The Nigeria and Spain have expressed their commitment to deepen bilateral relations and partnership in investment and development of Nigerian gas resources for the global energy market.
Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said in Abuja, when he received the Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Albarese, along with other senior Spanish officials and investors, that Spain has been a partner and customer of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) since its establishment.
While stressing the importance of relations between the two countries, the minister added that Nigeria needs investment in the oil and gas sector, which is the core of its economy.
« En tant que pays, nous avons besoin de beaucoup d’investissements, nous avons besoin d’investissements directs étrangers (IDE) et l’Espagne est l’un des pays qui, selon nous, peut nous donner une grande partie de cet investissement pour aider au développement », a-t-il déclaré.
According to the minister, Nigeria currently has proven gas reserves of up to more than 200 trillion cubic feet of gas, and by focusing on additional gas exploration, Nigeria can increase these reserves to 600 TCF.
He said that Europe also needed gas at the moment, therefore, the Nigerian energy transition program should also pay more attention to gas development, as some sources were calling for such a quick switch to renewable energy.
« Et puis, bien sûr, l’Espagne se tournera également vers nous pour un approvisionnement supplémentaire en gaz. Ils sont également intéressés par le pipeline que nous développons vers le Maroc. Je crois que cela va régler la question du vol des navires du Nigéria vers l’Europe.
The Spanish foreign minister, who had earlier expressed Spain's interest in facilitating investment opportunities in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy, added that Nigeria was its largest supplier of oil and gas.
The Spanish minister noted the revolution and opportunities in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and assured his hosts that the cooperation of his country, especially Spanish investors, would bear fruit.
« Le Nigeria a été un partenaire stratégique de l’Espagne et a prouvé une fois de plus qu’il était un partenaire de confiance dans le cadre complexe du marché mondial de l’énergie », a-t-il déclaré.