Domestic Gas Consumption to Reach 500,000 Metric Tonnes –Petroleum Ministry

• Domestic Gas Consumption to Reach 500,000 Metric Tonnes –Petroleum Ministry

Domestic gas consumption in Nigeria has witnessed a recent increase from 390,000 to 490,000 metric tons with a potential of hitting 500,000 milestone in the near future.

This was disclosed by Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Calabar on Tuesday while delivering a speech at the Technical Meeting of Officers and Experts for the 3rd National Council on Hydrocarbon.

She said improved penetration of the liquefied petroleum gas with local consumption had been identified as a viable source of stimulation for the country’s socio-economic growth in both the long and short term.

She said, “The National Gas Commercialisation Programme which was unveiled during the Nigeria/World Bank workshop on gas flare is part of Nigeria’s contribution towards reducing the global carbon emissions and climate change effects on the environment with much of the gas being tailored to domestic consumption.”

She added that the ministry had formulated a number of programmes and policies towards the effective implementation of the natural gas project, which include massive investment in products reception facilities and storage depots for petroleum products and gas and enhanced geographical spread of facilities through the establishment of new petroleum products supply and distribution hubs along the Warri/Oghara axis.

“The hosting of the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja recently has led to creation of awareness on the opportunities that the Nigerian oil and gas industry content development offers to offshore companies with a view to enhancing such companies to set up in Nigeria,” she said.

Yemi-Esan further stated that policies that would emanate from the meeting would directly or indirectly have positive or negative effects on the socio-economic stability of not just the industry but the entire nation.

“I therefore urge you to give your best by working assiduously throughout the course of the technical session to make the Council realise the objectives for the meeting. As experts in the oil and gas industry you have an obligation to this nation with the aim of proffering ways of maximising our hydrocarbon deposits in a manner that would launch Nigeria to the next level,” she said.