Peter Uzoho
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has assured that the ongoing 614kilometres Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project would be delivered on schedule.
Kyari also said the project would help to revamp 232 idle industries, create prosperity through massive job opportunities and guarantee peace for the country just the federal government said it has reduced the nation’s gas-to-power market price from the existing $2.50 to $2.18.
A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the GMD to have stated this at the Gas Sector Stakeholders’ Forum, held in Kano recently, with the theme, “Optimizing the Economic Development Capacity of Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project”.
In a paper he delivered at the occasion, entitled, “The AKK as an Economic Development Game-Changer – NNPC’s Vision, Contributions, and Plan Forward,” Kyari said the AKK pipeline would also serve as gas supply link to other African countries and Europe upon completion.
“This project has been on the drawing board for 30 years and the dream was to have gas delivered to Europe across the Trans-Sahara route. What we are seeing today would deliver at least two billion standard cubic feet of gas to the domestic market at the first instance with the potential to increase it. What this means is that it will debottleneck the gas supply network in the entire country,” Kyari said.
He said the AKK gas project would also lead to the development of three Independent Power Plants (IPP) in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, adding that the IPPs would boost electricity supply and promote the growth of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
“I want to state clearly that this gathering would not have been possible if we don’t have a line of sight to the completion of the AKK gas pipeline project.
“This is possible because of the clear direction that Mr. President has shown on the need to deepen domestic gas consumption with a view to creating prosperity out of the enormous gas resources we have as a nation. He has given us all the necessary support and incentives to deliver on this project,” he added.
Kyari said the AKK gas project would also boost the agricultural, industrial, manufacturing and power sectors for the overall growth of the nation’s economy.
He averred that the gas pipeline project was in sync with the aspiration of the federal government to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint in line with the global quest to arrest global warming and climate change and in furtherance of the Decade of Gas programme.
According to him, gas is a key driver of prosperity all over the world and it cannot be different in Nigeria, stressing that the extensive industrial layout in the Otta area of Ogun and Lagos States was anchored on the gas supply by the NNPC and its partners, which is creating jobs and other opportunities for people.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, reportedly said that the federal government had agreed to reduce the gas-to-power gas price from the existing $2.50 to $2.18 following extensive negotiation between the government and the organised labour.
The minister explained that the change in price was with immediate effect and that it was aimed to allow quick industrial desired revolution embarked upon by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Like the NNPC GMD, Sylva assured that the AKK Gas pipeline project would be completed before the end of 2023.
“Let me assure you that the AKKP project will be completed by 2023 as scheduled and the aim of rejuvenating the industrial base of the affected linkage states would fully be achieved,” he said.
