NCDMB Restates FG Determination To Fully Exploit Nation’s Abundant Gas Resources . Solicits media support to actualize it

 

 By Majesty Inegbagha  

The Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has restated the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government to fully exploit the nation’s abundant gas resources to accelerate the development of the economy as he had earlier declared 2021-2030 as Nigeria’s decade of Gas.

Engr. Ginah O. Ginah

 

NCDMB General Manager of Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordinator, Engr. Ginah O. Ginah unveiled this, on Monday, at the Capacity Building Workshop for journalists from Bayelsa and Rivers states, at the Sweet Spirit Hotel, Port Harcourt with the theme “Enhancing the competencies of Media Stakeholders to Support Nigerian Content in a Gas Economy”.

Engr. Ginah who lauded journalists for the active role they play, thus enhancing the laudable achievements of the Board, said ““In sections 67 and 70 (n), the NOGICD Act mandates the Board to continually organize events and undertake public enlightenment activities to enhance the attainment of the goal of developing Nigerian Content.

“The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) Act recognizes the critical importance of public engagement, media, and communication.

 

He stated that the workshop has become a permanent fixture in the Board’s calendar since 2019 and expressed delight that “the media and the Board have continued to derive immense value from these interactions, and we hope we can continue to organise this workshop in the years to come.”

According to him the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commenced activities for the actualisation of the Federal Government’s declarations in gas and other areas of the oil and gas value-chain as global demand on reduction of carbon emissions intensify.

He noted that the government’s strategy was to use gas as the country’s transition fuel, stressing that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources had backed this position with bold policies such as the National Gas Expansion Program, Gas Network Code and Flares Commercialisation programme.

While giving further insight, Ginah said: “As a responsive agency, the NCDMB has also taken deliberate steps to actualise the Federal Government’s declarations in gas and other aspects of the oil and gas value chain. We have partnered with credible investors to develop critical projects in the sector to take Nigeria towards the goal.

“In total, we have partnered with 15 firms to set up projects covering modular refining, gas processing, gas distribution, power generation, manufacturing and others.

“It is worthy of note that 70 percent of our investments are on gas-based activities, especially midstream and downstream gas. Our investments underscore the importance of gas to Nigeria’s economic sustainability, apart from its role in the energy transition.

“We know for certain that gas can lead Nigeria to food sufficiency, industrialization, increase in Gross Domestic Product, and electric power sufficiency.”

He said investments by the agency were helping to create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths, catalyze the local economy and achieve the Nigerian Content 10-Year Strategic Roadmap.

He added, “Some of our gas-based projects include our partnership with Rungas to produce 1.2million LPG Composite cylinders per annum in Bayelsa and Lagos States and our collaboration with NEDO Gas Processing Company in Kwale, Delta State for the establishment of 80 million standard cubic feet per day gas Processing Plant and a 300 million standard cubic feet per day Gas Gathering hub.

“The Board is also working with Duport Midstream to establish an Energy Park at Egbokor, Edo State. The park would include a 40 million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant, 2,500 barrels per day modular refinery and 20 megawatts power plants.

“The Board partnered with the NNPC to invest in Brass Fertilizer and establish 10,000 tonnes per day Methanol Production plant at Odioama, Brass, Bayelsa State, just as we are investing with Triansel Gas Limited in Koko, Delta State to establish a 5,000 Metric Tons per day LPG Storage and Loading Terminal Facility.

“Up north, we supported Butane Energy Limited to establish LPG Bottling Plants and Depots in Abuja and 10 Northern States, just as we are investing with MOB Integrated Services for the construction of the 500 Million Tons Inland LPG terminal in Dikko, Niger State. The project will include the construction of a Cylinder Refurbishment plant, procurement of 80,000bottles of LPG Cylinders and acquisition of distribution assets.

“Another important partnership is with Southfield Petroleum to establish 200 million metric standard cubic feet of gas processing plant at Utorogu, Delta State. The project will produce 123,000 Million Tons Per Annum of LPG, about 10 percent of current LPG demand nationwide.

“In the same vein, the Board is collaborating with Amal Technologies to set up a plant in Abuja to produce Smart Gas/Smoke Detector Alarm devices.”

Buhari made a commitment at the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (COP26) held in November 2021 at Glasgow that Nigeria would seek to achieve net zero by 2060, by cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible.

The government’s declarations are fueled by the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources and the demand for the reduction of global carbon emissions through the reduction in the utilisation of fossil fuels.

 

Ginah said that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has backed this position with bold policies such as the National Gas Expansion Program, Gas Network Code and Flares Commercialization programme.

“The Federal Government’s strategy is to use Gas as Nigeria’s transition fuel. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has backed this position with bold policies such as the National Gas Expansion Program, Gas Network Code and Flares Commercialization programme.

“As a responsive agency, the NCDMB has also taken deliberate steps to actualise the Federal Government’s declarations in gas and other aspects of the oil and gas value chain.

“We have partnered with credible investors to develop critical projects in the sector to take Nigeria towards the goal,” he disclosed.

Declaring the one-day Workshop open, Manager, Corporate Communications Division (CCD), NCDMB, Barr. Kikile  Esuene, said that the theme of the workshop would enable media practitioners to be abreast with the focus of the NCDMB.

 

Barr. Kikile urged journalists to use the opportunity to gain more knowledge and assist the Agency in its efforts to develop the oil and gas industry.

The session featured question and answer Industry Facts, to prepare participants for the Workshop.