The Federal Government has reiterated its determination to utilise Nigeria’s abundant gas resources towards revamping the nation’s industrial growth and kickstarting its economic prosperity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disclosed this while commissioning three critical gas infrastructure projects executed by NNPC Limited and its partners in Ohaji-Egbema, in Imo State, and Kwale, in Delta States, on Wednesday.
The three projects commissioned include the expansion of the AHL Gas Processing Plant, the ANOH Gas Processing Plant and the 23.3km ANOH to Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Custody Transfer Metering Station Gas Pipeline Projects.
“It is pleasing that approximately 500MMscf of gas in aggregate would be supplied to the domestic market from these two Gas Processing Plants, which represents over 25% incremental growth in gas supply. In practical terms, this translates into more gas for the Power Sector, Gas-Based Industries, and other critical segments of the economy,” the President added.
The President said from the onset that his administration was clear in its intention to leverage the virtually unlimited capacity of gas to deepen domestic gas utilisation, increase national power generation capacity, revitalise industries, and create multiple job opportunities for economic growth.
He said aside from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, which is aimed at moving Nigerians away from petrol and diesel as vehicular combustion fuel, significant progress has also been recorded in incentivizing gas development through Presidential Executive Orders.
While congratulating the project partners (NNPC Limited, Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), and Seplat Energy) for the successful implementation of the three projects, Tinubu particularly charged the NNPC Limited to, as the national energy company of choice, sustain its relentless efforts and record more successes in the energy sector for the benefit of all Nigerians.
He described the commissioning as a highly significant milestone for Nigeria as it demonstrates his administration’s efforts to accelerate the development of critical gas infrastructure geared at enhancing the supply of energy to boost industrial growth and create employment opportunities.
He said the projects were fully in line with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative and his administration’s quest to grow value from the Nation’s abundant gas assets while concurrently eliminating gas flaring and accelerating industrialization.
“I wish to assure the citizenry that these are just the beginning, as the federal government is stepping up its coordination of other landmark projects and initiatives that will ensure the earliest realisation of gas-fueled prosperity in our country. Consequently, I wish to assure investors in the energy space that this is an investment-enabling government, and we will not relent in facilitating the ease of doing business,” the President noted.
Earlier in his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted the efforts of the Ministry to continue to champion the utilisation of gas as a transition fuel as Nigeria moves towards achieving clean energy efficiency and security by 2060.
Ekpo commended the President for his leadership and support towards the success of the three projects.
In his remarks, the GCEO of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, described the commissioning as a demonstration of Mr. President’s commitment and support to grow the domestic utilisation of natural gas for power generation, as feedstock for gas-based industries and the overall rapid industrialisation of Nigeria on the back of the enormous gas resources in the country.
In a statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, Kyari assured that, as part of its mandate, NNPC Ltd. remains committed to maintaining energy security by executing more strategic gas projects for the benefit of Nigeria.
