Quest Oil & Engineering Services Limited, an indigenous energy provider has said that the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) will engender trust and enhance investors’ confidence towards achieving a successful transitioning of the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry.
This assertion was made by the Head, Gas & Power for Quest Oil & Engineering Services, George Amara, at the recently concluded Strategic International Annual Conference 2022 organized by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.
Speaking in one of the panel sessions on the theme: Energy Transition, Shaping the future of Nigeria’s Energy Industry, an appraisal of PIA, evolving benefits and challenges, he stated that the PIA will enhance investors’ confidence in the sector due to the possibility of recouping such funds.
He further said that the stakeholder-based inclusiveness framework and market-driven nature of the Act, provide a transparent platform for both the regulators and operators to work together, where the former acts as partners in progress. He also harped on the need for stakeholders to collaborate in order to succeed in this transitioning phase of the industry.
While supporting the call for right pricing of petroleum products, the Quest Oil & Engineering Services Limited boss opined that it is imperative for market forces to be given the right of way to encourage competition within the industry as in other climes. According to him, this will drive the growth and development of the downstream Oil and Gas sector.
Engr. Amara also emphasized the need for local refining of petroleum products in order to lower the operational/logistic costs, create employment in-country and harness the entire value chain benefits of petroleum and other related industries.
Another panelist in the session, the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, noted that in order to build lasting success in the industry, the government needs to prioritize the refineries. According to him, this has the potential of producing a multiplier effect of better pricing and ensuring the availability of products for the Nigerian people.
The NAEC Strategic Conference is an annual event that brings together leaders, captains of industry, government and policy makers as well as the media to discuss strategies that will promote better management of the industry and enhance collaboration between the government and private sector players and ultimately navigate the emerging business environment.
The year’s edition of the Conference featured a wide array of speakers including HE, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timiprye Sylva, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd. Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, Commission Chief Executive, Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe and The Managing Director of Falcon Corporation and immediate past president of Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), Mrs. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo who also doubled as the Conference Chairperson.
olusola Bello