NUPRC Threatens to Revoke Gas Flare Site Awards

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has warned beneficiaries of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme that their awards could be revoked if they fail to demonstrate sufficient progress in developing and utilising the flare gas sites they received. The warning was issued by Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan during a working visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, in Abuja, according to a statement from the commission. Eyesan said the commission conducts an evaluation one year after an award is granted to determine whether considerable progress has been made. Where there is insufficient progress, she said, the commission will take appropriate regulatory action, including revocation of the award where necessary. The statement did not indicate how many awardees are currently behind schedule or facing possible revocation. Providing an update on the programme, Eyesan said 43 flare gas sites were initially identified for award, of which 27 have so far been successfully awarded, with implementation ongoing.