Barkindo Rallies Oil Industry To Tackle Power Challenge

- As NNPC, JVs Record 400mmcf/d Unutilized Gas. PHOTO: DR. MOHAMMED SANUSI BARKINDO, GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, NNPC.

ABUJA, March 27, (THEWILL) - Efforts at finding practical solution to the power generation challenge in the country took centre stage at the Gas to Power Stakeholders’ Forum with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo revealing that as much as 400mmcf/ d of gas produced is left unutilized as the power stations that are supposed to use them are not yet completed.

Barkindo revealed this in his remarks at the just concluded conference in Lagos.

He explained that though there were constraints in gas supply to some of the thermal power stations ranging from pipeline vandalism to security problems, the major challenge to effective power generation in the country was the non-availability of power stations to use up the 400mmcf/d that is stranded across various gas projects in the country.

He gave details of the stranded gas to include 100mmcf/d out of a total 240mmcf produced from the Shell Okoloma Gas Plant in Rivers State, 120mmcf/d from the Total-operated Obite Gas Plant also in Rivers State, 80mmcf/d from Shell-operated Gbaran-Ubie Gas Plant, and the 100mmcf/d from Exxon Mobil swapped with the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG.

"Of the 240mmcf/d gas produced at the Okoloma Gas Plant, only 140mmcf/d is used for power generation at the Afam VI Power Plant operated by Shell, the remaining 100mmcf/d is stranded because Afam I to IV Power Plants that were supposed to use it are not functional," Barkindo explained.

He painted a similar picture of the Obite Gas Plant and the Exxon Mobil/NLNG swapped gas project, which he said were ready to supply gas but awaiting the completion of the Omoku and Alaoji Power Plants, and the construction of evacuation line respectively.

Barkindo who said the purpose of the forum was to get stakeholders to rub minds and share experiences called on stakeholders to speak frankly and concentrate on proffering practical solutions to the gas supply and power generation challenges rather than trading blames.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Elizabeth Emuren gave kudos to the corporation for convening the forum while urging all stockholders in the gas supply chain to forge an effective synergy to help government achieve its set target.