…As NNPC Collaborate on Medicine, Manpower Development
At a time that international crude oil market is getting
more competitive, the Hungarian Government has indicated interest to purchase
crude oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Nigeria.
The Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Professor Gabor Ternak,
who disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Group Managing Director of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, Tuesday in
Abuja, said the decision to import crude oil and LNG from Nigeria was informed
by the need to bridge the current supply gap being experienced in Hungary.
“Hungary depends on oil importation to serve its energy
needs as the country is non-oil producing. We want to diversify our sources of
crude oil and LNG import and we are considering purchasing these products from
Nigeria,” Ambassador Ternak stated.
He said the Nigerian crude oil would be of great help to
Hungarian Refineries involved in large scale commercial refining.
The Hungarian envoy stated that Nigeria could also leverage
on the bi-lateral relationship with his country by engaging the services of
Hungarian firms that specialize in repairs, maintenance and building of
refineries as well as medical services.
He said that Hungarian universities with many years of oil
and gas engineering expertise, could assist Nigeria in the areas of capacity
building of oil workers.
In his remarks, the NNPC GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru, stated that
the Corporation had commenced tendering process for the selection of the 2018
crude oil off-takers, adding that Hungarian companies could utilize the
opportunity by participating in the exercise to maximize value from direct
purchase, rather than going through a third party.
“If you don’t participate in the tendering process, you
would have to buy the products from one of the traders. However, if you
participate with companies and refineries that meet our requirements, they
could be shortlisted as off-takers,” The GMD averred.
He explained that Hungary could purchase LNG through “spot
cargo,” an arrangement in which excess production is given to registered
off-takers with the Nigerian Liquified Natuaral Gas Limited (LNNG).
“Normally, gas business is a long term business and NLNG is
not different, we already have existing 20-year contract that will expire by
2022. Nevertheless, we have what is called “spot cargoes”, when there is excess
production, and the current contractors have gotten there share as enshrined in
the contract, the excess production will be given to registered off-takers in
the system,” Dr. Baru averred.
He said Hungarian companies could submit their profile to
NLNG for possible engagement as off-takers of spot-cargoes after meeting the
standard requirements.
The NNPC GMD stated that works on refurbishment of the
Corporation’s refineries through original builders of the plants had commenced
and that the Hungarian firms with requisite expertise could be considered
through subcontracting by the main contractors.
He said that NNPC through its subsidiary institution, the
Nigerian Leadership Academy (NLA), would look into possible areas of
collaboration with the Hungarian Universities for in-country capacity building
of oil and gas workers.
As part of the Corporation’s diversification plans, Dr. Baru
said the NNPC, which has the largest medical facilities in the country from a
single entity, was trying to put its 52 clinics across the country into
commercial use, starting with its clinic in Abuja.
He said NNPC would collaborate with Hungarian and other
reputable companies that have proven capabilities to set-up world-class medical
facilities for heart, spinal and brain surgeries as well as physiotherapy and
specialized laboratories services that can compete globally and save Nigerians
the burden of traveling abroad for treatment.
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