By Ayomide Otitoju
NNPC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sonatrach to enhance cooperation in research, development and innovation within the oil and gas sector.
The agreement, facilitated through NNPC’s Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Division in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, was formalised by the company’s Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, and Sonatrach’s Managing Director, Khodjah Mohamed.
The signing ceremony took place during the opening of the 3rd Meeting of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization Forum for R&D Directors at the PTDF Tower in Abuja, bringing together research leaders from member countries.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, represented by former APPO Secretary General, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said the forum forms part of broader initiatives by APPO to address challenges arising from the global energy transition, particularly in funding, technology and market access.
He noted that while the R&D forum focuses on technological advancement and expertise, complementary initiatives such as the African Energy Bank and the Central African Pipeline System are designed to tackle financing gaps and promote regional market integration.
In his remarks, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by Chief Financial Officer Adedapo Segun, emphasised the need to position research and development at the core of Africa’s oil and gas strategy.
He described R&D centres as critical drivers of industrial competitiveness, stressing that while innovation may be costly, the risks of technological stagnation are far greater. He called for a unified framework to enable resource pooling, data integration and risk-sharing across African countries, alongside accelerated adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced engineering.
Also speaking, APPO Secretary General Farid Ghezali urged member states to prioritise practical, solution-driven research tailored to Africa’s needs.
Executive Secretary of PTDF, Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, highlighted the significance of the partnership in advancing decarbonisation efforts and environmental sustainability across member nations.
Meanwhile, Chief Innovation Officer of NNPC RTI and incoming Chairman of the APPO R&D Directors Forum, Rasheed Ojulari, said the forum would prioritise joint programmes in upstream optimisation, artificial intelligence, decarbonisation processes and industrial systems development.
