The Federal Government has awarded over $2.5bn contracts for various gas pipeline projects in the country. This is in line with its policy on gas monetisation, as laid out in the Gas Master Plan, GMP.
The Executive Director, Gas Development, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, who disclosed this at the just-concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas, NOG 2012 international conference and exhibition, said the projects were in line with government’s effort to harness Nigeria’s enormous gas resources as well as building the infrastructure base to support such development.
Gas pipelines Among the pipelines contracts so far awarded are: Oben-Geregu – 363 136km at $245.31million completed last year Olorunshogo – 243 41km at $54.04million to be completed by March end ECPS-A – 101km at $258million to be completed in a couple of weeks ELPS 2 – 263 324km at $382.39million to be completed in November Oben/Ob – 127km at $662.26million to be completed in 2014 Imo River – 24km at $52.94million QIT/Obigbo – 54km at $153million Oso/QIT – 51km at $235million, and a host of many others.
The NNPC gas boss did not however, disclose the identities of the contractors handling the projects or when the contracts were awarded, but he gave the assurance that government was resolved in its bid to make Nigeria the regional hub for gas-based industries.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji had cited gas supply shortages as the bane of sustainable electricity supply, adding that the significant success achieved in the recent times had been lost again on account of it.
Admitting to the gas issues, Ige said that 2012 will be the toughest for the power industry in terms of gas supply. “2012 will be one of the toughest periods in the power sector in terms of gas to power.” Ige, who spoke on the gas development in Nigeria, in reference to the Gas Master Plan, particularly as regards gas to power, said government has adopted a short, medium and long term approaches to deal with the gas supply issues over the next four years, ending by 2015.
-Vanguard
