On Thursday, 15-Nov-2007, EPNL played host to the Minister of State for Energy (Gas), Mr. Emmanuel Odusina. The Minister was on a two day familiarization visit to the company's gas facilities. The visit also took him to OML 99 (Amenam/Kpono) and OML 58.

On hand to receive the Minister in Port Harcourt was the DMD (Technical), Mr. Roger Poirier. Others were the ED (Strategy, Business & NOA), Mr. Charles Ngoka, the EGM JV (Offshore) Asset, Mr. Patrick Ngene and the GM JV Asset (Onshore) Projects, Mr. Musa Ahmadu-Kida.

On the Minister's entourage were, Engr. Taofiq Tijani, Senior (Technical Assistant to the Minister), Mr. Uche Obidiegwe, (Zonal Manager), East, NNPC; Mrs. Seibeudu, Acting (Operations Controller), DPR, Port Harcourt; Mr. A.C. Ikeanyanwu, Head (Gas Operations) East, DPR, Port Harcourt; Mr. Sunny Odiese, Head (Public Affairs), NNPC Zonal Office, Eastern Zone and Mr. Musa A.S.

In his remarks at the reception, Mr. Emmanuel Odusina praised Total for its concerted effort towards flare down, saying that there is no where in the world, you have complete flare out. "I must state categorically that I'm impressed by Total, impressed in the sense that the steps they have taken in respect to flare out are pragmatic and realistic". "You are making a concerted effort to make sure you flare down and you are doing it consistently. If every international oil company (IOC) have been doing what Total had done, we won't be here talking", he added.

The Minister however noted that Government is not unmindful of the problems of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) which borders on finance which has necessitated his meeting the various IOCs. "I am going round the IOCs. We are having meetings, we will see what the problems are and at the long run we will sit down, we are not trying to give problems to anybody, its going to be a win-win approach because government is not unreasonable to people's problems". He however reiterated that gas flared over the years which runs into billions of dollars would have been used for infrastructural development; a situation government wants to correct.

The Minister used the opportunity to thank EPNL's management for the reception accorded him and his team, noting that the battle is still on and that dialogue will continue. "I thank Total for what they are doing so far, the battle is still on, we will continue to dialogue but I must confess that what Total is doing is encouraging".

Earlier in his address of welcome, the DMD (Technical), Mr. Roger Poirier said Total worldwide is in the frontline of promotion of the use of gas because it is cleaner and helps reduce global warming. "Gas is not only a cleaner form of energy, it helps in reducing global warming and is one way to diversify energy supply to an increasing energy-hungry world". Mr. Poirier also stated that all new projects are designed to respond to the gas-monetization or gas re-injection policy that characterizes Total. "All our new projects are designed to respond to gas-monetization or gas re-injection policy that characterises Total and which contributes to the Federal Government's laudable target of ending gas flaring in 2008 or soon after", he added. Explaining further, he said, all through our new investments and technologies onshore, we are reducing our gas footprints significantly where we cannot eliminate them completely owing to technical or safety reasons. He expressed the hope that government would initiate policies/programmes for the industry that will lead to a win-win scenario so as to achieve the national objective in the areas of gas.

The photographs below complete the story.