NNPC, NLNG Agree To Realize Train 7

PHOTO: GMD, NNPC, ALHAJI SHEHU LADAN.

ABUJA, April 20, (THEWILL) - The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, say they would work closely towards the realization of Train 7 Liquefied Natural Gas Project.

This was one of the resolutions arrived at Monday, when Chima Ibeneche, Managing Director, NLNG, led a delegation to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Alhaji Shehu Ladan.

Ladan, while welcoming the NLNG delegation to his office in Abuja stressed that one of his priorities during his tenure is to ensure the realization of Train 7, which has been in the pipeline for a long time.

Ladan said during his tenure he would mobilize resources to ensure that the LNG Train 7 comes to fruition after ensuring the availability of gas for domestic use.

He noted that Train 7 is very significant to Nigeria’s economy as her development has been hampered as a result of the shortage of gas to satisfy local requirement.

He argued that the development of Train 7, complemented by the Brass LNG, in the same region will not only help in disarming militants in the Niger Delta through the numerous job opportunities they would create, but will also cause a multiplier effect in both the regional and national economy.

"Luckily the shareholders of the LNG project are not asking us for money because they have money of their own for the project. So the development of the project will not only disarm the militants fighting in the region, but also generate a lot of industries that will employ the youths and keep them occupied, and this will have a multiplier effect in the economy of the region and of Nigeria," Ladan said.

Expressing commitment to the Train 7, the NLNG Managing Director, Mr. Ibeneche, said the Liquefied Natural Gas project is the most profitable additional capacity in the LNG.

He stated that apart from the LNG project, the NLNG is equally committed to ensuring the availability of other gas products such as the Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG.

To this end, the NLNG boss sought the support of the NNPC to construct a new LPG jetty and depot in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for ease of supply and distribution of the product in the country.

He posited that NLNG is promoting the expansion of LPG usage in Nigeria by guaranteeing availability of the product, adding that there is every need to increase existing facilities to bring LPG closer to the people.

"There is one major LPG jetty in Lagos, but because of congestion the jetty is not as effective as it should be in product distribution. There is also a small jetty in Calabar, but there is none in Port Harcourt. So if the NNPC with some of its partners can deliver a jetty and a depot in Port Harcourt, we would have broken a jinx on the availability of LPG in Nigeria," adding that NLNG is equally ensuring the availability of gas for power generation in the country by providing the means for Mobil Producing to transport its gas to meet domestic supply needs.