The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has officially begun oil exploration in the Benue Trough. Group Managing Director Dr Maikanti Baru told Governor Samuel Ortom in  Benue yesterday, that seismic data collection would begin from Ondori Main Camp, across Makurdi, Guma, Gwer-East, Gwer-West and Logo councils.

According to Baru, the seismic data acquisition was based on encouraging results of previous studies in geological studies and basin modeling, aeromagnetic ground gravity and surface geochemistry survey.

He stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015, directed NNPC to resume oil exploration in some inland basins, including Chad Basin, and the Benue Trough.

Baru stated that the Biofuel project will create a million direct and indirect jobs; 20,000 hectares of sugarcane feedstock plantation; Cane Mill and Raw/Refined Sugar Plant, to produce 126,000 tonnes yearly, and Fuel-Ethanol Processing Plant, to produce 84 million liters yearly.

He added that the project component of Bagasse Cogeneration Power Plant will have a capacity of 64 megawatts, while Carbon Dioxide Recovery and Bottling Plant will produce 2,000 tonnes yearly.

According to him, animal feed, worth 63,000 tonnes, will be produced yearly.

Ortom hailed President Buhari for considering Benue for the projects.

The governor prayed God to make the projects a reality and expressed his administration’s commitment towards ensuring security for workers and equipment.

Source: The Nation