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Price of Cooking Gas Soars as Pirates Attack LPG Vessel

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Gas Exports Drop as Shell Declares Force Majeure
  • Price of Cooking Gas Soars as Pirates Attack LPG Vessel

The average price for the refilling of a five kilogramme (kg) cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Cooking Gas, has increased by 5.48 per cent month on month to N2,708.38 in February 2017 from N2,567.56 in January 2017, and 45.59 per cent year-on-year.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which made the disclosure in its monthly LPG price watch, listed states with the highest average price for the refilling a 5kg-cylinder of cooking gas to include Edo N3,030; Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Zamfara, Rivers and Kebbi, N3,000; and Delta, N2,984.62.

The development undermines Federal Government’s efforts to boost domestic gas utilisation, particularly per capita LPG consumption, reputed as among the lowest, despite holding the seventh largest gas reserves, globally.

The immediate consequence of this is that more households would resort to the felling of trees as well as the use of other alternatives like coal and kerosene with attendant adverse environment implications.

But, operators in the sector attributed the high cost of the commodity to pirate attack of a Lagos-bound LPG vessel.Hitherto, the price of refilling a 5kg gas cylinder had for a very long time been between N1,200 and N1,500, but price had shot up to between N2,500 and N3,000.

A restaurant operator, who relies on cooking gas for her daily business, Mrs. Loretta Okechukwu, said the price of the product was outrageous, considering the current situation in the country.

She said: “I used to buy the 12.5kg of gas for N3,000, and it lasts for three weeks or even up to one month. In the last three years, the price had been stable, cheaper and easier to get than kerosene.

“But, since the beginning of this year, the price has refused to come down. It has continued to increase. The Federal Government really has to do something about it.”She said it was unfortunate that prices of goods kept increasing on a daily basis and consumers have to bear the brunt.

The NBS data listed states with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 5kg gas cylinder to include Osun N2,393.75; Oyo N2,376.47; and Ondo N2,372.73.However, the Bureau disclosed that the average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg gas cylinder decreased by 2.95 per cent month-on-month to N5,345.87 in February 2017 from N5,508.16 in January 2017, and 45.49 per cent year-on-year.

It said: “States with the highest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Kebbi, Rivers Yobe, N6,000.00; Delta, N5,923.08 and Borno, 5,833.33.

“States with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Lagos, N4,797.22; Ogun, N4,777.28, and Oyo, N4,322.22.”The Bureau also revealed that Borno recorded the highest average cooking gas price for refilling 5kg cylinder in the North East Region for February, while Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states recorded the least average price.

It added that Kebbi and Zamfara states recorded the highest average cooking gas price for refilling 5kg cylinder in the North West region while Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states recorded the least average price.

“Yobe recorded the highest average cooking gas price for refilling 12kg cylinder in the North East Region while Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states recorded the least.

Kebi State recorded the highest average cooking gas price for refilling 12.5kg cylinder in the North West Region and Kano State the least.

“Anambra State recorded the highest average cooking gas price for refilling 12.5kg cylinder in the South East region while Imo State recorded the least average price.

“Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Rivers State record the highest average cooking gas price for refilling 12.5kg cylinder in the South South region while Bayelsa State recorded the least average price,” it added.

President of the Nigerian LPG Association, (NLPGA), Adedayo Adeshina, attributed the rise in price of cooking gas to pirate’s attack on LPG vessels on its way to Lagos, which delayed discharge of the product, and adding that the issue has been resolved.

Adeshina said the vessel owner had requested for more insurance from the Navy and there is already free flow of product.He said that consumers should expect a stable price in the price, noting that it may take a while to establish stability onece there is any disruption in activities.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Oando Targets 100,000 Barrels Per Day Production by 2028

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Oando Plc

Nigerian energy company Oando is targeting a production of 100,000 barrels per day by 2028, following its acquisition of Eni’s Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) earlier this year.

This was disclosed by Oando Executive Director Alex Irune during an exclusive Fireside Chat at the ongoing African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies conference with Bloomberg News Correspondent Jennifer Zabasajja.

He shared the company’s future expansion plans and role in Nigeria’s energy transition and plans by the company to contribute to the 2 million barrels per day.

Mr Irune also highlighted the growing role of indigenous firms in the sector, particularly as international oil companies (IOCs) divest from onshore and shallow water assets.

“In the space of 24 months, you’re going to see about 60 percent-70 percent [of Nigeria’s production] by indigenous players, just based on the transition of IOCs to the deep offshore and the acquisitions we have seen, whether it’s Seplat, our deal or the ongoing Renaissance deal,” he said.

He also revealed that Oando is focused on maximizing the development of assets acquired through its deal, which increased its stake in OMLs 60, 61, 62 and 63 to 40 percent and nearly doubled its reserves to one billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The company’s ownership in NAOC’s joint venture assets will also grow, including 40 oil and gas fields, 12 production stations, and key infrastructure including pipelines, processing plants and the Brass River Oil Terminal.

He also noted that Oando remains open to future mergers and acquisitions across the continent.

“We’re always looking to do a deal. We stay where we have a comparative advantage, but we don’t rule out any markets. Nigeria is the first place we look – we have an immense amount of potential. As a leading energy company, we owe it to the country to reach that potential.”

Mr Irune also discussed the role of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in strengthening the investment case, particularly for gas in Nigeria and fostering industry synergies.

The Oando-NAOC deal was the first M&A transaction following the PIA’s implementation and the company plans to leverage the deal to boost oil and gas production, with a view to supporting Nigeria’s energy transition in the future.

“In the immediate term, our focus is on producing every drop of oil we can to be able to fund that transition journey. We will use gas as a transition fuel – our assets are largely gas assets as a company, and Nigeria is largely a gas province as a country.”

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Alleged Bankruptcy: AMCON Withdrawals Case Against Dapo Abiodun’s Petroleum Company

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Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has said it has withdrawn the case it instituted against Heyden Petroleum Limited.

The Corporation had approached the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court and prayed for the court’s approval to takeover Heyden Petroleum Limited owned by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

AMCON had accused the company of bankruptcy, saying it was moving to acquire it in order to save it from further risk.

The presiding judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa had, after reviewing AMCON’s motion and supporting documents, agreed with it and ordered an interim takeover of the petroleum company.

Meanwhile, in a swift reversal, AMCON, in a statement issued by its Head of Corporate Communications, Jude Nwauzor, disclosed that the Asset Management Corporation had discontinued the matter, noting that “AMCON is not in dispute with Heyden Petroleum.”

Nwauzor said, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the media regarding to the pending litigation between the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Heyden Petroleum Limited

“We hereby notify the general public that AMCON and Heyden Petroleum Limited have settled all issues between them amicably, and Heyden Petroleum Limited has demonstrated commitment to meeting their obligations and has been making payments accordingly.

“Given this latest development, AMCON has formally discontinued its pending litigation against Heyden Petroleum Limited, particularly Suit No. FHC/AMC/67/2024.

“As a responsible debt recovery agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it is not the practice of AMCON to engage in a media trial of obligors who are meeting their obligation. Accordingly, the general public is urged to disregard any negative commentaries on the relationship between AMCON and Heyden Petroleum Limited.”

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N1.3bn Fraud Allegation: Court Orders Arrest of Dana Air MD For Not Showing Up For Arraignment

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Mr. Hathiramani Ranesh

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Dana Air, Mr. Hathiramani Ranesh for failing to appear in court for his arraignment in the alleged N1.3 billion fraud preferred against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF).

The Federal Government had on October 10, 2024, asked the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Dana Air after failing to honour invitation for his arraignment.

The AGF had filed a six-count charge against Ranesh and two others and marked Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.

The prosecution argued that Ranesh and the two companies, along with others still at large, committed a felony between September and December 2018 at the DANA Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina.

They were accused of conspiring to remove, convert, and sell four units of industrial generators—three units Ht of 9,000 KVA and one unit of 1,000 KVA—valued at over N450 million. These assets were reportedly part of the Deed of Asset Debenture used as collateral for a bond, which remains valid.

The defendants and others at large were said to have conspired to fraudulently divert N864 million between April 7th and 8th, 2014, at House No. 116, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo-Lagos.

This sum, reportedly part of the bond proceeds from Ecobank intended for revitalizing production at Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, was allegedly diverted for unauthorized purposes.

They were also accused of conspiring to transfer N60,300,000 to an Atlantic Shrimpers account (No: 0001633175) at Access Bank, fraudulently diverting funds earmarked as part of the Ecobank bond proceeds for resuming production at the Katsina factory.

The cumulative amount involved in the charge totals N1,374,300,000. Each offense is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

After Mojisola-Okeya Esho, counsel to the Federal Government, had requested for bench warrant to be issued against Ranesh, the defence lawyer, B. Ademola-Bello, disagreed with Esho, saying that they had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter and that the prosecution had already been served.

Delivering ruling on the application, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, agreed with Esho that Ranesh’s arrest was necessary due to his failure to appear in court despite being served with the charge and several proceedings having taken place.

Justice Egwuatu held that, according to Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the court has the authority to issue an arrest warrant against any defendant who fails to attend court sessions.

Egwuatu ordered that Ranesh must appear before the court on January 13, 2025, before any objections can be raised.

Consequently, he adjourned the matter till January 13, 2025, for hearing.

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