The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has received a request from the Indonesian government to supply it more volumes of Nigeria’s crude oil blends to enable it to meet the rising demand for crude oil by its local economy.
The request which was made by the Head of Economic Affairs of the Indonesian Embassy, Mr. Dwiyatna Widinugraha, who led a delegation from the country on a courtesy call on the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Baru Maikanti, NNPC Towers, Abuja.
He revealed that Indonesia with a population of more than 250 million people needs about 1.6 million barrels of crude oil daily to meet its burgeoning energy needs as an emerging economy and would love to have a Government-to-Government arrangement with Nigeria in that regard.
Widinugraha, however, commended the NNPC for its support in crude oil supply which he noted has helped Indonesia to achieve energy sufficiency. He added the country needed further assistance in the form of increased crude oil allocation from Nigeria.
“Over the years, we have bought huge amount of crude oil from Nigeria. We are extremely happy to buy more Nigerian crude oil which is globally rated to be of very high grade and which is very suitable for our refineries,”
He said the Indonesian government is also interested in investment opportunities in the Nigerian upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the Nigerian oil industry.
Responding on behalf the corporation, the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD), Mr. Mele Kyari, who was represented by Mr Adokiye Tombomieye, said NNPC would continue to assist Indonesia in the area of crude oil supply, adding that the request for bi-lateral crude supply arrangement should be routed through the President of Nigeria.