Alison-Madueke rallies IOCs, indigenous operators on gas-to-power scheme
Monday, May 21st, 2012
· Says Gas Supply Emergency timeline remains intact
· Expansion work on Utorogu Gas Plant nears Completion
21 May 2012, Sweetcrude, Abuja - Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reassured of increased gas supply to facilitate power generation in the country through the aggressive implementation of the on running 12-month Gas Emergency timeline geared towards the speedy expansion of the country’s gas-to-power capacity.
The minister gave the assurance over the weekend while leading a team of experts and relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas industry on tour of the Utorogu Gas plant in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who also undertook a tour of some gas production related facilities operated by some major indigenous service providers in the State like LEE Engineering & Construction Company as well as MAKON Engineering & Technical Services, Fenog Nigeria Limited, affirmed that the drive to ensure adequate gas supply for power needs has reached an irreversible path.
While pledging the Federal Government’s commitment to work with the International Oil Companies, IOCs to meet the nation’s gas to power aspirations, Mrs. Alison-Madueke noted that such goal can only be attained if the Oil Majors work in concert with local Nigerian service providers.
“We can only build a reliable oil and gas sector through the effective participation of competent Nigerian Service providers and operators. Thank God the IOCs and the indigenous companies and some Nigerian professionals are already keying into this opportunity made possible by the Nigerian Content Act,” the Minister noted.
The minister’s visit to the Shell operated Utorogu Gas Plant marked the commencement of “a weeklong tour of all gas installations and projects listed for the production of additional gas under the Gas Supply Emergency Programme.
Lending credence to Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s optimism on gas supply, Mutiu Sunmonu Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) said that the company has taken adequate steps to improve gas supply to the power plants in the country.
Sumonu said that it was already keying into the Federal Government’s 12 months gas emergency plan meant to boost power generation.
“We at Shell are committed to realizing government’s gas emergency plan so as to boost gas supply in the country,” he said.
He said that the current average production of the plant stood at 250 million metric standard cubic feet while work is ongoing at a new plant designed to increase capacity to about 510 mmscuf per day which would have significant increase in power generation very soon.
