Experts Urge FG To Speed Up Gas Transition Agenda

Experts in the Oil and Gas sector have urged the federal government to speed up Nigeria’s energy transition to gas which is more cleaner and efficient.

They made this submission at Domestic Gas Summit 2022 which held on Tuesday in Abuja with the theme, “Building a Sustainable Gas Economy” is initiated by the Energy Trade Group of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In his remarks, the President of Abuja Chamber for Commerce (ACCI) Dr Almujtaba Abubakar said the summit was important because Gas has become an important area of focus that must be given attention by stakeholders across the various government and business spectrum.

“As you all know, Gas has been identified as the energy of choice across the board because it is cleaner, greener and safer. The movement for energy transition is considered to be a global ideal. Within the context of the saving the planet movement, countries in Africa are working to devise appropriate responses to explore gas as an alternative to energy. Across African capitals, the debate is on, as to what energy transition should mean for the peculiarities of each country.

“The need to diversify and consider gas above all becomes necessary due to its benefits economically, domestically and otherwise. The carbon reduction pledge made under the Paris agreement must be complied with. Unlike other countries without sustainable alternatives, Nigeria has an option and that is gas, a cleaner, green energy source,” he said.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for crafting a gas agenda which has now become the Nigerian response to the energy transition question.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Company, Engr. Seyi Omotowa said the theme of the event was crucial, especially with the declaration of a decade of gas by the President

“Nigeria is leveraging on its huge gas economy and the government is working the talk with resulting investment such as the Nigeria LNG 27 and the AKK gas Pipeline.

“The NGC efforts is to supply gas domestic and international consumptions and we have operations across 12 states covering over 2,000 kilometres.

“The company’s efforts are to 5BCF of gas consumption per day and multiply the effect of gas usage while partnering with different gas companies like AMA gas company,” he added.

Tolulope Longe representing the Nigeria LNG said the decade of gas declared by the president was to ensure that Nigeria becomes a gas economy.

She said Nigeria must tap into its huge gas potential to improve its local and domestic investments.

She said over time, the NLNG has dedicated its production to meeting domestic demand.

“When the NLNG was established, most of the products were largely for exports, but from 2007, the NLNG started supplying to the domestic market, and as of 2022, every single drop of LPG is being supplied to the domestic market to show our commitment to the decade of gas.

“However, we recognize the concerns of average Nigerian is different and as digitization takes over, we have more demand for power. We believe that gas is cleaner and cheaper in Nigeria. In Enugu, coal is wasted because we fail to tap into it and the same can happen to oil and gas If we fail to do the needful because it’s not what you have but what you do with what you have. So therefore we are committed to ensuring that the transition to gas happens,” the sheet further stated.

Also, the Managing Director of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, in his remarks stated that the 3,000 industrial city and free zones scheme was deployed by China to attract investment and that is Government’s efforts and initiatives when they established NEPZA.