NNPC resolves 1993 Oil Mining Lease 130 Dispute, Signs Pact with Partners

Poised to upscale production to 3million barrels per day and inject gas revenues of about   $510million into the Federation Account, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has reached an accord with its partners, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) and South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETROL), to settle all outstanding issues surrounding the development of Oil Mining Lease, (OML) 130.

NNPC said it will make about $225 million in the short term and $510million  in the long.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, who announced this, said the deal was part of the corporation’s PSC Dispute Resolution and Renewal Strategy of 2017 aimed at securing out-of court-settlement of all disputes surrounding the 1993 Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) and agreeing on terms for their renewal.

He spoke at the signing of Head of Terms (HoT) agreement with the partners at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, according to a press statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr Kennie Obateru, a copy of which was given to Persecondnews.

Kyari explained that the dispute arose from recognition of certain cost and discordant interpretation of the fiscal terms of the PSC by NNPC and the Contractor parties.

With the resolution and signing of the Head of Terms (HoT) document which sets out the terms agreed in principle between parties in the course of negotiations, apart from unlocking over $225 million of gas revenues, it will also enable settlement of renewal fees and create an environment conducive to further development of OML 130 with associated benefits to the Federation.

“We are doing this with every other partner in the PSC dispute, we believe that we can close this engagement and conversation with all of you. The HoT will clearly enable us to proceed and have a full settlement, and this will benefit all of us,” the GMD said.

He lauded CNOOC and SAPETROL for their understanding, while expressing the optimism that the HoT would facilitate the conclusion of all renewal issues.

In his comment, the Managing Director of CNOOC, Mr. Xie Vincent Wensheng, said the agreement has opened a new chapter in his company’s relationship with NNPC, stressing that it has provided a win-win situation for all parties.

Also speaking on behalf of SAPETROL, the Managing Director, Mr Toyin Adenuga, noted that the resolution of the dispute was a very important step towards further development of OML 130 and other new fields as the terms are now clearly spelt out.

The execution of the HoT signals the resolution of a tax dispute that arose from the $2.3bn acquisition of a 45% stake in OML 130 by CNNOC from SAPETRO in 2006.

The OML 130 consists of the Akpo and Egina Fields which have been producing since 2009 and 2018 respectively. It is operated by Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd which holds 24% stake, while Petrobras Oil and Gas BV and SAPETRO hold 16% and 15% stakes respectively.