Fuel Subsidy Removal: Increased natural  gas utilization will provide succor for Nigerians- NIPCO boss

Managing Director of NIPCO Plc, Mr. Suresh Kumar made this assertion at a joint news briefing with MD NIPCO Gas Ltd , a wholly owned subsidiary of the company ,Mr Nagendra Verma, in Lagos at the weekend, and stressed that gas was fast becoming the preferred energy fuel across  the world .

He pointed out  that effective  utilisation of the nation’s  abundant  natural gas resource can be a panacea to reducing the burden that would be associated with the eventual removal of fuel subsidy in the country.

The act, which he said should be executed through Piped Natural Gas,PNG,Compressed Natural Gas,CNG and Auto Compressed Natural Gas,will also reduce importation of other fossil fuels thereby saving towards exchange for the country

Kumar said NIPCO had been at the forefront of campaign for the harnessing of the abundant gas resource to ensure healthy economic growth.

He also advocated the need for increased monetisation of indigenous natural gas  in order to boost the nation’s economy and reduce unemployment therein.

He said: “With the intentions of the federal government to do away with fuel subsidy, natural gas by CNG and Auto CNG are bound to be a preferred “fuel of choice” due to safety, environment, economic and abundant availability reasons in Nigeria.

“NIPCO  feels that increased monetisation of indigenous natural gas will surely contribute heavily in betterment of economic situation and employment in Nigeria”.

He expressed optimism that the federal government’s declaration of 2020-2030 as a “Decade of Gas” with an aim to target gas-powered economy of Nigeria by year 2030 under the Nigeria Gas Expansion Program (NGEP) project will certainly improve the utilization of the nation’s natural gas resource and play a major role in improving her economy.

Kumar spoke on the utilization of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, otherwise known as cooking gas in the country, saying its penetration in Nigeria is still being hampered by certain factors which falls short of the population of the country.

According to him, foreign exchange scarcity in recent times was responsible for the skyrocket cost of cooking gas in Nigeria, adding that the government should explore avenues to nip this in the bud with a view to enabling more Nigerians to consume the product.

NIPCO, the MD poured our would continue to play preeminent roles in the country’s oil and gas sector  and offer suggestions on how best to leapfrog the industry among its peers in the global market.

To him: NIPCO is ever ready to align with government policies to improve the sector as the company remained resilient on enormous growth opportunities in the Nigerian economy.

Photo caption:

R – L.:  Manager Operations ,Engr Masheni Gabriel : MD NIPCO Plc ,Suresh Kumar ; MD NIPCO Gas Limited, Nagendra Verma ; and Manager LPG , Usman Adamu at an interactive session  with Energy Editors in Lagos .