NIGERIA LAUNCHES AMBITIOUS GAS REVOLUTION – TARGETS MASSIVE 1BCF DAILY PRODUCTION SURGE BY 2030
In a groundbreaking move that could reshape Africa’s energy landscape, Nigeria’s Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has issued an urgent call to major gas-producing companies to dramatically ramp up production. The ambitious target demands an increase of one billion standard cubic feet (BCF) per day annually through 2030, aiming to catapult Nigeria’s gas output from 7.3 billion SCF to a staggering 12 billion SCF daily.
Speaking at a high-stakes meeting with upstream gas industry stakeholders at NNPC Towers in Abuja, Minister Ekpo declared this initiative critical to ending routine gas flaring while positioning Nigeria among the world’s top 10 natural gas-consuming nations. The strategy leverages recent divestments by major oil companies as a “pivotal moment” to aggressively exploit both Associated Gas and Non-Associated Gas resources across the country.
The minister emphasized the urgent need for accelerated drilling operations across all terrains – land, swamp, and offshore – while prioritizing completion of major gas processing and evacuation infrastructure projects, including the crucial AKK and OB-3 pipelines. These projects are seen as vital connectors linking gas resources to domestic and industrial markets, supporting Nigeria’s bold ambition to become a regional natural gas hub.
Key industry leaders, including NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power, and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, confirmed that both pipeline projects have reached advanced completion stages – 78% for AKK and an impressive 97% for OB-3. The meeting concluded with major stakeholders, including Shell Companies, Seplat Energy, Total Energies, and Esso Exploration, pledging unified support for unlocking Nigeria’s natural gas potential.
Source: thenationonlineng.net