Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s Chairman, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, and Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further strengthen the longstanding partnership in Nigeria, Offshore Energy Today reported.

Regarding the upstream sector, oil and gas production operations will intensify with an increased focus on development and exploration activities in the onshore, offshore and Ultra Deep Water operated areas. Concerning the refining sector, the parties agreed to cooperate on the rehabilitation and enhancement of Port Harcourt refinery, Energy-pedia informed.

Additionally, the two companies discussed power issues and concluded that access to energy would be further enhanced by doubling the power generation capacity in the Okpai IPP through the fast track development of its Phase II, making it one of the largest combined cycle power plants in Africa.

Finally, the MoU sets the basis for the assessment of the electrical national grid reliability and of most efficient renewable energy projects, to secure energy accessibility in the country’s most remote areas.