The Federal Government has strengthened accountability in the crude oil sector with the inauguration of a Gravimetric Multifaceted Flow Metering Calibration Facility in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
The facility was commissioned by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as part of efforts to address long-standing challenges associated with crude oil measurement in Nigeria.
The project, described as the first of its kind in West Africa, is expected to tackle persistent issues of inaccurate metering that have, over the years, contributed to disputes, revenue leakages and dependence on overseas laboratories for calibration services.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, commended Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATL), the indigenous firm that developed the facility. She praised the company’s vision, courage and patriotism in investing in what she described as a state-of-the-art project.
Eyesan, who was represented by the Deputy Director for Development at NUPRC, Mr. Manuel Ibituroko, described the plant as “a transformative leap forward.”
According to her, the facility features zero-touch automation, tamper-proof audit trails and high-precision gravimetric standards designed to eliminate human error and minimise operational downtime.
She explained that the plant has the capacity to calibrate turbine, ultrasonic, Coriolis, electromagnetic and positive displacement meters. These devices are critical in determining the volume of crude oil flowing through pipelines and export terminals.
The NUPRC chief noted that the facility would significantly improve operational efficiency, enhance regulatory compliance and support production optimisation across the upstream sector.
Industry stakeholders believe the development could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s quest for transparency, accurate revenue accounting and improved investor confidence in the oil and gas industry.
