ExxonMobil, FRSC Join Forces to tackle Road Accidents

ExxonMobil in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a Pan-Nigeria road safety campaign as part of a series of road safety programmes to address the menace of road accidents. The three critical areas of focus for the campaign are; seat belt usage, speed reduction and use of phone while driving.

According the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of FRSC, Osita Chidoka, “road crashes has been a source of concern not only to the people of Nigeria but to most developing countries and in the next few years, road crashes may be the third highest killer of mankind”.

Chidoka said that road crashes do not just happen, they are caused and can be averted, thus, the need for this campaign which is a national reawakening to address the challenges of apathy associated with road usage in Nigeria. He commended the growing partnership between FRSC and corporate bodies particularly ExxonMobil which he said has shown commitment to issues of road safety and security of human life in work places

In his speech, ExxonMobil Executive Director, Udom Inoyo, said that accidents are preventable with the right attitude, adding that the motivation for ExxonMobil in partnering with FRSC is to ensure that Nigeria can make a positive change to road safety statistics. He believes that through the campaign, ExxonMobil will impart its values which places premium on safety on day-to-day activities which the slogan, “Nobody gets hurt”. Inoyo called on other stakeholders to support the initiative.

Samson Makoju, the representative of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) expressed their support and hopes that the result will be quite visible and everybody will soon be counting the gains.

The Minister of Information Labaran Maku represented by his Special Adviser, Henry Angulu commended the unique collaboration between the FRSC and the private sector and assured of them of government support. He said that the ministry was prepared to render necessary assistance by the use of all the electronic media to ensuring that the campaign was successful. Mr. Angulu noted that the Ministry of Information has been giving assistance to the FRSC by providing enlightenment campaign facilities, saying that they would not relent on their efforts to render such support when the need arises. 

ExxonMobil Supports IPEA Training on Environmental Awareness

The Ibom Programme on Environmental Awareness (IPEA), an initiative of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment & Mineral Resources in partnership with ExxonMobil, has held a training workshop for advocacy team members in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The one-day training was designed to empower IPEA personnel to effectively enlighten people at motor parks, schools, abattoirs, restaurants and other locations as part of the recently-launched environmental awareness campaign in Akwa Ibom State.

The Ibom Programme on Environmental Awareness (IPEA) is an initiative aimed at creating awareness on pollution, and helping the citizens of Akwa Ibom state develop positive environmental values that will enable them manage instances of environmental pollution that may occur, as well as prevent potential environmental hazards from happening.

In his remark at the training, the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mr. Paul Arinze, represented by Mrs Regina Udobong, called on the participants to live up to expectation on the campaign. According to her, ‘ExxonMobil expects the participants to take full advantage of the training programme to sharpen their skills to educate target audiences and encourage best practices to curtail all kinds of environmental pollution – air, water and earth pollution’.

Mr. Arinze reiterated ExxonMobil’s commitment to the environment which has been demonstrated by the company’s partnership with Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment & Mineral Resources to achieve a cleaner and safer environment.

Declaring the training open, the Commissioner for Environment & Mineral Resources, Prince Enobong Uwah, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Mineral Resources, Mrs Atim Enoh, commended ExxonMobil for supporting the environmental awareness campaign. According to him ‘the State Ministry of Environment & Mineral Resource is grateful to ExxonMobil for sponsorship of IPEA. This gesture by ExxonMobil reflects its commitment to cleaner environment in Akwa Ibom State’.

Prince Uwah advised the participants to make good use of the opportunity offered by the training to ensure that objectives of campaign were achieved.

The training witnessed presentations by resource persons including Dr. James Asuquo, a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo and Mr. Stephen Erakpotobar, an environmental expert. The training focused on key issues such as sources of water, air and land pollution and remedies and behavioural change communication in environmental management.  

It will be recalled that the Ibom Programme on Environmental Awareness was launched on June 5, 2013 in Uyo by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Tanzanian gas pipeline plan sparks riot

Residents of a gas-rich region of Tanzania rioted to protest that they would not benefit from a government budget proposal to construct a pipeline from their territory to the capital.

Tanzania estimates it has more than 40 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of recoverable natural gas reserves. Discoveries off east Africa's seaboard have led to predictions the region could become the world's third-largest exporter of natural gas.

Residents of the southern Tanzanian Mtwara region are opposing the construction of a 532 km (330 mile) pipeline - financed by a $1.2 billion Chinese loan - until they get a bigger share of the benefits from gas development.

Tanzania's deputy home affairs minister, Pereira Silima, said riots had erupted in Mtwara but could not give details. Local media reported that police fired teargas, several buildings were torched and one person was killed.

The state-run Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) said Mtwara was one of two regions in southern Tanzania where onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants will be built.

Norway's Statoil, Brazil's Petrobras, Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil Corp are among energy companies exploring for oil and gas in Tanzania.

British gas firm BG Group said earlier this month it would present the Tanzanian government with proposed locations for a big LNG terminal in the next few months.

ExxonMobil Signs Agreement on 500MW Power Plant

Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and MPN Joint Venture, has signed a Seller’s Representative Agreement (SRA) for the Qua Iboe Power Project, located at Mobil’s Qua Iboe terminal in Akwa Ibom State.

The proposed power project includes the construction of a 500megawatt-capacity power plant as well as a 56-kilometre transmission line connecting the plant to the national grid at Ikot Abasi, also in the state.

MPN’s General Manager in charge of Public and Government Affairs, Mr. Paul Arinze, said in a statement that the signing of the SRA was “a critical part of the overall commercial framework that enables MPN to undertake power activities and facilitates the sale of power by MPN to Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc for itself and on behalf of the NNPC.”

Also speaking on the agreement, the Managing Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mr. Mark Ward, said the project “is a tangible demonstration of MPN’s commitment to Nigeria and supports the president’s priority of providing electricity to the country.”

ExxonMobil Joins Majors in South Africa

Battling declining production, US energy super giant ExxonMobil is taking on South Africa, a rising offshore venue, where it will acquire a 75% stake in the Tugela South Exploration Right.
Exxon Mobil is acquiring the Tugela concession from London-based Impact Oil & Gas Ltd, and will control operations in the area. The Tugela concession covers 2.8 million deep-water acres (6,500 feet) off the country’s east coast. Additional exploration rights tied to the concession cover some 16 million offshore acres.

Exxon Mobil will also have the exclusive rights to study another deep-water area, the 12.4 million-acre Durban Basin for one year, with the possibility to extend.

It’s Exxon’s first foray into South Africa, where it will join the likes of Shell and Anadarko Petroleum. Shell has some 24 million acres off the coast of western South Africa, and is currently collecting seismic data in the Orange Basin, with a drilling decision expected next year.

South Africa has proven reserves of around 15 million barrels, most of which is offshore in the Bredasdorp basin (south) and off the western coast near its border with Namibia. The country also has an estimated 485 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable shale gas, primarily in the Karoo Basin, while conventional natural gas reserves are limited and declining.

In terms of refining, South Africa’s capacity is impressive, handling about 703,000 bbl/d, rivaled in Africa only by Egypt. A new refinery is also underway to handle heavy crudes.

The most attractive thing about South Africa is that it’s been under-explored, at least offshore, and under-developed in terms of onshore shale in the Karoo Basin.