Juliet Jacob Ochenje
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has said it is creating a regional gas pipeline network that would supply natural gas across Africa.
NNPCL’s Group Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, made this known while speaking at a regional CEO Panel organised by McKinsey and Company at the COP28 Conference in Dubai on Monday, a statement signed by the Corporate Communications Officer at NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed.
It quoted Kyari as saying that the company will play a major role in boosting Africa’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply to the foreign market.
He also stated that with abundant natural gas reserves of 206 trillion cubic feet (tcf) that have the potential to rise to 600 tcf, Nigeria is currently utilising gas to drive its journey towards energy transition.
Kyari said, “The NNPCL is currently eliminating gas flares in almost all its gas projects.
“The idea behind the move is to deploy such gas towards developing power plants nationwide, which will boost nationwide electricity supply, create employment opportunities, and trigger the nation’s industrial and economic development.
“It is important to note that under Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative, the country aims to transform into a gas based economy through power generation, automobile use, industrial use and clean cooking.
“I have always advocated for a differentiated and just energy transition. In Africa, we have different circumstances compared to other places in the world.
“In Africa today, 75% of our population doesn’t have access to electricity, leaving us with biomass as a key energy source. The world needs to recognize that the most practicable thing today is to substitute what we have in the short term to close the energy gap for our rising population.”
