The Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NIPetE) has stressed the importance of domesticating codes and standards to ensure world-class operations within Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
The National Chairman of the Institution, Engineer Prisca Kanebi, while outlining NIPetE’s goals, called for stronger collaboration between industry and academia in petroleum engineering so as to promote activities in the sector.
She spoke when she led her management team to Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, in Abuja.
She said the Institution acts as a watchdog for educational and professional practices, and encouraging major industry operators to sponsor training equipment and laboratories at universities.
Additionally, she highlighted NIPetE’s initiative to facilitate sabbaticals for academic petroleum engineers with leading Nigerian exploration and production companies, enabling them to provide fresh insights into operational challenges
Lokpobiri, in response reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to a strong partnership with the NIPetE to advance the oil and gas industry.
The Minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with NIPetE in key areas, including capacity building in universities and enhancing professional practices to boost and sustain oil production in Nigeria.
He expressed concern over current low production levels and emphasized the need to leverage the expertise of NIPetE members to tackle the challenges of increasing oil output, crucial for the nation’s economic growth.
The Minister acknowledged significant investments in industry capacity but noted a lack of tangible results, calling for a new approach to ensure Nigeria’s success.
He committed to attending the upcoming NIPetE conference and proposed establishing a collaborative agenda, to be reviewed quarterly, to guide their partnership moving forward.
At the meeting, Kanebi, formally invited the Minister to the Institution’s 3rd annual conference holding at the Abuja Continental Hotel on October 31 and November 1.