The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), says Nigeria's national gas infrastructure network has the capacity to transport 6.9 billion standard cubic feet (BCF) of gas to support power generation and gas-based industries.
Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd, made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the 2023 edition of the Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF).
The theme of the forum, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), was "Efficient use of gas resources: a lever to enhance energy security and achieve Nigeria's net zero emissions targets".
Kyari said Nigeria's huge investment in gas infrastructure depended on its growing natural gas reserves, supporting the nation's aspiration to create Africa's largest industrial hub, powered by low carbon energy.
He said NNPC Ltd. was benefiting from Nigeria's huge natural gas reserves of over 200 trillion cubic feet (TCF) with potential to grow to 600 TCF, as more investment was expected due to the recent resolution of disputes with the production sharing contract partners.
He said the large reserve would serve as a low-carbon energy alternative that would support growth in the power and industrial sectors, tackle energy poverty, reduce the carbon footprint and create more employment opportunities.
"NNPC is playing a leading role in the realisation of the National Gas Expansion Programme, which aims to deepen the use of natural gas as an alternative transport fuel and as an important feedstock for the development of gas-based industries.
« Nous travaillons assidûment pour assurer la livraison en temps voulu des projets d’infrastructure de gazoducs, y compris le corridor de gazoduc Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, les gazoducs Nigeria-Maroc et transsahariens prévus, qui relieront les pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest pour livrer du gaz naturel aux marchés internationaux. , » dit-il.
For the gas export market, he said the ongoing Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 would increase Nigeria's LNG production capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to about 30 MTPA.
He said he was building on the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act to attract more investment into the Nigerian petroleum sector in order to continue to ensure access to energy while aligning with the global energy transition.
"As part of our sustainability strategy, NNPC is rolling out carbon reduction initiatives to progressively decarbonise our operations and improve our compliance with global emissions reductions.
« Tous ces objectifs ne peuvent être atteints si nous n’avons pas la sécurité de nos opérations. Nous continuerons à approfondir la collaboration entre toutes les parties prenantes concernées ; agences de sécurité gouvernementales, communautés d’accueil et autres pour renforcer la sécurité énergétique.
« NNPC approfondira les relations avec l’industrie, les gouvernements, les instituts de recherche et le milieu universitaire pour renforcer sa division des énergies renouvelables afin de poursuivre de nouvelles entreprises énergétiques commercialement viables conformément à l’aspiration zéro net du Nigeria d’ici 2060 », a-t-il déclaré.
Kyari, while thanking SPE for its efforts in promoting innovation and sharing knowledge needed by our industry, urged them and other industry stakeholders to continue working with NNPC Ltd to ensure energy security.
In a speech, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Director General of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), said that providing clean, sustainable and affordable energy to the world's population was a critical challenge.
Komolafe, represented by Dr Nuhu Habib, Executive Commissioner, Production and Development, NUPRC, said it was committed to ensuring access to an enabling environment and regulatory frameworks for progressive investment in gas production and the achievement of the energy transition.
Also speaking, Mr Farouk Ahmed, Director General of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), called for concerted efforts by all levels of government to ensure energy security.
Ahmed, represented by Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC), said the authority had drafted 20 regulations for the oil and gas industry to bring full value to the Nigerian economy.
He said that of the regulations, 12 have been gazetted while five of the gazetted regulations are gas-based. However, he assured that the authority is well placed to ensure an enabling environment and investment in the gas value chain for businesses to flourish.