Lagos (Platts)--4Mar2011/540 am EST/1040 GMT

State oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said Thursday it is interested in partnering with Addax Petroleum and Maersk Oil in a bid to grow the crude oil output of its upstream subsidiary to 250,000 b/d by 2015.

The NNPC's E&P arm, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, currently produces around 70,000 b/d.

"The NNPC would want to collaborate with Addax Petroleum and Maersk Oil to grow the NPDC to a level that befits its status as a strategic business unit of a national oil company," an NNPC statement quoted its chief executive, Austine Oniwon, as saying in Abuja.

Oniwon spoke during separate meetings with Addax CEO Yi Zang and with Maersk's Jon Ferrier, senior vice president for business development.

Article continues below...

Request a complimentary issue of: Oilgram News
	Oilgram News brings fast-breaking global petroleum and gas news to your desktop every day. Our extensive global network of correspondents report on supply and demand trends, corporate news, government actions, exploration, technology, and much more.

The NNPC CEO also wants to work with the two companies to develop more gas-to-power projects to meet Nigeria's target of increasing electricity generation to 40,000 MW by 2020 from the present level of 4,000 MW.

Oniwon promised his visitors that the Petroleum Industry Bill currently before the National Assembly would ensure transparency and accountability in Nigeria's oil and gas industry.

He also said Nigeria was seeking private-sector investment in local oil refineries.

The statement quoted Addax Petroleum's Yi Zang as saying that despite the apprehension in the Nigerian oil sector over the proposed oil-sector reform bill, Addax had not halted its investment in the country.

"We are optimistic that the PIB will strengthen our partnership with NNPC," Zang said.

Addax Petroleum is owned by China's Sinopec. Danish company Maersk Oil is part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group.