On Thursday, 19th October 2023, NUPRC hosted the inaugural forum/maiden edition of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialization College Platform, an initiative created by the Commission Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe to bring an end to Gas Flaring and commercialize it for the benefit of the industry and the Country at large. NGFCP is the first of its kind. This forum aims to bring stakeholders together to establish partnerships and collaborations to deliver the ultimate goal of eradicating gas flaring in the country.
Present for this historic event to celebrate such a critical milestone in the upstream industry were the Commission Chief Executive, the chairman of the College Platform, Dr Kelechi O. Ofeoegbu, captains of industries, preferred bidders, and international investors.
In his opening remark, the CCE expressed gratitude for the successful implementation of this forum as it began in 2017. The NGFCP is the first of its kind and is the major climate action program from & for Nigeria.
The forum is a deal-breaking ground for investors, service providers & awardees; it serves as a critical support system for participants to ensure seamless implementation of their various projects and a hand-holding forum for awardees. The forum will be convening periodically (at least twice a month or as the forum deems fit) until results are achieved.
Out of the 300 bidders who showed interest, he congratulated the preferred bidders on their achievements after the rigorous screening and selection process. He emphasized that the Commission places a huge responsibility on the awardees to meet and align with the goals and targets of the Commission and the Government to execute their projects properly. He pledged that the Commission shall provide clarity and an enabling environment as their regulator. He declared the forum open, where thoughts and ideas shall be shared.
Representatives from captains of industries, partners and a few international investors, who have been essential and critical to this program, took time to render goodwill messages to the Commission and the Chief Executive on such a pivotal achievement, pledging their support, highlighting the program’s environmental, job and economic impacts to the country. NUPRC was lauded for its commitment to the policy directive in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Climate Change Act 2021. Some of the organizations represented at the forum were;
- The Power Sector Program
- The US Embassy
- The Global Greem Growth Initiative
- Nigeria End Climate Change Council
- Energy Transition Office
- Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)
- African Finance Corporation
- KPMG – Advisory Body to assist the Commission on the seamless implementation.
The Commission gave a detailed breakdown to the forum on its progressive and active journey from when the committee was formed and launched, to the bidding, evaluation, selection and awards process. It showcased the Commission’s commitment to a rigorous and detailed selection, approval and award process for the Gas Flare Commercialization Program.
