LPG Vessel: Ekpo, Kyari Laud Temile On Local Content Law Optimisation

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has lauded the courage, vision and hard work exhibited by Nigerian firms in breaking new frontiers in gas businesses in line with the nation’s local content law.

Also, the group chief executive officer (GCEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, has commended Temile Development Company for the successful completion of its 23,000 cubic metres ultramodern Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Carrier – ‘Alfred Temile 10’.

Ekpo and Kyari both gave commendations during the commissioning of Temile Development Company Limited’s 23,000 cubic meters ultramodern Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Carrier – ‘Alfred Temile 10′ at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, South Korea, on Tuesday.

NNPC Ltd also held talks with a South Korean consortium led by Daewoo E&C on the development of gas projects in Nigeria.

On his part, the Gas minister, Ekpo, described the courage in the conceptualisation and delivery of the project by Temile Development Company Ltd as a monumental achievement in local content law, even as he called on other firms to emulate Temile’s example.

He said the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act was enacted to promote the development of in-country capacity in the oil and gas industry, and that the LPG vessel’s commissioning was a manifestation of the success of this legislation.

“By actively engaging in projects of this magnitude, we are fostering indigenous participation and furthering our commitment to building a sustainable and vibrant oil and gas sector,” he said.

According to the minister, the vessel would enhance the efficiency of the country’s energy supply chain by transporting LPG from the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Ltd (NLNG) to coastal storage facilities.

“Today’s commissioning also reflects the increasing influence of Nigerian content in the oil and gas maritime space. It is a proud moment for our nation, showcasing active participation that not only complies with the Cabotage Law, but aligns with the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) of 2010,” he added.

The minister urged stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to recommit to the principles of collaboration, innovation, and local content development.

Meanwhile, NNPC GCEO, Mele Kyari, led the oil company’s team to the discussions, which were held in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday.

The talks were aimed at deepening NNPC Ltd’s drive to tap into the nation’s vast gas resources to be a supplier of clean and affordable energy to the global market.

South Korea is a major destination for Liquefied Natural Gas exports and the consortium, in collaboration with the Korean Export-Import bank, has expressed interest in advancing discussions on investing in greenfield and other gas development opportunities.

The talks will pave the way for the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will unlock strategic foreign direct investment in line with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s policy of making Nigeria a prime destination for global investors.

Kyari has also congratulated Temile Development Company, an indigenous player in the gas sector, on the commissioning of its 23,000 cubic meters ultra-modern Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Carrier in Ulsan, South Korea, today.

According to the GCEO, the vessel named Alfred Temile 10, represents a significant stride towards deepening the utilisation of gas in-country and growing gas revenues.

“It is great that Temile Development Company is able to complete the construction of the 23kt LPG vessel. This will go a long way in improving access to LPG in the domestic market and provide cleaner fuel in our country. Nigeria’s objective is to ensure that everyone has access to clean energy and particularly walk away from biomass as a source of energy. We know this is good and that is we will continue to support it.

He disclosed that NNPC Ltd, alongside its partner West Africa Gas Ltd (WAGL), was building its own vessels, which will boost LPG supply in Nigeria with a view to saturating the market.

The commissioning of Alfred Temile 10 signifies a crucial step in deepening the utilisation of gas in-country and growing gas revenues.

The vessel is equipped to transport liquefied petroleum gas efficiently, which will contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s domestic gas industry.