(Ecofin Agency) - The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed plans to recommence drilling activities in the Benue Trough, where seismic activities are currently taking place.

Speaking in a podcast message to the Corporation’s Staff to mark One-Year Anniversary of his appointment as the Group managing director of the state oil company, Maikanti Baru, said drilling in the country’s northeast will begin in the fourth quarter of 2017. According to him, seismic data acquisition is being carried out in the frontier region by Integrated Data Services limited (IDSL) and its partners in line with the government’s target to boost the country’s reserves base.

He added that the corporation is also planning to resume drilling in another basin in the northeast. “We are working with the security agencies for an early return to the Chad Basin. Drilling activities will be a priority on resumption while continuing with seismic data acquisition with improved parameters,” Baru said.

It should be highlighted that recently the Minister of oil, Emmanuel Kachikwu, announced plans by the country to shift its focus to natural gas production as its oil reserve has been estimated to get exhausted in the next 25 to 30 years.

Anita Fatunji