TheCable

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it is planning to launch liquified natural gas (LNG) micro-distribution centres across the 774 local government areas (LGAs).

Sarki Auwalu, director of DPR, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2021 Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja.

In April 2021, Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, said the federal government was working towards opening liquified petroleum gas (LPG) micro-distribution channels across all LGAs in the country.

The project targets 99 million women and households within three years, cutting across the 120,000 polling units and all wards 774 LGAs, Mary Ekpere-Eta, director-general of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), had said.

Speaking at the summit, Auwalu explained that the agency’s move is part of the federal government’s plan to deepen gas penetration in the country by 2030 in line with the ‘Decade of Gas in Nigeria’.

”We have capabilities to have mini LNG where it can be transported to any length. With that strategy, energy security for this country is being achieved through the virtual pipelines,” he said.

“DPR has developed a project we call Project 774. The aim of this project is to ensure that each and every 774 local government do have a gas regasify and distribution centre with a micro-distribution centre.

“We have levers that will enhance the consumption, the utilisation and commercialisation of our gas.

“The levers include the growth of the reserves, infrastructure, extinguishing of the flare as well as development of gas.”

Auwalu said the project would create employment opportunities for Nigerians as well as generate revenue for the government.

He also said that DPR had received bids from about 200 companies to commercialise Nigeria’s 45 gas flaring points.

“The Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme apart from reducing gas flaring would also generate revenue for the government. We have received a bid from 200 companies. We evaluated these bids and we are yet to announce the winners.

”It is the first of its kind in the whole world because we are the first country that will take our flare gas points and turn it into commercial value.

“The World Bank and other development partners are happy with Nigeria for the initiative and we will soon conclude and announce the winners because it is hugely successful.”