PTI To Play Critical Role In Implementation Of New National Gas Policy – Kachikwu

The Minister for state Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu has said that Petroleum Training Institute would play a critical role in the implementation of the new National Gas Policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Speaking during the 20th convocation ceremony of the Institution held at PTI conference Centre Effurun, Delta State at the weekend, Kachikwu said that PTI would compliment ongoing Federal Government efforts to implement the country’s gas policy in terms of training and development of local human capital.

The Minister who was represented by Dr. (Mrs) Shade Yemi-Esan, said the successful implementation of the new National Gas Policy would lead to the harnessing of Nigeria’s vast gas resources and commercialization of gas flares for economic development of the nation.

Kachikwu said that the Minister of Petroleum Resources was doing everything possible to ensure parastatals under it improve their operational efficiency in a bid to increase their Internal Generated Revenue, IGR, and to eventually exit annual appropriation or reliance on federal budget by 2020, therefore, PTI should do more to ensure the crop of professionals it produces live up to the demands of the industry.

While expressing delight over the Digital Petroleum Training Institute, DiPTI project which have already been launched by the institution’s alumni, Kachikwu disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the sum of N200 million for the take-off of the project which was initiated to boast productivity, create digital innovations and jobs for youths.

Continuing, the Minister said that the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB which is being considered in phases by the National Assembly would be of immense benefit to the institution because the implementation of the industry reforms through the enacted bill would open up the oil sector to new local and international investors.

Besides, he however disclosed that the President Buhari-led administration has approved the construction of model modular refinery by the institution using local materials and technology saying that when operational the refinery would be experiential training and for teaching purposes.

“By implication, the Institute would once again be involved in local training and re-training of industry personnel thereby reducing capital flight in conformity with the change mantra of the present administration in the area of employing cost-cutting measures in the conduct of government business”, he added.

Earlier, in a welcome address, the Principal and Chief Executive of the institution, Prof Sunny Iyuke charge the graduands at National Diploma, ND, level to make quick plans to return for their Higher National Diploma progammes, HND levels to apply for a post HND programmes in collaboration with University of Port Harcourt for the award of B. Eng. in Engineering disciplines and master programme in Information and Communication Technology.

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