Atala OML 46: Senate Knocks NUPRC Over Revocation of Licence

By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

Senate, yesterday, faulted the revocation of Atala Marginal Oil Field (OML 46) in February 2020 by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), now Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

It, consequently, ordered the commission to re-allocate the field to its original owners, as earlier directed by the Presidency.

The resolution was sequel to recommendations made to that effect by its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The Senator Ayo Akinyelure-led committee had, following a mandate by the Senate, investigated petitions forwarded to it by Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, on behalf of Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited, Bayelsa Oil Company Limited (BOCL) and Century Exploration and Production Limited (CEPL) against NUPRC for alleged illegal and fraudulent revocation of OML 46 and its allocation to Halkin Exploration and Production Limited.

Award of the field to Halkin, as stated in the petition, was in breach of due process and Presidential directive.

The committee, after several months of interface with all interested parties on the oil field, recommended that it be re-allocated to the original owners: Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited, Bayelsa Oil Company Limited and Century Exploration and Production Limited.

The adopted recommendation of the committee reads: “Since the revocation of Atala Marginal Field (OML 46) was based on misleading information supplied by Halkin Exploration and Production Limited, and since NUPRC was unable to produce written evidence that President Muhammadu Buhari actually reversed his initial directive on consideration of owners/operators of Atala Marginal Field for re-award, as claimed by NUPRC, the committee strongly recommends that the oil field be returned to its original owners/operators.”

Source: The Guardian