is revealed in an email communication from the Group Commercial Operations Department of the company, and obtained by Newsmen, at the Weekend.

The decision marks a reversal of a directive issued earlier, which had suspended self-collection and compelled marketers to rely exclusively on the refinery’s Free Delivery Scheme.

The company explained that while gantry access is being reinstated, the free delivery service remains operational, with marketers encouraged to continue registering their outlets for direct supply at no additional cost.

The statement said “in reference to the earlier email communication on the suspension of the PMS self-collection gantry sales, please note that we will be resuming the self-collection gantry sales on the 23rd of September, 2025”.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery also apologised to its partners for any inconvenience the suspension may have caused, while assuring stakeholders of its commitment to improving efficiency and ensuring seamless supply.

“Meanwhile, please be informed that we are aggressively delivering on the free delivery scheme, and it is still open for registration. We encourage you to register your stations and pay for the product to be delivered directly to you for free. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding,” it added.

It would be recalled that in September 18, 2025, Dangote refinery had suspended gantry-based self-collection of petroleum products at its depot. The move was designed to accelerate the adoption of its Free Delivery Scheme, which guarantees direct shipments of petroleum products to registered retail outlets across Nigeria.

 The company had also explained that the suspension would help curb transactions with unregistered marketers, either directly at its depot or indirectly through other licensed dealers.

The refinery stressed that the earlier decision was an operational adjustment aimed at streamlining efficiency in the downstream supply chain.

It further warned that any payments made after the effective suspension date would be rejected.
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