NNPC CEO Mele Kyari announces three-year plan to replace petroleum pipeline network

Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), has revealed plans for a major overhaul of the country’s petroleum products pipeline network during a recent address at the Society of Petroleum Engineers Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum in Abuja.

Kyari announced that Nigeria’s ageing pipeline infrastructure, spanning over 5,000 kilometres, would be completely replaced within three years.

During his speech, Kyari emphasised the importance of pipelines as the most cost-effective way to transport petroleum products across Nigeria’s various geopolitical zones.

With 27 stations and over 5,000 kilometres of pipelines currently in operation, many of these pipelines are in disrepair and require urgent replacement.

To facilitate this extensive pipeline replacement initiative, NNPC has started a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) process.

This process aims to replace almost all pipelines within the three-year timeframe, increasing the network’s capacity and efficiency in delivering petroleum products to various locations throughout the country.

Kyari also emphasised the NNPC’s commitment to increasing crude oil and gas production, as well as recent improvements in oil asset security.

He stated that Nigeria currently pumps about 1.6 million barrels of crude oil per day, and the company is working hard to meet its production targets.

Kyari also discussed NNPC’s strategic initiatives to increase gas supply to the domestic market through various projects, such as the Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben (OB3) and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline.

He also provided updates on ongoing projects such as the AKK gas pipeline and plans for four floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects, which aim to increase domestic and international gas supply.

Salahuddeen Tahir, Chairperson of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Council, praised the importance of energy in modern society and advocated for the creation of a diverse and sustainable energy transportation system to combat climate change and improve energy security.

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations also honoured Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, with the 2024 Distinguished Spokesperson in Oil and Gas award.

Soneye expressed gratitude for the award and dedicated it to NNPC’s CEO and the corporate communications team, emphasising their unwavering dedication to excellence in representing the company and the sector as a whole.