Our gas transportation projects will bring affordable, cleaner energy- NNPCL

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has emphasized the company’s commitment to vigorously pursue its gas development and gas transportation projects. This declaration was made on Monday during a keynote address at the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Annual International Conference and Exhibition, which centers around the theme “Balancing Energy Accessibility, Affordability, and Sustainability: Strategic Options for Africa.” Represented by the Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPCL, Mr. Adokiye Tombomieye, the CEO expressed that the gas projects will significantly enhance energy accessibility, affordability, and sustainability for Nigerians. Nigeria holds vast natural gas reserves, totaling about 209.5 trillion cubic feet, with the potential for up to 600 trillion cubic feet. This abundant resource is expected to drive a cleaner and more affordable energy vision. While acknowledging alternative energy sources like solar and wind, the CEO pointed out their technological limitations, high cost, and inability to meet the robust energy demands of industries, cities, and remote areas. Gas, on the other hand, holds the potential to address these challenges effectively. The CEO appreciated the Society of Petroleum Engineers for consistently leading the way in assembling pivotal industry professionals. However, he highlighted the trilemma situation faced by African countries, striving to balance energy accessibility, affordability, and sustainability while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He emphasized that achieving this delicate balance requires political will, technological innovation, effective market mechanisms, well-crafted policy interventions, and capacity building. A multi-stakeholder approach, involving government, the private sector, civil society, host communities, and the public, will be pivotal in achieving these goals. The Nigerian energy industry has witnessed strategic transformation in recent years, leading to viable industry legislation with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and a long-term gas-centered energy transition plan. Additionally, the PIA has enabled NNPC Limited to venture into the renewable energy business, while the Nigerian Climate Act has mainstreamed climate change actions for sustainable development. The proactive measures undertaken by the Nigerian energy sector hold the promise of bringing affordable, cleaner energy to the nation while ensuring a greener and sustainable future.

Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: NNPCL, ONHYM, others sign $25bn deal

The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project has advanced with the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to ensure progress and strategic direction of the $25 billion Trans-Atlantic gas pipeline project. Four MoUs were signed on Friday in Abuja at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Headquarters during the project’s first Steering Committee Meeting. The agreements were signed between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) of Morocco and the Société Nationale des Opérations Pétrolières of Cote d’Ivoire (PETROCI), Others include the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), the Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures of Benin (SNH-Benin), and the Société Nationale des Pétroles of the Republic of Guinea (SONAP). Once completed, the project will enhance the monetisation of the natural gas resources of the affected African countries and also offer a new alternative export route to Europe. Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, in his remarks disclosed that currently, FEED Phase II Study was at over 70 percent in tendering process for the surveys, with clear visibility in project funding. Kyari listed the surveys as the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Policy Framework (LARPF). “We are also pleased to welcome our counterparts from NOCAL of Liberia, PETROCI of Cote D’Ivoire, SNH Benin and SONAP of Guinea for committing to collaborate with us on this project through the execution of MoU. “This is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Host Governments, the ECOWAS Commission, and the National Oil Companies to deliver on this strategic project, create wealth and value for our countries and other stakeholders. “As you are aware, our collective decisions and actions guided by our shared vision would extend far beyond gas supply to spur prosperity and economic integration between our nations,’’ he said. Kyari, while expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for entrusting NNPC Ltd. with the strategic project, acknowledged ECOWAS Commission’s role in co-hosting the meeting in addition to planned execution of the Treaty, Host Government Agreements and other enablers. Also speaking, the Director-General of ONHYM, Madam Amina Benkhadra said that the gathering represented a progressive step in ensuring social and economic development through energy security and accessibility geared towards attaining total development of Africa by Africans. In his remarks, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation, Mr Sédiko Douka said the pipeline was designed from Nigeria to Morocco, passing through Atlantic Coast States, with inland ramps to supply the Interland Countries, possibly to Europe. “The project will strengthen our electricity production/generation capacity, stimulate industrial, agricultural development, and contribute to the energy transition by using a source of energy that is cleaner than other fossil fuels,’’ he said. He recalled that the Steering Committee, which was enlarged to include other stakeholders, was part of the dynamics of the MoU signed between the ECOWAS Commission, NNPC and ONHYM on Sept. 15, 2022, in Rabat, Morocco. He recalled that ECOWAS was engaged further to the instructions of the Heads of State and Government in the development of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP), through a feasibility study approved in 2018. He said at the same time, Nigeria and Morocco, through NNPC Ltd and ONHYM, also agreed to initiate the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP). “The similarities between the two projects soon became apparent, and so, the need for synergy to pool efforts in order to achieve a single gas pipeline project. “Today, we can assure you that the ECOWAS member States are fully committed to this structuring Project. “As proof, the statutory bodies of ECOWAS have ratified the decision to merge the projects into a single one,’’ he said. The ECOWAS-ONHYM-NNPC Steering Committee meeting for development of a single gas pipeline had representatives from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.