The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has commenced the evaluation of Statement of Qualification (SOQ) of over 254 companies who had showed interest in Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP).

Its Director, Mordecai Baba Ladan who spoke at the opening ceremony of the pre-qualification exercise in Lagos yesterday said the committees includes the Proposal Evaluation Committee (PEC), International Observer Group (IOG), representatives of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), NNPC, DPR and Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR).

Represented by the Deputy Director, Gas Monitoring and Regulation, Mr Olusanya Bajomo, he said the committees were set up to evaluate the companies that had indicated interest to participate in gas flare commecialisation initiated by the former Minister of Petroleum Rersources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.

Bajomo said about 850 companies earlier showed interest when the advert was placed but later dipped when a fee of $1,000  (N360,000) was attached to the application form and other processing documentation to know those who are serious.