The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions is investigating the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission for allegedly re-allocating Atala Marginal Oil Field in Bayelsa to another firm. Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure made this known at the weekend in Abuja.
It was gathered that trouble over the oil field started on April 6, 2020 when the then regulatory agency, Department of Petroleum Resources now NUPRC, revoked the operating licence of the Atala JV Partners on the Marginal Oil Field.
The NUPRC came under fire in the senate over its alleged revocation and illegal re-allocation of the oil field owned by Bayelsa Government to Halkin Exploration and Production Company Limited.
Reacting to the decision, Senator Akinyelure said NUPRC which is now the new regulatory agency is not expected to take side on the disputed oil field, saying since the Department of Petroleum Resources was inherited by Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the new agency, must furnish the committee with written directive from President Buhari which awarded the Atala Oil Field to Halkin E and P and not previous operators.
Uploaded by – ADULEYE OYINKANSOLA
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