OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — Local consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, also known as cooking gas, in Nigeria will soar in the next two years as the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, NLPGA, says it will, within the period, inject two million metric tonnes, MT, of the product into the market.
In a statement on Wednesday, the association described the achievement of over one million MT of cooking gas consumption level in 2020 as a major milestone, adding that achieving two million MT by 2022 meant that awareness on usage of gas over other means of cooking was beginning to gain ground among Nigerians. This would give Nigeria more edge over other West African countries, the association stated.
It said: “The year 2020 will be remembered for so many things, least of all, a once in a century global pandemic. But, within this year also, Nigeria’s LPG sector achieved a major milestone with the laudable achievement of exceeding the one million metric tonnes per annum mark for gas consumption.
“As at December 30, 2020, LPG coastal supplies broke the 1 million tonnes barrier for the first time in Nigeria’s history and Nigeria being the first country to hit this mark in West Africa sub-region.”
According to the association, other achievements include incremental volumes from inland producers as well as the inauguration of two major inland production plants.
The statement further read: “These are significant achievements in spite of a COVID-19 ravaged economy, global economic downturn, and numerous business environment bottlenecks.
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“The NLPGA remains committed to the sectoral growth and development of gas, market penetration and the multiplier effect of expanded gas utilisation as can be gleaned from the initiatives and policy direction of government.”
The association said the positive and forward-thinking policies of the Federal Government and the support from the office of the Vice President and its National LPG Expansion Plan were major contributors to the achievement.
It said, “Equally appreciated are the initiatives of the National Gas Expansion Programme of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
“We recognise the continued support and enforcement efforts of government agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Department of Petroleum Resources in conjunction with the Joint Working Committee in promoting, educating and ensuring the safe use and handling of LPG in Nigeria.”
