The Crude Oil Committee of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) has bemoaned the delay in the actualisation of full-scale lifting of crude oil from the Kolmani Integrated Oil Field two years after its inauguration.
LEADERSHIP reports that two years ago, former President Muhammadu Buhari, at the twilight of his tenure, inaugurated the Kolmani oil exploration, the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria.
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in partnership with New Nigeria Development Company drilled two oil blocks OPL809 and OPL810 accordingly at Kolmani. The two blocks transcend neighbouring Bauchi and Gombe states.
Similarly, Kolmani was projected to harbour about one billion barrels of crude oil deposit and about 500bcf. Lifting of crude oil from the field was expected to last up to 2060.
Daily, Kolmani oil blocks were projected to add about 50,000 barrels of crude oil to the overall generating capacity of the country, and, by implication, more revenue to the nation.
NNPCL had engaged Sterling Global to continue with exploration, lifting crude oil and developing the Kolmani Oil Field.
Speaking to journalists at the Kolmani Oil Field shortly after inspecting the level of progress, Federal Commissioner RMFAC, Engr. Hassan Mahmoud, who is also the acting chairman crude oil committee, said the visit became necessary because of the potential of discovered crude oil deposits at the field to contribute significantly to the revenue purse of the nation.
He said, “We were thinking it wouldn’t take time like this before proceeds from this location should go to the purse of the federal government and then the 13% derivation to the two states that own this place.
“We were waiting, and then apparently, the waiting was too long, so we decided to write to the state governments that we wanted to visit the location to see for ourselves because it is always said that seeing is believing.
“Honestly, we are not satisfied with the level of progress at the Kolmani oil field. We will sensitise them to do more.
“Also, the Bauhci State Deputy Governor is here, they are going to go and discuss with the government. They are also going to keep visiting this place until we can see the level of development that we are okay with.”
Engr Mahmoud also noted with dismay the level of corporate social responsibility Sterling Global extends to the host communities.
On his part, Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed who was represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau assured both NNPCL and Sterling Global of the continued support of his administration to see the full actualization of Kolmani Integrated Oil Field.
A construction engineer with Sterling Global, Abdulhamid Aminu said the present efforts are being channelled to drilling two additional wells that would feed the already drilled PL809 and OPL810 before the lifting of crude oil from the site would commence.
When asked to give a probable timeline for the completion of the drilling of the two wells, Aminu said the two feeder wells should be ready by March of next year.
He said Sterling Global would recruit about 13 staff from the local communities as part of its corporate social responsibility.
