The Gas Supply Boost

Fri, May 3, 2013
By publisher
3 MIN READ

Oil & Gas

Aggressive reforms carried out in the gas sector have pushed domestic gas supply in Nigeria to a new peak

By Maureen Chigbo  |  May 13, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

WITH a new peak of 1.5 million cubic feet of gas supply per day (1500mmcf/d) to the nation’s domestic market, Nigeria appears to be making efforts to harness its huge gas potential. Diezani Alison-Madueke, minister of petroleum resources, said at the opening of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, roundtable discussion held in Abuja, in April , “that gas supply has grown at a most unprecedented rate of about 20 percent per annum, effectively reaching a new peak of about 1500mmcf/d from less than 500mmcf/d a few years  ago.” she said.

Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power
Nebo

This was possible because over the last three years, the federal government carried out aggressive reforms of the gas sector, culminating into a major gas addition to the domestic market. The current demand by the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP,  is put at about 260mmcf/d in the Western Area and it is expected to grow to about 340mmcf/d by the year end. To be able to bridge the gap in demand by the NIPP in that Area, the minister said: “between the years 2014 and 2015, almost 1000mmcf/d is forecast to be added to the current supply”.

In the Eastern Area, the current gas supply plan has already started yielding results, with the NIPP’s gas demand expected to be met by the year 2015. The Escravos to Lagos gas pipeline system is the most aggressive gas infrastructure expansion the country has ever witnessed in the last thirty years.

Nweke
Nweke

Also speaking at the event, Chinedu Nebo, minister of power, commended the ministry of petroleum resources for its efforts at making gas available to the nation’s power generating plants. “I must say that there has been a significant symbiosis and synergy between the ministries of petroleum resources and power towards solving some nagging problems in the energy sector for the benefits of Nigerians,”  Nebo said.

Frank Nweke, NESG president, said: “the essence of the programme was to examine the current power supply issue with a view to ensure adequate gas availability to both the old and new power generating plants in the country”. The roundtable discussion which had as its theme : “Steady and Adequate Gas Supply to NIPP Power Plants: The Realities” was attended by various stakeholders from the gas and power sectors of the economy.

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