Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday sought the support of the Nigerian media and oil and gas stakeholders to attract investments to drive the gas utilisation policy of the federal government which targets gas as the transition energy.
The General Manager, Corporate Communications at NCMDB, Dr Ginah Ginah, stated this at a media stakeholders’ workshop with the theme, “Enhancing media competencies to support Nigerian content in a gas economy” held in Port Harcourt.
Gina said that NCDMB had proactively advocated the use of gas which was cleaner as it emits lower greenhouse gases as a transition energy source adding that the media in its agenda-setting role was instrumental to the adoption of gad to drive economic development.
He noted that haven set the regulatory framework and set the pace to catalyse a gas revolution by injecting capital into pioneer gas projects, the next step was to attract investment to the gas sector.
He said that NCDMB considers the media a critical stakeholder in its effort to actualise the 2021-2030 decade of gas policy, and urged media professionals to assist the NCDMB to woo gas investments to the sector.
Gina said the board on its own has partnered with 15 firms to set up projects covering modular refining, gas processing, gas distribution, power generation, manufacturing and others.
According to him, 70 per cent of the board’s investments are in gas-based activities, especially midstream and downstream gas.
He said NCDMB investments underscore the importance of gas to Nigeria’s economic sustainability, apart from its role in the energy transition, adding that gas can be harnessed for food security in fertiliser, industrialization, increase in Gross Domestic Product, and power generation.
He said some of NCMDB’s gas-based projects include its partnership with Rungas to produce 1.2 million LPG composite cylinders per annum in Bayelsa and Lagos states.
It is collaborating with NEDO Gas Processing Company in Kwale, Delta State for the establishment of 80 million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant and a 300 million standard cubic feet per day gas gathering hub.
He said, “The board is also working with Duport Midstream to establish an energy park at Egbokor, Edo State.
“The park would include a 40 million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant, 2,500 barrels per day modular refinery and 20 megawatts power plants.
“The board partnered with the NNPC to invest in Brass Fertilizer and establish 10,000 tons per day Methanol Production plant at Odioama, Brass, Bayelsa State, just as we are investing with Triansel Gas Limited in Koko, Delta State to establish a 5,000 metric tons per day LPG storage and loading terminal facility.
“The project will include the construction of a cylinder refurbishment plant, procurement of 80,000 bottles of LPG cylinders and acquisition of distribution assets,” he said.
Dr Chido Nwakamma, a don from Pan Atlantic University, who served as a resource person urged journalists in the Niger Delta to take a keen interest in reporting developments in the oil and gas sector and make it meaningful to ordinary Nigerians.
Nwakamma noted that the media owed society a duty in showcasing inherent opportunities and benefits in the emerging gas economy and called for use of data to create news that the readers can use to make informed decisions.
He noted that journalists need to dig deeper and probe figures to show the processes that resulted in the advances made by industry players.