Ebun Francis
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed on Wednesday that crude oil production in the country had risen to two million barrels per day.
The Minister made the disclosure at a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to defend the 2017 budget estimates of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Kachikwu explained that ongoing repairs on oil facilities and the ongoing engagements between the Federal Government and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region were yielding results.
The minister, also informed the committee that repair works on the Forcados oil terminal which was destroyed by militant attacks were nearing completion and that in a matter of weeks, the facility could be reopened, a development the minister said would further shoot up oil production to 2.2 million bpd.
“In some weeks, we will be able to progress to 2.2 million bpd, which is the target of the (2017) budget,” Kachikwu said.
Dr Kachikwu also threw more light on the government’s plan to repair or replace ageing distribution lines and platforms to improve delivery of products and the proposal to build modular refineries in the Niger Delta to address the problem of illegal refineries.
According to him, “We are looking at 2,000 to 5,000 barrels per day to suck in individuals who engage in illegal refining of products.”