The Republic of Indonesia has expressed a strong desire to strengthen its collaboration with Nigeria in developing the nation's oil and gas sector.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. H. Usra Hendra Harahap, said this during a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Abuja.
Ambassador Harahap emphasized Indonesia's interest in sustaining and enhancing its longstanding relationship with Nigeria. "We are seeking ways to maintain and improve the beneficial cooperation and relationship that we have enjoyed for the past 59 years," he stated.
Highlighting the mutual interest in the oil and gas sector, the Ambassador expressed a desire to explore further areas of collaboration with Nigeria. He noted that in 2023, Indonesia imported over $3.8 billion worth of oil and gas from Nigeria, underscoring the significant economic ties between the two nations.
The Ambassador stressed the importance of resuming discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the oil and gas sector, which had been suspended since 2017. He cited the offer made by the Enugu State Governor in 2023 to build a 500-megawatt capacity gas power plant as a potential area for cooperation.
The Permanent Secretary Agbo Ella affirmed Indonesia's role as a longstanding ally of Nigeria. He expressed optimism that the visit would strengthen bilateral relations and promote mutual benefits in the oil and gas sector.
Mr Agbo assured the Ambassador that the issues surrounding the MoU and the Enugu Gas Plant would be addressed, and that other areas of mutual interest and collaboration would be explored.
