A US$2.8 billion natural gas pipeline project in Nigeria will deliver first gas in the first quarter of 2023, authorities heard during a visit last Thursday to the ongoing construction.
Leading this inspection of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) project was chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.
Board members of the state oil corporation, headed by Kyari, received assurances that the projected period for commissioning was realisable, from Emeka Okwuosa, chairman of Oilserv, a contractor for one of the project segments.
Construction on the 614-kilometer pipeline, named for the cities it spans, began in 2020. Upon commissioning, the pipeline will transport natural gas from southern Nigeria to central Nigeria.
Kyari said the project will improve power generation, facilitate industrial development, create thousands of jobs, and deepen domestic gas utilisation.
The AKK project is intended to be part of a larger Trans Nigerian Gas Pipeline project, being developed under Nigeria’s gas master plan.
The country’s gas reserves, more than 180 trillion cubic feet, are among the largest in the world. The government intends for the resource to be used as a transition fuel, consistent with the aims of many countries around the world, including Guyana.
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But more than that, Nigeria can tap into a multibillion-dollar market by positioning itself as a major natural gas supplier for Europe, as the continent seeks to reduce dependence on Russian gas.
The Trans Nigerian Gas Pipeline is part of an even larger proposed Trans Saharan Gas Pipeline, meant to export natural gas to customers in Europe.
Just last Monday, envoys from Spain, Portugal, Italy and France met with NNPC authorities to discuss strengthening partnerships in the energy sector.
