President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, have underscored the need to boost energy for the use of Nigerians.
They both spoke at the inauguration of the upgraded Nedogas Processing Plant and the Kwale Gas Gathering Facility in Kwale in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to them, energy is very vital to the socio-economic lives of people.
President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed that the federal government was committed to encouraging the harnessing of the rich gas resources of the country for use by Nigerians and commended the board and executive management team of Nedogas Development Company Limited, NDCL, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, for making the project possible.
Also, Governor Oborevwori, who was represented by Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, stated that the successful setting up of the gas processing plant in Kwale should encourage other investors to set up such plants in other parts of the state where gas flaring takes place.
“I call for the replication of this project in other parts of our state where gas flaring is taking place to reduce its effects on our people,” he said.
He said further: “One can feel the pains of every Nigerian when it comes to the issue of energy availability and affordability.
“Even more worrisome is the World Bank report that, due to poor power supply in the country, businesses spend about $29 billion a year on power.
“It is also quite unfortunate that the country is ranked as the lowest in terms of access to electricity, globally.”
Governor Oborevwori stated that the projects would no doubt benefit Nigerians, particularly the people of Delta, in many ways.
According to him, Nigeria boasts a reserve base of 208.83 trillion cubic feet of gas, which represents 33 per cent of Africa’s total gas reserves.
“This places Nigeria ninth among countries with a high concentration of natural gas in the world.
“So, with these projects, the energy needs of Nigerians will get a boost, especially in the critical area of supply.
“It is heartwarming, too, that this facility will have gas supplied to it by other oil companies that are operating in this area, which will greatly reduce the effects of gas flaring on our people.
“We are all aware that the level of gas flaring is very high in this part of the world, despite its acknowledged adverse effects on the climate, which causes acid rain and adversely affects the health of the people,” he said.
The chairman of Nedogas Limited, Emeka Ene, said in his address: “The KGG Facility, with its impressive capacity of 300 million standard cubic feet per day is a testament to what can be achieved when innovation, determination, and strategic partnerships converge.”