- Cooking Gas: NLNG Advocates Infrastructure Development
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas has sought the development of infrastructure to support the efficient distribution and usage of domestic LPG, known as cooking gas, in the country.
This is just as the company said it was committed to supporting the growth of the industry by dedicating 350,000 metric tonnes per annum of cooking gas to the citizens.
The company said its gesture was to ensure reliable and affordable supply of the product.
The NLNG Sales Administration Manager, Mr. Ahmed Joda, said this recently during his keynote speech at the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association Conference.
In his lecture, titled “Unlocking Domestic LPG Investment Opportunities,” Joda stated that the NLNG was advocating and encouraging infrastructural development in order to ensure the “de-bottlenecking of existing receiving and storage facilities and expansion of the facilities with the construction of new ones.”
According to him, the consumption of domestic LPG is expected to grow to 1.7million tonnes per annum by 2020 if extensive intervention strategies are adopted.
He stated that while the NLNG was focusing on optimising coastal delivery to Apapa, revamping jetties of the Nigerian Petroleum Marketing Company, optimising shipping operations to reduce product shipping costs and encouraging storage capacity development—there was the need for continuous engagement of direct stakeholders on safety and active participation in an industry-wide LPG conversion scheme.
He said, “The LPG business in Nigeria is one which has opportunities that can be harnessed in the value chain to bridge the gap
“Currently, Lagos is the primary LPG distribution point in the country. The challenge is that the Lagos port is highly congested and unable to efficiently serve as the major distribution point for the entire country.
“Opening up other distribution points in parts of the country, as well as developing transportation modes to other discharge points, will lead to advancement of the DLPG market.”
Explaining that the railway system was a viable option for a more efficient and effective coverage of the entire country, Joda added that Port Harcourt, Rivers State offered an opportunity for expansion of the LPG distribution market to the eastern and northern parts of the country.
