- Governor Sheriff Oborevwori pledged to halt disruptions to Seplat Energy’s operations and ensure a stable business environment.
- Seplat CEO Roger Brown confirmed expanded gas investments and highlighted the company’s role in powering up to 30% of Nigeria’s electricity.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori pledged firm action on Tuesday, July 22, to end recurring disruptions affecting Seplat Energy Plc’s operations across the state.
Speaking in Asaba during a meeting with Seplat’s Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, and his management team, Oborevwori assured the company of the state’s full support and promised a stable operating environment in the future.
“I have been briefed recently about the challenges your company is facing in some of your operations. But I want to assure you that such issues will not happen again,” the governor said, according to a statement issued by Seplat.
Although the statement did not specify the nature of the disruptions, oil and gas operators in Nigeria often face setbacks stemming from host community grievances, pipeline vandalism, and security threats.
Oborevwori condemned such incidents as economic sabotage, warning that unrest undermines crude oil output, discourages investors, and stifles job creation.
“Economic sabotage reduces our crude oil production quota, discourages investors, and limits job and wealth creation. As a people, we know this, and I assure you that we will continue to work together for mutual benefit,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the state government’s preference for dialogue over confrontation and pledged continued collaboration with Seplat to drive economic development.
“We believe in resolving grievances through dialogue rather than confrontation, because confrontation doesn’t benefit the people or the companies,” the governor said.
In response, Seplat CEO Roger Brown praised Delta State as central to the company’s operations, noting that Seplat works in 78 host communities across the state, including 11 production zones and 21 pipeline corridors.
“Delta is strategic to our operations and growth,” Brown said, adding that the company has been expanding its investment in domestic gas infrastructure, which is key to powering Nigeria’s grid.
“We expect to reach 850 million standard cubic feet per day of gas going to the domestic market. Daily, we account for 25 to 30 per cent of gas-to-power,” he stated.
Brown announced the recent completion of a 90 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) gas plant in Sapele and disclosed ongoing work on a new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) unit and compressed natural gas (CNG) plant in the same area, marking Seplat’s entry into CNG infrastructure.
He also emphasised Seplat’s commitment to local content. “Twenty-seven per cent of our full-time staff are from Delta State, and over the last 10 years, we have awarded N500 billion worth of contracts to Nigerian vendors,” Brown said.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful engagement, economic development, and energy security.