In a move aimed at boosting investment in the oil and gas sector, one of the four pillars of economic development of the Governor Willie Obiano administration, efforts are being made to woo prospective investors participating in the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, United States of America.

Obiano will also use the opportunity of the visit to hold discussions with prospective investors and technical partners of the proposed International Cargo Airport at Umueri.

Speaking on the benefit of the conference, governor Obiano said: “OTC presents us with a viable platform to engage with industry experts and hold further talks with the aim of converting prospective investors to active partners in the development of our immense oil and gas deposits in Anambra. The fact that oil and gas ranks second amongst our four-Pillars of development gives you an idea about the importance we attach to the realisation of our set goals in the sector.

Also, having been an active player in the sector, I am leveraging some of the contacts to ensure we get the best to come and join us in developing our hydrocarbon deposits in a viable and eco-friendly way.”

“Anambra State is blessed with over one billion barrels and 30 trillion cubic feet of oil and gas, most of which are relatively unexploited. Our objective is to have a fully developed and self-sufficient oil and gas sector in Anambra State by 2018. We intend to achieve this through three broad areas of intervention, policy formulation and infrastructure development, private sector participation and community re-orientation,” Obiano emphasised.

Programmes so far undertaken by the Obiano administration in support of the state’s Oil and Gas ambition include investment in infrastructure to wit:  construction of access roads and bridges to the oil-fields in Aguleri and revalidation of license to build an international cargo airport in Umueri, among others.

He stressed that the economic importance of the proposed airport is hinged on plans to pipe ATK (aviation fuel) from the Orient Petroleum Refinery in Aguleri to the Airport where a storage facility will be built for it, in order to serve as a major hub for the refuelling of international flights in West Africa.

Obiano threw more light on the previous partnership the state had entered with UD Integrated Petroleum Production Development Company (UDIPPCO) and Falcon Corporation Limited towards investing in the development of the gas-to-power initiative in the State.

Said he: “UDIPPCO will develop a central gas processing facility which will produce lean gas that will serve as feedstock for various gas utilisation projects including an 80mw power plant and subsequently, a urea/fertiliser plant, and a methanol plant.

Similarly, Falcon Corporation plans to pipe Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) across three strategic locations in the state to facilitate the transportation of natural gas across the state.