The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) says energy security will be achieved VIA Nigeria’s ‘Decade of Gas Initiatives’ inaugurated in 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mele Kyari, NNPC Limited CEO, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the Decade of Gas/International Gas Day.

The Nigeria Gas Association (NGA) held the 13th international conference of Decade of Gas Day on the sidelines of the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2023 (NIES).

Mr Buhari inaugurated 2021 to 2030 as Nigeria’s ‘Decade of Gas’, a period the government aspired to accelerate domestic and export gas production and utilisation.

Mr Kyari said gas had been given prominence as an enabler for energy security and economic development. He said this set the tone for Nigeria’s drive to harness the nation’s natural gas reserves, increase domestic gas utilisation for power and industries, and gas exports to regional and international markets.

“This will facilitate a shift to a gas-based economy to foster economic growth and industrialisation driven by gas and also support Nigeria to meet its commitment to achieving net zero emission target by 2060,” noted the NNPCL boss. “NNPC plays an active role in realising the intended benefits of the Decade of Gas Initiatives and we are collaborating with the federal government on sub-initiatives such as the National Gas Expansion Programme.”

He said this would promote domestic gas utilisation in various sectors such as power, industries, transport, and gas supply to off-pipeline grid gas customers.

Mr Kyari explained that the opportunities to be unlocked from the ‘Decade of Gas’ had numerous significant benefits for Nigeria, stressing that with over 200 trillion standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas reserves and a potential of growing to 600 trillion scf, there would be enough resources for gas utilisation projects developed by NNPC Limited and partners.

According to him, NNPC Ltd is taking advantage of the huge reserves to support growth in the power and industrial sectors, address energy poverty, reduce its carbon footprint and create more employment opportunities.

Mr Kyari called on investors, in addition to the industry players, to seize this opportunity to create wealth and value for the country.

(NAN)