By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday inaugurated three key gas infrastructure projects expected to drive the economy.
The unveiled projects were the AHL Gas Processing Plant 2 (GPP 2) which has a capacity of 200 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d), jointly owned by Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), AHL, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
It is an expansion to the Kwale Gas Processing Plant (GPP 1), located in Delta.
Tinubu also inaugurated the ANOH-OB3 CTMS gas pipeline project and ANOH gas processing plant located in Imo State, jointly owned by AGPC Seplat Energy and NNPC.
According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the ANOH Gas processing plant on the other hand, which is 300 million standard cubic feet of natural gas (300MMscfd) gas processing plant, will receive wet unprocessed gas from the reservoirs in the Assa North-Ohaji South gas field for processing to produce three products, dry gas as fuel for power plants in the country, condensate which is to be channelled to Bonny terminal for export, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), for the domestic market.
Performing the commissioning ceremony virtually from the presidential villa, Abuja, President Tinubu assured investors in the energy space that the project is an investment-enabling government and that the government will not relent in facilitating the ease of doing business.
The President said the projects were in line with the decade of gas initiative, and the federal government’s quest to grow value from the nation’s abundant gas assets while concurrently eliminating gas flaring and accelerating industrialization.
He said from the onset of his administration, it has been made clear its intention to leverage the virtually unlimited capacity of gas to drive economic growth.
Tinubu explained that aside from the presidential CNG initiative which is aimed at moving Nigerians away from petrol and diesel as vehicular combustion fuel, significant progress has also been recorded in incentivizing gas development through Presidential Executive Orders.
The President in his speech said, “I am most delighted to address you on this occasion of the commissioning of three Milestone Projects which include the expansion of the AHL Gas Processing Plant, the ANOH Gas Processing Plant, and the 23.3km ANOH to Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Custody Transfer Metering Station Gas Pipeline Projects.
“This commissioning event is highly significant to our country as it demonstrates the administration’s concerted efforts to accelerate the development of critical gas infrastructures geared at significantly enhancing the supply of energy to boost industrial growth and create employment opportunities.
“Also, the projects are fully in line with the Decade of Gas initiative, and the Federal Government’s quest to grow value from the Nation’s abundant gas assets while concurrently eliminating gas flaring and accelerating industrialisation.
“It is pleasing that approximately 500MMscf of gas in aggregate would be supplied to the domestic market from these two Gas Processing Plants, which represents over 25% incremental growth in gas supply.
“In practical terms, this is more gas to the Power Sector, Gas-Based Industries, and other critical segments of the economy. I therefore commend the strategic vision of NNPC Limited and its partners Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) and Seplat Energy Plc for this laudable and value-adding project.
“From the outset of this administration, we have been very clear of our intention to leverage the virtually unlimited capacity of gas to drive economic growth.
“Aside from the presidential CNG initiative which is aimed at moving the good people of Nigeria away from petrol and diesel as vehicular combustion fuel, significant progress has also been recorded in incentivizing gas development through Presidential Executive Orders.
“I wish to assure the citizenry that indeed these are just the beginning, as the federal government is stepping up its coordination of other landmark projects and initiatives that will ensure the earliest realisation of gas-fuelled prosperity in our country.
“Consequently, I wish to assure investors in the energy space that this is an investment enabling government and we will not relent in facilitating the ease of doing business. The theme of this commissioning – “From Gas to Prosperity; Renewed Hope” must be adopted by all gas sector participants and would-be investors as a clarion call to ramp up efforts to accelerate investment and development of projects in the gas sector on a win-win basis.”
Continuing, he said, “I would once again commend the efforts of NNPC Ltd, alongside SEEPCO and Seplat Energy on this business partnership initiative, and congratulate you all on the successful implementation of the three projects.
“Finally, I want to reiterate the Federal Government’s resolve to continue to provide support in deepening domestic gas utilization, increasing national power generation capacity, revitalize industries, and creating multiple job opportunities for economic growth.
“Today, I have the singular honour to commission the expansion of the AHL Gas Processing Plant, the ANOH Gas Processing Plant, and the 23.3Km ANOH to Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben(OB3) Custody Transfer Metering Station Gas Pipeline Projects in line with this administration’s resolve to provide energy for Nigerians, and to use our vast natural gas resources to transform Nigeria.
“I urge NNPC limited as our national energy company of choice to continue its relentless efforts and record more successes in the energy sector for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
The third phase of the projects launched by the President is the AHL Gas processing plants – AHL GPP2 Ogbe-Ani community in Delta State, which is a 200 million standard cubic feet capacity gas processing plant with all necessary Utility and Storage facilities, connecting pipelines, truck loading facilities, to evacuate Lean Gas and Hydrocarbon Liquid Products.
The AHL Gas processing plant, a joint venture project, is designed to receive wet feed gas and processes the same to produce three products, Dry Lean gas which can be used as Fuel for power plants in the country, Propane and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), for the domestic market.
The Federal Government through the launch of these projects hopes to achieve a significant drop in gas flaring in line with its target of supporting a cleaner energy global environment.
Speaking at the occasion, the governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodimma commended President Tinubu for citing the critical gas infrastructure projects in the state.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, also commended the contractor of the projects for completing them on record time.
