The Gombe State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Kolmani oil project, saying drilling activities remain active despite growing unease among residents over the recent removal of some equipment from the site.
Sunusi Ahmad Pindiga, Gombe’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, gave the assurance after leading a combined delegation from both Gombe and Bauchi States to inspect the project site.
This follow-up visit was in response to community complaints regarding the relocation of a drilling rig to a different area 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.
At the Kolmani site, the delegation was received by the Field Base Manager of AOML, the firm in charge of drilling operations, and a representative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The officials present clarified the reason for the rig’s removal.
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“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 gave an update on progress at the site.
According to him, two oil-bearing wells that straddle Bauchi and Gombe States have been completed, while three more wells have been drilled on the Gombe side.
He added that two fields have already been cleared and casing work done on the Bauchi end to prepare for the deployment of the larger rig.