As part of efforts to curb incessant oil theft in the country, the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has introduced the Advanced Cargo Declaration regime in upstream petroleum operations to arrest oil robbery and curtail export of stolen crude oil.

The commission also disclosed plans to reactivate shut-in wells as part of initiatives to increase oil and gas production in the country.

Gbenga Komolafe, the commission’s chief executive disclosed this latest intervention at the NAEC Annual International Strategic Conference 2023, organised by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) in Lagos.

The theme of the conference is ‘‘Nigeria’s Energy Transition: Enhancing Investment Opportunities and Addressing Challenges in the Oil and Gas Sector.

Komolafe, represented by Abel Nsa, Head of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) Department, NUPRC, said the initiative aims at ensuring that crude oil and gas cargoes exported from Nigeria have a unique identifier that confirms all documentation as regards the exported consignment.

‘‘This implies that any cargo without the unique identifier becomes tagged as illegitimate,” he said. “This, by no small measure, enhances transparency in our export operations.”

He hinted further that NUPRC deployed key resources to the Special Investigative Unit of the Commission to forestall any cases of sharp practices by operators in the sector.

‘‘Over the next few months, we are positive that we shall record a marked increase in our national oil and gas production volumes,” Nsa said.

“Quick-win strategies such as our aggressive drive to reactivate shut-in and declining wells will boost production prior to the onset of more long-term initiatives like operations from the new Marginal Field awardees.

“Also, the Commission is working alongside security operatives to bring a halt to the menace of crude oil theft, which has over the years contributed to a huge loss of production.”

The CCE added that the agency had begun the implementation of the Drill or Drop Provision with a comprehensive review of assets which had been undeveloped by operators.

Such assets, he said, would be placed in a basket and then offered to willing and qualified investors with the capacity to explore, develop and produce the block(s) or field(s) in a timely, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly manner.

He stated that the ongoing mini bid round for seven Deep Offshore Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) would boost the nation’s reserves as well as bring about anticipated benefits to the nation and other stakeholders.