THE Minister of State for Petroleum Resources , Ekperikpe Ekpo, has disclosed that with more than 208 trillion proven standard cubic feet of gas reserves, Nigeria should not be grappling with energy poverty.
According to the scorecard, the attraction of foreign investments into the gas sector and resolving issues relating to the execution of the Gas Sales Purchase Agreement for the Brass Methanol Project to unlock $3 billion investments in the gas industry has impacted the sector. He has driven bilateral discussions on the Nigeria – Morocco gas pipeline project that is to traverse the Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Core d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea – Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania and terminate in Morocco with a spur to Spain for onward sale of gas to Europe.
Ekpo has performed groundbreaking ceremonies for NesGas 50,000 metric tonnes LPG Terminal at Onne, Rivers State; Optimera Energy Natural Gas facility in Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos; Windek Energy Limited 20,000 metric tonnes LPG depot in Atabrikang Aquaha, Ibeno LGA, Akwa Ibom State. These projects hold the prospect of generating over 100,000 jobs to Nigerians on completion.
He sustained initiative in engaging stakeholders on terms to unlock deep water gas while ensuring the implementation of the PIA by regulators to unlock the potential in the gas sector in order to achieve a gas-based economy. He said: “The establishment of this LPG depot underscores the importance of strategic investments in the gas sector, which is pivotal for driving industrialization, creating jobs, and improving the livelihoods of our people. As we gather here today, we reaffirm our collective resolve to harness the immense potential of our nation’s natural resources, particularly in the gas sector.