DAWES ISLAND MARGINAL FIELD: Eurafric debunks DPR’s claims, accuses agency, Minister of bias

Lagos -- Eurafric Energy Limited has debunked claims made by the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Sarki Auwulu, before the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions regarding the revocation of the Dawes Island marginal field and the decision to reward same to Petralon 54.

While reacting to some of the claims by Mr. Auwulu who was also speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Eurafric disclosed that there is no pending court case on the matter, neither is the delegation of authority an issue.

The company, which said it had produced over 62,000 barrels of crude from the field at the time of its revocation, stated in a written response to inquiry from SweetcrudeReports: “What is in issue rather, is the basis on which the duo of the HMSPR (Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources) and

Mr Auwulu will disregard a clear directive from the Minister of Petroleum, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, to reinstate the field to the JV.”

Accuses DPR, HMSPR of bias”. The company carpeted the regulatory agency for failing to notify Eurafric of petition submitted by Petralon 54, adding that this establishes a clear case of bias against the HMSPR and Mr Auwulu.

“It is also noteworthy that the then HMSPR (Mr Ibe Kachikwu) to whom the 2018 petition was submitted, disregarded it for being baseless and speculative.

“The DPR claims the expenses were on sole-risk basis, yet, without investigating, they justified the award of the field to Petralon based on its unsubstantiated claims, while disregarding that of Eurafric and Tako,” the company added.