Local investor, Osezua seeks industrial gas hub to end multiplicity of gas plants
Pioneer indigenous investor in gas processing and Chairman of Owel-linkso group, Engineer Charles Osezua has called on the Federal Government to develop an industrial gas hub that would bring all gas producers together, thus eliminating multiplicity of gas plants in the country.
Addressing the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, who was the special guest of honour at the inauguration of his $60m Egbaoma Gas Processing Plant (EGPP) in Ebedei community, Ukwani Local Government area of Delta State, he appealed for support for gas producers to replicate the gas processing plant in other parts of the county.
Oseuza revealed that about $60 million had so far been invested in the project and noted that installed capacity delivery stands at 30 million standard cubic feet of wet gas daily.
According to him, “The gas plant offtakes wet gas from the Platform Petroleum /Newcross JV flow station to produce liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, propane, lean gas and natural gas liquids, NGL.
“The plant contributes to the supply of LPG and propane to the domestic market. The lean gas and NGL are supplied to the industrial sectors,” he said.
He added that Egbaoma which is entirely an indigenous gas processing plant has produced about 35,000 metric tonnes of gas for the nation’s domestic market since it took off.
He said about 500 homes currently utilise the LPG from the plant, adding that they have also stimulated interest among Nigerians to buy propane for use.
Responding, Dr Baru Baru, said the plant was the “only onshore third party gas extraction and fractionation plant of its kind in Nigeria today and a mascot of the new gas revolution,” stressing that it remains fresh signpost of the nation’s engineering prowess and local content capacity in gas production.
While recalling that the EGPP was not the first delivered by Owel-linkso group, Baru noted that “This is not your first start-up. You had done it before with Gaslink that started gas distribution in the Ikeja, Lagos area which has spread to Apapa and beyond,” he said.
Baru urged gas operators that are close to the Egbaoma gas plant to come together to supply gas to the plant to maximise its capacity to commercialise flared gas, stressing that the move will be one of the key steps towards ending gas flare in the country.
NNPC boss further averred that the Federal Government is currently taking steps to effectively monetise gas resources for national economic growth.
In his submission, Baru said “I also wish to use this medium to assure Deltans and Nigerians that the journey to effective monetisation of our vast gas resources for sustainable economic growth and complete end to gas flaring is underway and the future is very bright.”
