Expect completion of OB3 gas pipeline 2nd quarter ― Baru

GROUP Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, has said that the OB3 gas pipeline project of the Federal Government will be completed in the second quarter of 2019.

He disclosed this on Thursday during the official inauguration of the Egbaoma Gas Plant, a subsidiary of the PNG Gas Ltd in Ebedei community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to the NNPC boss, the OB3 project is expected to further boost domestic gas supply in the country, adding “The 2bscfd capacity OB3 gas project is expected to be completed by second quarters of 2019.”

Baru said that NNPC was committed to the Federal Government’s aspiration as expressed in the gas, environmental and domestic gas utilisation policies.

He added that the corporation was pursuing aggressive growth in the domestic gas supply capacity from the current 1.7bscfd to 5bscfd in the medium term.

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The NNPC GMD urged gas operators, whose investment are closed to the Egbaoma gas plant and the OB3 pipeline, to collaborate with the PNG Gas Ltd to supply gas to maximise the plant’s capacity, access and commercialise all existing flares.

“The development of this gas plant fit squarely into the federal government gas aspiration of using gas as an enabler for energy independence, industrial development, commerce and environmental and social sustainability.

“This plant is the only onshore third-party gas extraction and fractionalisation plant of its kind in Nigeria and a mascot of the new gas revolution

“The achievement is by no means a great feat, the conceptualisation and actualisation of this dream have reinforced NNPC’s confidence in the potentials of Nigerian indigenous companies,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of Owel-Linkso and Director in PNG Gas Ltd, Mr Charles Osezua, said the company was established at a cost of 60 million US Dollars.

Osezua said the gas plant had an operational capacity of 30 million standard cubic feet of Wet Gas daily.

He said that the company currently had a staff strength of about 500 and 60 per cent from the Niger Delta.

“Egbaoma Gas Plant has produced over 35,000 Metric tons of gas for the Nigerian domestic market since inception.

“We have also achieved excellent health, safety, and environmental performance of about 1.3 million manhour operations without time lost to injury.

“Our relationship with the host community is cordial,” he said.

Osezua, however, urged the Federal Government to create the enabling environment to enable the operators to invest in the gas sector to the benefit of Nigerians.