Namibian Minister Seeks Collaboration with Nigeria on Oil and Gas Development: Key Points and Additional Details
A high-level meeting between Namibia and Nigeria took place on the sidelines of the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja.
Key Points:
- Namibian Delegation: Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon. Tom Alweendo, and Petroleum Commissioner, Mrs. Maggy Shino.
- Nigerian Counterpart: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
- Meeting Facilitator: Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).
- Purpose: Namibia seeks to learn from Nigeria’s experience in developing its oil and gas sector and explore collaboration opportunities.
- Areas of Interest:
- Responsible development of Namibia’s budding oil and gas reserves.
- Capacity building for Namibia’s oil and gas industry.
- Implementing local content requirements to benefit Namibians.
- Nigerian Support:
- Sharing knowledge, skills, and expertise.
- Facilitating visits and partnerships relevant to Namibia’s needs.
- Offering insights from Nigeria’s journey, including both successes and mistakes.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil)
- Emphasis by Senator Lokpobiri:
- Importance of early commitments with partners for offshore exploration.
- Thoroughly negotiated joint venture agreements and production sharing contracts.
- Utilizing technology to monitor and capture every barrel of oil produced.
- Value of local content development, citing Nigeria’s Local Content Act as an example.
- Additional Details:
- Senator Lokpobiri highlighted the importance of in-country refining for maximizing value addition within Namibia.
- He emphasized the need for African oil producers to prioritize their own markets over exporting solely.
- The meeting concluded with a gift exchange and photo session, signifying potential future collaboration.
Overall, the meeting signifies a significant step towards closer collaboration between Namibia and Nigeria in developing their respective oil and gas sectors, potentially leading to mutually beneficial outcomes for both nations.
