The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced on Thursday that it would hold the ground-breaking of three mini-Liquefied Natural Gas projects in August this year.
NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, announced
this in Abuja at the inaugural Africa Gas Innovation Summit 2024 organised by
the Society of Petroleum Engineers, with the theme: “Igniting the Future:
Driving Sustainability in Africa’s Energy Landscape through Gas Technology and
Innovation.”
Kyari also said the company would take Final Investment
Decision this year for the roll out of six additional Compressed Natural Gas
mother stations, adding that scores of CNG refueling stations were currently
being upgraded by the oil firm nationwide.
LNG and CNG are both cleaner-burning alternatives to
traditional fuels like petrol and diesel. LNG is used in power plants to
generate electricity, while industries use it as a fuel source for various
processes requiring thermal. CNG is primarily used as a transportation fuel for
buses, trucks, and some cars. It is also a useful fuel source for power
generation.
Speaking at the summit, the NNPC helmsman, who was
represented by the company’s Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New
Energy, Olalekan Ogunkeye, said NNPC has signed various agreements for the
development of gas projects in line with the the Federal Government’s drive to
deepen gas usage.
“In order to accelerate gas commercialisation, bearing in
mind that this is the era of gas, NNPC has signed MoUs and project development
agreements for floating LNG projects which will be the first in Nigeria, while
currently executing a 30mmscuf/d small scale mini-LNG project.
“Indeed, we are currently participating in three mini-LNG
projects slated for ground-breaking this August. NNPC is also currently leading
the Federal Government’s autogas initiative.
“Aside from the recent inauguration of the 5.2mmscuf/d
Ilasamaja mother station CNG plant, the GCEO of NNPC recently announced plans
to take FID within this year and roll out additional six CNG mother station
plants with similar capacity, and scores of CNG refilling stations are being
renovated and upgraded to provide access to cleaner and cheaper fuel across the
country,” Kyari stated.
Other initiatives, according to him, include the development
of several gas based industries in industrial hubs at strategic locations
nationwide, boasting fertiliser and chemical plants, among others,.
This, he said, are
all in line with the Federal Government’s aspirations underpinned by the Decade
of Gas programme.
Commenting on the energy landscape, Kyari said sub-Saharan
Africa is still energy deficient despite contributing the lowest volume of
emissions globally.
“Nigeria, however, is blessed with abundant natural gas
resources of more than 209TCF of gas, which can take us out of these challenges
by providing access to electricity, clean cooking fuel, autogas and feedstock
for other industries, thereby generating wealth and improving our wellbeing.
“From an NNPC standpoint, this summit’s theme and topics
clearly resonate, and NNPC is at the forefront of orchestrating a sustainable
energy future for itself and Africa leveraging on gas technology and
innovation,” he stated.
To underscore the critical roles of gas in economic
development and to maintain energy security, he said NNPC had embarked on
several gas infrastructure projects, some of which had already been
inaugurated.
“Such as the second phase of the AHL gas processing plant,
the 300mmscuf/d ANOH gas processing plant, and the ANOH gas pipeline project, all inaugurated by
the President of Nigeria.
“NNPC is absolutely focused on leveraging on the nation’s
gas assets to significantly generate value and opportunities for all Nigerians.
This in deed is what Nigerians deserve,” the national oil firm’s boss stated.
Kyari also pointed out that technology and innovation were
key buffers for growth and development and would assist in the drastic
transformation of industries, adding that NNPC had developed its research
institute as a result of this.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas),
Ekperikpe Ekpo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry,
Nicholas Ella, said Africa, with its abundant natural gas resources, stands at
a pivotal juncture and Nigeria must play a leading role in that.
“We have the opportunity to leverage these resources not
only to meet our energy needs but also to drive sustainable development. The
transition to a sustainable energy future demands that we embrace innovative
technologies and practices that minimise environmental impact while maximising
efficiency and productivity.
“This entails investing in cutting-edge research, promoting
the deployment of advanced gas technologies, and encouraging the adoption of
best practices across the industry. Technological innovation lies at the heart
of our endeavour.
“From exploration and production to transportation and
utilisation, advancements in gas technology are revolutionising the sector.
Innovations
in Liquefied Natural Gas, CNG for vehicles, gas-to-power solutions, and carbon
capture and storage are just a few examples of how technology is reshaping the
landscape,” Ekpo stated.
On his part, the Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineers,
Nigeria Council, Salahuddeen Tahir, pointed out that the top challenges
confronting Africa’s energy landscape include financing, technological and
skills gap, high costs of oil and gas production, infrastructure challenges,
global push for transition to cleaner energy as well as security issues.
To tackle these challenges, Tahir said, “There is no
gainsaying that Africa needs to urgently innovate for the benefit of our
industry, our respective economies and our citizenry.”
This came as the representative from the National Office of
Hydrocarbons and Mines, Morocco, Amina Benkhadra, during her virtual
presentation at the summit, titled, “Building Strategic Partnership,” stated
that 13 countries within the territory of the $25bn Nigeria Morocco Gas
Pipeline project would sign an Inter-Governmental Agreement for cross-border
cooperation in this second quarter of 2024.