- Set March for completion of Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben (OB3) gas pipeline
By Stella Odueme
President Bola Tinubu, and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (GAS), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo as well as stakeholders in Nigerian energy sector have canvassed foreign and domestic investment to unlock the nation’s
abundant proven gas reserves of more than 208TCF.
Also, Ekperikpe has announced the March completion of the Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben (OB3) which he said is a vital piece of gas infrastructure for the supply of feedstock to the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano ( AKK) pipeline.
They spoke at the
the opening ceremony of the 7th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2024) in Abuja with the theme; “Navigating the New Energy World Order: Security, Transition, and Finance.”
President Tinubu, who maintained that removal of fuel subsidy remains critical said finance, as always, plays a pivotal role in driving the energy agenda. He spoke through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
“Adequate funding is crucial to support the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies, infrastructure, and projects that will shape our energy future.
” As a nation, we must explore innovative financing models, engage with the private sector, and attract investments that will propel us towards a more resilient and diversified energy sector.”
The Minister who said that energy security extends beyond geopolitical stability to include energy infrastructure’s resilience, diversity, and reliability also stressed that; “finance is essential for transformative endeavours, and the gas sector is no exception. Attracting domestic and foreign investments is important to unlock the full potential of our gas resources.
“Collaboration with international partners, financial institutions, and the private sector is pivotal for securing funding for gas infrastructure development.”
On the OB3 pipeline, he said; “the Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben (OB3) is a vital piece of gas infrastructure for the supply of feedstock to the AKK pipeline. This pipeline is among Nigeria and Africa’s biggest gas transmission systems. Per the Contractor’s estimates, I am pleased to announce that the OB3 pipeline will be completed by March 2024, and the 42” 127 km pipeline will supply 2BCF daily.
Upon completion, this pipeline will provide the AKK pipeline with gas from the three fields of Obiafu, Obrikom, and
Oben.”
Secretary General, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
HE Haitham Al Ghais, acknowledged
Nigeria’s role in OPEC’s past and present saying it remains a tremendous source of pride.
“We are also acutely conscious of Nigeria and Africa’s critical role in the future of our Organization and the energy industry more broadly.
“By 2045, the Middle East and Africa region is forecast to be the leading region by overall population, adding 723 million people in the period 2022-2045, according to OPEC’s World Oil Outlook.”
