NNPC begins recovery of $7bn over-deducted tax

The Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) has begun the process of recovering over $7 billion in over-deducted tax benefits from JV Partners on major capital projects, Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, said on Sunday.

According to Garba, in a report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by the new management detailing its successes so far, Ibe Kachikwu, group managing director of NNPC, said the corporation had commenced performance measurement and benchmarking as well as value for money review of the NNPC and the JV Companies covering the period 2008 – 2013.

“A report indicated that this process may lead to further cost recovery,” Garba said.

“In addition, the report  said that a reputable International Accounting Firm has been engaged by the NNPC to ascertain the exact amount due government on the Strategic Alliance Contracts entered by NPDC, where up to $2.46 billion of government money is to be recovered.

“It also revealed that consequent upon an extensive investigation of the various toxic crude oil for refined products swap contracts, a total sum of $420 million has so far been reconciled in favour of NNPC and is now due for recovery from the legacy OPA/SWAP contracts. Out of the reconciled amount, the sum of $277 million has been recovered in lieu of products and the recovery effort is still ongoing, the source added.

“According to the report , the GMD of NNPC is committed to continued review of all existing contracts and addressing the ones that are not favourable to the Corporation. It was noted that significant cost reductions are also expected to ensure the Corporation remains profitable in the prevailing low crude oil price regime.”

He added that progress was being made towards bringing back the nation’s refineries to full production before the end of this year.

“If this is completed, the report said, it is expected to achieve an annual savings of about $1 billion worth of foreign exchange from fuel import substitution and additional total saving of over $500 million annually will be made from the petrochemical products of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company.

“The report also disclosed that efforts at re-positioning the NNPC have started yielding result on the nation’s economy. According to its content, gas supply to the power plants that had hitherto been handicapped by the supply of much-needed gas, has improved significantly from about 630 to 861 million standard cubic feet per day, which has resulted in a more steady power supply being witnessed in the country.

“Indeed, the report revealed that gas supply for power and peak generation have in recent times reached a historical high of 876 million standard cubic feet per day and 4,782 Mega Watts, respectively.”