Representatives investigate non-oil exploration on the border between Gombe and Bauchi

The House of Representatives has directed its oil and gas committees to investigate the status of exploration in the Kolmani oil field between Gombe and Bauchi states.

The committees, comprising Petroleum Resources (Downstream, Upstream and Midstream) and Gas Resources, will investigate why there has been no exploration status since the inauguration of the field in 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

This resolution was reached following a motion moved by Inuwa Garba (APC, Gombe) on Wednesday during plenary session.

Garba, while presenting the motion, said the field, classified as Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 810 and 809, has one billion barrels of crude oil and 500 billion cubic feet of gas.

In the motion, the legislator said that since the inauguration, exploration activities in the field have decreased under unexplained circumstances.

“After the inauguration of the project, production activities slowed down under unexplained circumstances, thus creating apprehension and disappointment in the government, especially in the face of the current realities of the oil and gas market,” he said.

Garba said that “the lack of regular reporting on the progress of such a lucrative project has led to speculation and desperation due to expectations of wealth creation, employment and significant development.”

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He stated that the “Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attracted more than $3 billion of investment to the area, including a petrochemical refining site, a 120,000 bpd oil refinery, a gas processing site of about 500 million cubic feet per day, a central fertilizer plant and a 300 MW power plant.”

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Aside from the financial prospects, Garba said the field has the potential to redraw the country’s hydrocarbon map and provide employment opportunities to Nigerians.

Following the tabling of the motion, Plateau State legislator Ahmed Wase moved an amendment to remove the North East Development Commission Committee (NEDC) from referral, and the amendment was adopted.

The motion was amended and adopted when put to a vote by Vice President Ben Kalu, who presided over the session.

Kalu directed the committees to submit a report within four weeks.