Kyari tasks stakeholders on new initiatives to reposition oil sector

By Doosuur Iwambe

For the Nigerian Petroleum Industry to move forward in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, has urged stakeholders to evolve innovative ways to reposition the sector for sustainability.

The NNPC GMD, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Energy Industry Transformation Summit (NEITS) 2020, said that the industry players need to train their eyes on a strategy that focuses on people, partnerships, profit and posterity, a release by the NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated.

Kyari explained that the new normal era brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic has, more than ever, reinforced the need to upskill human capacity within the industry for the next phase, and develop the capacity to attract, train and retain people in the sector, Daily Times gathered.

He spoke on the theme: “Changing Global Energy Landscape: Repositioning for Industry Sustainability” at the occasion.

“There must be collaboration across different dimensions; government, Industry, academia and, particularly, with the communities where we carry out our operations.

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The social license to operate is critical to the Industry’s long term survival.

Also, partnership among Industry peers to chart new ways of resolving Industry challenges and preparing for tomorrow cannot be over emphasized.

I am delighted the SPE provides such a veritable platform,” the GMD submitted. He disclosed that for sustainability, Industry players must learn to manage cost, improve efficiency and deliver required cashflow (margins) for reinvestment and expansion, stressing that without creating profit today, “we wouldn’t be in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that keeps us viable and ready for tomorrow”.