By Adedapo Adesanya
The chief executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Mele Kyari, has once again reiterated the significance of natural gas in powering economic growth and industries in Nigeria.
Mr Kyari made the statement at the public presentation/launch of the book titled The Rise of Gas: From Gaslink to the Decade of Gas authored by Engineer Charles A. Osezua.
The NNPC helmsman, who was represented by Mrs Oluwakemi Oyekan-Olumuyiwa, the Head of Relationship and Stakeholder Management at the firm, stated that gas, which is acceptable globally as a source of energy, plays a critical role in our society by sustaining economic growth and powering our industries.
He observed that this is evident even in the global economy whereby the production and supply of natural gas is prioritised in the face of geopolitical dynamics and energy security.
Mr Kyari noted that with substantial gas reserves exceeding 200 trillion cubic feet (TCF) and a potential to reach 600 Tcf, Nigeria stands poised to leverage this resource for sustainable development, energy security, and job creation.
He further noted that the book launch aligns with the federal government’s Decade of Gas initiative, which is aimed at maximising Nigeria’s gas reserves for domestic utilisation and international export.
NNPC, as a key player, has been instrumental in driving this agenda through strategic investments in critical gas infrastructure such as pipelines and processing facilities.
Acknowledging Engineer Charles Osezua’s contribution to the discourse on gas development, Mr Basil Omiyi, former Chairman of Seplat Energy and chairman of the Public Presentation/book Launch, commended the author for catalysing conversations essential for the industry’s advancement.
The unveiling of The Rise of Gas book not only signifies a significant contribution to Nigeria’s energy literature but also underscores NNPC’s commitment to promoting knowledge sharing and innovation within the gas industry.