The Gombe State Government has assured host communities that exploration activities are still ongoing at Kolmani amid concerns over the dismantling of some drilling equipment at the site.
The state commissioner of energy and mineral resources Sunusi Ahmad Pindiga, made the clarification after leading a joint delegation from Gombe and Bauchi States to the Kolmani project site.
The visit was prompted by complaints from host communities over the movement of a drilling rig from the site to another location outside the two states.
“When I was informed about the situation, I contacted the field base manager, who invited us for an on-the-spot assessment. I then notified the Bauchi State Commissioner for Natural Resources, and we assembled a high-powered delegation from both states to visit the site,” Pindiga explained.
The delegation was received by the Field Base Manager of AOML, the company handling the drilling operations, alongside a representative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The officials clarified that the rig that was moved had completed its assigned drilling tasks.
“The rig that was taken out was a small one, and it had already completed over 10,000 meters of drilling. A bigger rig is required for the next phase of re-entry into KR 2, KR 3, and KR 4 wells,” the commissioner said.
Pindiga also disclosed that two wells have been completed with oil deposits straddling both Bauchi and Gombe States, while three additional wells have been drilled on the Gombe side. He also noted that two fields have been cleared, and casting has been done on the Bauchi side in readiness for the larger rig.
Kolmani oil project still on course – officials assure host communities
