News
‘Projected Crude Oil Production Short By 283m Barrels’
Nigeria’s crude oil production when put side-by-side its expected output of 1.88million barrels per day in 2022, was short by a whopping 283million barrels, amounting to roughly $24.55billion.
This figure was arrived at when an estimated conservative price of $85 per barrel for which the commodity sold in the year under review, is multiplied by the 283million barrels deficit recorded during the period.
A further review indicated that while the 2022 budget projected a 1.88million bpd, that is about 58.28million barrels every month or an estimated 700million barrels for the entire year, only 417million barrels were drilled for the entire year.
This represented about 59.57 per cent output for the year.
But on the upside, although the National Assembly pegged the price benchmark at $57 per barrel, oil sold far more than that in 2022, even exceeding $100/barrel at some point.
The figures were released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from January to December, last year.
With its inability to drill up to 60per cent of its expected volume in 2022, the country lost roughly 40per cent of its output to oil theft and sabotage as a result of incessant shut-in of planned output for the period.
A review of the NUPRC data covering the whole of last year revealed that Nigeria only managed to drill 43.3million barrels in January, turning out to be the highest output for the year; 35.2million barrels in February; 38.3million barrels in March and 36.5million barrels in April.
It deteriorated to 31.7million barrels in May; rose marginally to 34.7million barrels in June, before falling to 33.6million barrels in July last year.
In August, Nigeria produced 30.1million barrels, against the 58.2million barrels projection; followed by September in which Nigeria’s output fell to a multi-decade low of 28.1million barrels while in October and November, the country drilled 31.4million barrels and 35.5million barrels, respectively.
Furthermore, when recovery began to set in in December last year, the country managed to drill 38.2million barrels of oil, cumulating to around 417million barrels instead of the forecast of 700million barrels for the year by the Federal Government.
However, the crude oil production figures exclude condensates which are not included in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) calculation. In 2022, OPEC’s daily production allocation averaged 1.8million bpd.
Last year witnessed one of the worst in the history of the country as it consistently failed to meet its OPEC quota.
However, with the recent concerted effort to end oil theft in the country, there has been some recovery as underscored by the December output data.
Earlier this month, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said Nigeria was working towards meeting its OPEC crude oil production quota of 1.8million bpd by the end of May 2023.
He explained that the Federal Government would continue to improve security along the tracks of the major crude oil pipelines and block every leakage through which crude oil is stolen by oil thieves and pipeline vandals.
But after months of stalling, Nigeria appears to be steadily on its way to meeting its OPEC production quota, hitting 1.235million barrels per day in December.
However, the figure differed markedly from the production of 1.59million bpd announced for the month by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) earlier and the 1.35million bpd by a Bloomberg survey.
In January 2022, out of the expected 1.88million bpd production figure, 1.39million bpd was drilled.
In February, March, April, and May 2022, respectively, oil production fell steadily to 1.25million bpd, 1.24million bpd, 1.22million bpd, and 1.02million bpd, while in June it rose marginally to 1.15million bpd, before falling to 1.08million bpd in July.
In August, the oil sector hit a deadly blow on the Nigerian economy, slumping to 972,394bpd, and further falling to 937,766bpd in September, before rising to 1.014million bpd in October.
The Nigerian government has recently taken a rash of decisions to tackle the embarrassing oil theft situation in the Niger Delta, hiring local security groups as pipelines surveillance contractors.
Among those handed the security contracts was a firm belonging to a former Niger Delta warlord, Mr Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
In addition, the NNPC has announced that it can now monitor Nigeria’s oil infrastructure in real time with its new automated platform and has inaugurated a whistle-blowers scheme which rewards persons who report the activities of suspected oil thieves to the national oil company.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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