Page 11 - AfrOil Week 43 2021

AfrOil POLICY AfrOil

Sylva also pointed out that many international Komolafe, while Farouk Ahmed will assume
oil companies (IOCs) had adopted a wait-and- the equivalent post at NPRA.
see approach, putting proposals for investment Komolafe has already said he is committed
in Nigerian projects on hold until the passage of to seeing Nigeria meet the 1.8mn barrel per day
a new law to replace the country’s outdated and (bpd) output quota that has been set by OPEC
inadequate legal regime. rather than continue to underproduce. Ear-
Now, though, the passage of the PIA and the lier this week, though, he said he saw NURC’s
establishment of the new agencies had clarified primary task as increasing the country’s oil
matters, he said. revenue, especially in the face of the mounting
He further stated that NURC and NPRA pressure to shift to lower-carbon fuels.
had become operational on October 18, less “In the international community, we are at
than two weeks after Nigeria’s Senate approved a very critical moment in the life of the indus-
President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for try,” he said at a meeting with members of his
management positions – chairpersons, board management team. “We are coming in at a point
members and commissioners. All DPR, PEF when there is the energy transition from the fos-
and PPPRA staff have been retained by the new sil fuels to renewable, which is competing. It is
agencies, he added. competing with the need for the nation to have
“[We] are very lucky to have very competent increased revenue to fund our social budget-
industry personnel with proven experience,” he ing and our critical infrastructure. So that itself
commented. “So we believe that they can hit the places on us a challenge that really needs us to
ground running, and Nigerians should brace up double our efforts, roll our sleeves and begin to
for exponential growth in the sector.” hit the ground running and meet the aspirations
NURC will be headed by CEO Gbenga of the nation.” ™

Angola president dismisses reports of

management shake-up at Sonangol, ANPG

ANGOLA ANGOLAN President João Lourenço has It’s very rare [that] society takes notice in
said he does not intend to replace the current advance of the way I make the move in this or
heads of Sonangol, the national oil company that sector,” he was quoted as saying by the state
(NOC), or of the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels media agency ANGOP.
Agency (ANPG), which acts as concessionaire “Let them talk, because it won’t happen,” he
for the country’s hydrocarbon resources. added.
Following a visit to the site of a man- State-owned Sonangol is currently headed
grove reforestation campaign on October 23, by Sebastião Gaspar Martins, who serves as the
Lourenço downplayed recent reports in the company’s CEO and board chairman. Martins is
Angolan press about an impending manage- overseeing a wide-ranging effort to prepare the
ment shake-up at Sonangol and ANPG. He NOC for partial privatisation, though this is not
described these reports as “mere speculation” likely to happen before the middle of the decade.
and told reporters that he was not inclined to ANPG, meanwhile, has been led by its chair-
take such a step in an abrupt fashion. man, Paulino Fernando de Carvalho Jerónimo,
“If you’ve seen the way I have been acting since its formation in 2019. Jerónimo formerly
[during] these four years in office, I tend to be served as secretary of state for Angola’s Ministry
very discreet when it comes to making changes. of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas. ™

Sonangol is currently headed by its chairman and CEO, Sebastião Gaspar Martins (File Photo)

Week 43 27•October•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11