By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has held talks with a South Korean consortium led by Daewoo E & C on the development of gas projects in Nigeria.
The discussions, which held in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday, were aimed at deepening the state energy company’s drive to tap into the nation’s vast gas resources to be a supplier of clean and affordable energy to the global market.
South Korea is a major destination for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports and the consortium, in collaboration with the Korean Export-Import Bank, has expressed interest in advancing discussions on investing in greenfields and other gas development opportunities.
According to a statement released by Mr Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, the talks will pave the way for the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will unlock strategic foreign direct investment in line with the President Bola Tinubu administration’s policy of making Nigeria a prime destination for global investors.
The NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, also congratulated Temile Development Company, an indigenous player in the gas sector, on the commissioning of its 23,000-cubic-metres ultra-modern Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Carrier in Ulsan, South Korea.
According to Mr Kyari, the vessel named Alfred Temile 10, represents a significant stride towards deepening the utilisation of gas in-country and growing gas revenues.
“It is great that Temile Development Company is able to complete the construction of 23KT LPG vessel. This will go a long way in improving access to LPG in the domestic market and provide cleaner fuel in our country.
“Nigeria’s objective is to ensure that everyone has access to clean energy and particularly walk away from biomass as a source of energy. We know this is good and that is why we will continue to support it.”
The commissioning of Alfred Temile 10 signifies a crucial step in deepening the utilisation of gas in-country and growing gas revenues. The vessel is equipped to transport liquefied petroleum gas efficiently, which will contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s domestic gas industry.
He also disclosed that NNPC Limited alongside its partner West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL), was building its own vessels which will boost LPG supply in Nigeria with a view to saturating the market.
Dipo Olowookere