Victor EzejaGroup Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, has stated that completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline project will boost gas supply across the country.
Kyari said that completion of the project will increase supply of gas into the network to about 2.2 billion standard cubic feet.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe NNPCL Group CEO stated this during an inspection tour of the OB3 pipeline River Niger Crossing operation at Aboh, Delta State, on Saturday.
According to a statement by the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, kyari assured that the project will be completed latest by August this year.
Kyari, who expressed delight in the progress of the project said: “This is a major project of monumental value to our country. What this means is that this is the only way we can deliver the gas revolution.
“I am very happy and convinced that, latest by the middle of August, we will complete this project. I have been assured of that by the project team.”
“Once completed, we will see about 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas coming into our network,” he added.
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The NNPCL boss further stated that with the volume of gas expected to be added to the existing production output when the OB3 pipeline project is completed, he has the belief that the country will be able to meet the domestic demand for the product.
“I am sure we can catch up with that kind of demand in the next one and half years. We are happy that this will give us the platform to unleash the gas revolution in our country,” Kyari added.
The OB3 Gas pipeline was designed to serve as an inter-connector which links the Eastern gas pipeline network to the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) in the West and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline in the North.
The completion of the project has been hindered for three years by failure of the various technologies deployed to achieve the River Niger Crossing operation. This involved construction of a 48-inch pipe under the riverbed between Ndoni in Rivers State and Aboh in Delta State.
However, the NNPCL said with the adoption of the Micro-Tunnelling/Direct Pipe Installation technology, the new contractors, Messrs. HDD Thailand/Enikkom and Tunnelling Services Group (TSG), are making a headway with about 860 metres out of the 1,800 metres achieved so far.
Also speaking on the project, Managing Director of NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), Engr. Seyi Omotowa, expressed optimism that with the level of progress achieved so far in the River River Niger Crossing operation which had been an impediment, it will be completed on schedule.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who was also present during the inspection tour, expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the OB3 River Niger Crossing operation.
“I was here last year, and I saw the work that was going on. There was a promise that it would be completed by December last year. I took it with a doubt. But today, from what I can see, I am confident that by July or August it will be completed, and it will be commissioned by the President,” Ekperikpo stated.
On his part, Managing Director of Tunnel Service Group (TSG), one of the contractors handling the project, Mr. Ingo Justen, expressed confidence that the current technology being applied in the execution of the project would lead to its speedy conclusion.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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