The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will host the third annual Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) billed for February 9-12, 2020 in Abuja.

This follows the declaration of year 2020 as 'the Year of Gas' for the country by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, in December, last year.

A statement by the African Energy Chamber on Tuesday said the conference themed: 'Widening the Integration Circle: Technology, Knowledge, Sustainability and Partnership,' aims to showcase Nigeria as the foremost oil and gas investment destination.

It stated that the conference is expected to 'feature a spotlight session on the Nigeria LNG Train-7 project, which recently reached the final investment decision on the major gas expansion deal that is set to boost the plant's production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), from the current 22.5 mtpa.'

It added: 'NIPS will provide the opportunity for the nation to outline how local companies can lend a hand in the advancement of the country's petroleum industry as it works to boost its output.'

Commenting on the summit, NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group, said: 'Attracting over 5,000 international energy industry executives, NIPS is the most opportune space for Nigeria to communicate its growth and development plans, more so since the Honorable Minister declared 2020 as the year of gas for the country.'

He added that 'Following the recent $10 billion investment on Train-7 which will enable the NLNG processing unit to remain the fifth-largest supplier of LNG in the world, Nigeria is right to build on this momentum.'

The statement further noted that the conference will present strategies and opportunities for growth in oil, gas and energy technologies as well as showcase major contract signings.

Speakers expected at the event include former Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; OPEC Governor for Nigeria, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim; the Secretary General, International Energy Forum, Dr. Sun Xiansheng; the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Republic of the Congo, Jean-Marc Thystère Tchicaya; and the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan