Despite Friday’s assurance by the Federal Government that there were no irregularities in the ongoing renewal of over 42 oil licences, stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, yesterday, raised the alarm over the ongoing exercise.

Even though the Petroleum Act of 1969, as well as the Petroleum (Drilling & Production) Regulation of 1969 (as amended in 2001) authorise the Minister of Petroleum Resources to renew oil licenses once statutory payments in terms of applicable royalty, concession rentals and fees are paid, stakeholders insist that renewing the licenses without passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) remained a major setback for the country.

While reacting to reports alleging that the House of Representatives plans to investigate him and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) over alleged irregularities in the oil and gas lease renewal, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said he was favourably disposed to responding to questions should the lawmakers require clarification on the issue.

With the PIB, the experts say fiscal terms in the renewal processes would have been highly improved, while the country would negotiate from a position of strength in an atmosphere that provides confidence for investors.Indeed, some noted that the ongoing renewal could be compromised by lack of transparency, accountability and due process, which were basic barriers inherent in the extant regulations.

The Executive Director of Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Suitability (OGEES), Prof. Damilola Olawuyi; President, Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE), Prof. Wunmi Iledare; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, International Energy Services Limited; Dr. Diran Fawibe, Partner, Odujinrin and Adefulu, Adeoye Adefulu; Managing Partner, The Chancery Associates, Emeka Okwuosa; Founder and Principal Partner, Nextier, Patrick Okigbo III, all noted that the move to renew the licenses was in the right direction, but could be compromised due to lack of transparency.

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources had redirected The Guardian to DPR, when a request was made for details of the ongoing renewal.

Contacted through e-mails and series of phone calls, the Head, Public Affairs Unit (PAU) of the DPR, Paul Osu failed to provide details as at the time this report was filed. But The Guardian learnt that about 42 oil licences are due for renewal this year.

The liences comprise of 35 Oil Mining Leases (OML) and seven Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPL). The licenses are OML 114, which is operated by Moni Pulo Limited; OML 115, which is operated by Oriental Energy Resources Limited; OMLs 29, 24, 18 and 30 operated by Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited, Newcross E&P Limited, Eroton E&P Company Limited, and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company/Shoreline Natural Resource Limited, respectively.

Others are 17 OMLs operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company; OMLs 4, 38 and 41 operated by Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc; OMLs 40, 42, 26, 34 64, 65 and 66 operated by NPDC, as well as OMLs 116 and 117, operated by Agip Energy and Natural Resources and Amni International Petroleum Limited.

According to upstream concession status contained in the firm’s yearly report for 2017, about 51 OPLs and OMLs of different oil blocks expired between 2010 and March 2017. Another 85 OPL and OML will expire between April 2017 and 2029. Kachikwu, who had earlier confirmed the ongoing renewal to The Guardian, stated that all oil blocks that are due for renewal would be approved by the first quarter of the year.

Attributing the development to an early renewal policy that was instituted by the current administration, Kachikwu disclosed that over $2b had already been generated from the renewal to enable the country finance its budget. Olawuyi noted that even though legal requirements were clear on the renewal, there was the compelling need for due process and transparency in the renewal process.

“The chief concern is the need for due process and transparency in the renewal process, most especially providing accessible information and data as to whether and how oil companies that have applied for renewal have met the prescribed legal requirements.

“Oil and gas companies want the long term certainty and confidence that comes with having exploration and production rights for another 20 years or more. Renewing the licenses should therefore accelerate investment flows and long term growth in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, while significantly boosting government revenue,” he noted.

Much as multinational companies would appreciate long-term contracts and legislated agreements, he advised the government to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) pending when the country would come up with a new legislation. Iledare corroborated Diran’s submission on early renewal of licences, but stressed that government must work hard to get the best terms from the new contract.

“The contracts renewal is good because it will take away the unpredictability of what will happen after the election,” he said, just as he warned the government against renewing leases that won’t expire this year as such a development would constitute a loss to the country in the face of current volatility in the sector.

The failure to secure presidential assent on the PIB, according to Okigbo indicates that significant uncertainty remains on the legal framework governing the petroleum sector in the country. Estimates by an industry advocacy group, “Publish What You Pay,” said the uncertainty costs Nigeria about N3t yearly.

Okigbo advised that stakeholders in the sector must work with the Presidency to ensure assent to the bill, adding that it must be signed before the 2019 general elections to enable President Buhari take credit for passing such a revolutionary bill.“The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the National Assembly have worked together to address those issues, which the Presidency claimed were its reasons for the refusal of assent to the new version of the PIGB.

•Excerpted from The Guardian report

Update news