Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — History was on Tuesday made in Rivers State, as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, after operating in the state for 20years, delivered the first Domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas cargo from Bonny Island to a gas terminal in Port Harcourt, Stockgap.
DLPG, for the past 20years, was shipped to Lagos from Bonny Island, and then transported back by trucks for another 12 to 18hours on the road to Rivers State, as a result of lack of facility to accommodate, store and dispense gas in commercial quantity in the state.
Speaking at the historic event, the Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah, said the company, as global player was changing the narrative by making cleaner energy available to Nigerians, through LPG supply.
Attah said the delivery of gas directly from Bonny to Port Harcourt would be a game changer in LPG market, while encouraging people in Rivers state and the Niger Delta region to embrace LPG.
He regretted that over 4million people die yearly around the world, as a result of inhaling smoke from firewood while cooking and also through the use of adulterated and poorly refined petroleum products for cooking.
“Today is an important day for NLNG, for Rivers State and Nigeria. For us, it is a testament of our vision as Nigeria LNG, basically we are a global player but also we want to build a better Nigeria. And part of our contribution is bringing cleaner fuel to the country.
“Before now, the gas we produced in Bonny is shipped to Lagos and we rely on trucks to pick it from Lagos and drive, sometimes 24 hours to bring same molecule back to Port Harcourt. And for us in Bonny, the gas is bottled in Port Harcourt and put on a boat and brought back for us to cook in Bonny, and we thought there was something wrong with that.”
The NLNG boss assured that the firm remains committed to the provision of cleaner fuels for all Nigerians and the world, and commended the Rivers State Government for providing the enabling environment for investment.
“We are really quite pleased to partner with Stockgap, another credible and solid brand. This partnership is making the energy available and faster. But more importantly, it is our contribution to the society.
“Today we want to encourage Nigerians, we want to encourage people from the Niger Delta and from Rivers State to embrace LPG. LPG is safe, is cleaner, is readily available and working with Stockgap, we know definitely it is affordable and I think that will change the narrative of where more 100,000 people who die annually in Nigeria from inhaling smokes just because they want to put food on the table.
“Nigeria LNG take exception to that and we are changing that narrative by making more cleaner and safer energy available for Nigerians. For Stockgap, we will continue to supply whatever quantity they need and that is commitment NLNG has in encouraging this.”
Also speaking, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said he was thrilled that such an epoch making event was happening in the state, during his lifetime.
Governor Wike commended the management of Stockgap for investing in Rivers despite what he described as campaign of calumny against the state by his detractors, which he said was aimed at demarketing the state.
Governor Wike who toured the facility, assured Stockgap of the government’s support to promote and protect investments in the state, assuring that he will reconstruct the road leading to the facility.
“I am thrilled with what I have seen today. Let me thank the Chairman of Stockgap, Obiamarije Stanley, for investing in Rivers State with such a capital intensive project, despite some people demarketing the state.
“Rivers State is a better place for investment. Let me also commend the Managing Director of NLNG for the opportunity to make this project a success. Today is one of the happiest day in our lives that we’re alive to see this happened.”
Earlier, The Chairman of Stockgap, Obiamarije Stanley, explained that the journey of setting up the facility began six years ago in 2013, while commending the Managing Director of NLNG for his contribution to bringing LPG to the terminal.
Stanley who disclosed that facility would lead to the reduction in the retail price of LPG, also commended the Rivers State Government for opening up the state for rapid economic development.
“The journey began in 2013 and was completed in 2019. Our investment is to enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians through supply of LPG which will in turn create employment opportunities. With this facility here, the state will be a viable and attractive destination for other investors.”
