Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian government has declared 2020 as the year of gas for the nation, announcing that the key priorities include the completion of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme with associated gas focused deliverables that include deepening domestic gas penetration and adoption.
It also said that as part of the emphasis on gas plans are underway to mop up old and obsolete gas cylinders in circulation and replace them with brand new ones, nationwide.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, made these revelations when he received in audience the executive management of the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, NLPGA, led by its President, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu.
The visit afforded the visiting team the opportunity to explore the need for increased government involvement in shaping action plans to grow the Liquefied Petroleum Gas industry, as well as deepening the utilisation of LPG in the country.
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The Minister, who commended the NLPGA for its recently concluded Annual LPG Conference and Exhibition, disclosed that plans are underway to mop up old and obsolete gas cylinders in circulation and replace them with brand new ones, while noting the innovation that Techno Oil; a member of NLPGA, has brought to the table with its LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Plant.
“This has also granted Techno Oil the pioneer status, which exempts it from paying tax on import of all raw materials for LPG cylinder production and will help to reduce the cost of production,” the Minister said.
Mr. Nuhu Yakubu who is also the Managing Director/Group Chief Executive Officer of Banner Energy Limited, made a presentation, focused on Affordability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Availability of LPG.
Yakubu expounded several solution focused strategies that when effectively implemented will not only demonstrate FG’s deep commitment in solidifying the sector but also ensure that LPG utilization becomes the norm, noiting that “LPG accessibility starts with cylinder distribution.”
For his part, the Technical Adviser on Gas Business and Policy Implementation to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Justice Derefaka, regretted the high annual flare volumes of over 2 million tonnes of LPG.
Derefaka further stated that when this is fully closed out by the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, it will effectively position Nigeria on the part to deepened domestic gas usage and adoption
