NNPC Denies $25m Oil Block Transaction with Indian Firm

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday denied any involvement in transactions with an Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited, said to have acquired an oil block and consequently asked for the refund of $25 million it paid as signature bonus for the deal.

Condemning the linking of its name with the failed bid, the Corporation, in a statement, explained that the reports linking it with the transaction showed a high level of ignorance on how the oil and gas industry in Nigeria works

In a press statement signed by Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, the Corporation said, “Our attention has been drawn to the repeated reports linking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with the failed attempt by a certain Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited (OMEL), to acquire an oil block during the 2006/2007 oil bid round and the consequent failure to get a refund of the funds it committed to the deal.

“We wish to clarify that NNPC is not the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of organizing bid rounds and so could not have received the alleged amount of $25 million or any payment from OMEL for the transaction,” it added.

He described the said transaction as an attempt to smear the reformation embarked upon by the current management of the Corporation.

Ohi said, “We find the deliberate attempt to drag NNPC into the various allegations surrounding the transaction as mischievous and unfortunate. We urge those who are interested in the story to seek clarification with the relevant agencies responsible for conducting bid rounds and to whom OMEL may have paid the alleged fee”.