NUPRC, NNRA partner to reduce oil, gas operations cost 

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is partnering the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority on enforcement of radiological safety in oil and gas operations and reduce the overall cost of operations.

While the NUPRC regulates the technical, commercial and operational aspects of oil and gas exploration and production, the NNRA oversees the possession, use, transportation and disposal of radioactive sources while also facilitating the beneficial use of radiation technologies across various sectors of the economy.

Commenting on the agreement, which was signed in Abuja at weekend, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC emphasized the need to tackle regulatory gaps and the multiplicity of rules and regulations in the oil and gas industry in order to improve the ease of doing business.

She explained that reducing cost of operations is one of the critical ways that operators can safeguard investments, adding the partnership will help to close existing gaps in the sector.

“The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations and when you have multiplicity of laws, the likelihood is that you will have higher costs because each law normally will come with its own fee and charges.

“We have identified critical areas on both sides and we believe that as we collaborate, we can close existing gaps,” she said.

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Also speaking, Yau Idris, Director-General of the NNRA stated that with the upstream petroleum sector being one of the largest users of radioactive sources and ionizing and radiation-emitting equipment in Nigeria, particularly for well logging, industrial radiography and nucleonic gauging, the NNRA relies on the cooperation of the NUPRC in order to fulfil its mandate.

He said that since oil and gas extraction often brings Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) to the surface, the NNRA, with the assistance of the Commission will ensure that operators conduct radiological impact assessments as part of their broader environmental impact assessments.

Idris also stressed the need for NORM management protocols to be incorporated into the NUPRC’s environmental guidelines for the upstream sector.

“The goal is a single window approach, where both agencies share information rather than requiring operators to submit the same data twice,” he said.

Both institutions are also expected to collaborate in training and knowledge sharing in the area of radiation protection and safe operations.