Infrastructure Key To Achieving Gas Utilisation Initiative – NIPCO

The Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) has applauded governments at all levels for their programmes targeted at deepening domestic gas utilisation in consonance with the global energy transition.

The managing director of NIPCO PLC, Suresh Kumar, who made the commendation at the 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Abuja Continental Hotel, said the company is committed to supporting the ideas with its ultra-modern facilities.

Kumar however, noted that more concerted efforts are still needed in the areas of infrastructure to guarantee access to the products.

“Operators have based their hopes on speedy completion of the Abuja – Kaduna – Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and subsequent connection of more cities to the gas pipeline across the country,” he stated.

Recounting the performance of the petroleum marketing company in the 2022 Financial Year, he said the company was able to scale through the global and national challenges through its resilience structure.

“Our performance in 2022 was mainly on a long-term growth strategy that was anchored on prudent management of resources, cost optimization, teamwork and unflinching support of the Board of Directors,” he said.

Kumar continued: “Our company’s daunting efforts in the industry and indeed gas sector is also worthy of note with its wholly owned subsidiary, NIPCO Gas Limited (NGL).

The company has continued to deepen domestic gas utilisation through access to both CNG for auto use and piped natural gas for industrial usage. It has constructed and laid over 100 kilometres of big gas pipeline and is currently in the Lagos-Ibadan expressway linking Ogun State to its neighbouring Oyo State via gas pipeline.

“NIPCO Gas Limited (NGL) embarked on the construction of three CNG refill stations in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs in 2022 to facilitate access to gas by motorists and other end users. Two of the stations are ready and functioning with the Abuja airport road station servicing the newly inaugurated mass transit buses for civil servants in the territory among other motorists.”

Kumar said NGL is entrenching its presence across the federation encouraging a switch to natural gas by motorists and industries as the preferred energy source through massive investment in infrastructure to improve access.

“It is also a stakeholder in the Federal Government National Gas Expansion Programme with her footprints in some states with conscious plans to cover the entire country soonest,” he said.

He assured the shareholders that the company would continue to act in concert with its peers in the industry to achieve energy security for Nigeria.

The NIPCO boss said, the outlook of the company is promising, assuring that the management would continue to improve in all areas of its operations to achieve the vision of the promoters of the organisation.