The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), have resolved to collaborate to achieve the 250,000 barrels/day ambitious growth target by 2015.

NNPC through its upstream flagship company - the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) is currently producing about 85,000 b/d.

A statement from the NNPC quoted the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr. Austen Oniwon at a tour of Shell Training Technology Centre at The Hague, as expressing readiness of the corporation and SPDC to grow NPDC to an higher height in the global hydrocarbon industry.

"We believe that in less than fifty years from now, NPDC will become a world class exploration and production company by producing 250,000 bpd in 2015," the GMD said.

In his remarks, the Director Upstream International of SPDC, Andy Brown, said Shell is committed to the partnership with the NNPC and revealed that going forward the joint venture partners will explore ways to develop domestic gas for the Nigerian and global market.

"We have been partners in progress for the past fifty years in the oil and gas industry and we are delighted that the NNPC was able to visit our facility at The Hague," Mr. Brown said.

Source : allafrica.com