Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has said the new global energy order propelled by gas resources would end high fuel costs and douse concerns by environmentalists over pollution.
He spoke when he laid the foundation for the $2 million first Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG) and Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas(LCNG) facility in the North Central region in Lafia, the state capital.
The project with 23 metric tonnes of LNG, 1,500 SCM LCNG capacity is to be established by Greenville LNG Limited.
He said Greenville had taken the lead in fast-tracking clean gas revolution in Nigeria with the establishment of many gas hubs that are catering for Small and Medium Enterprises and other businesses.
He said the effort would lead to huge investment in the country’s gas resources and drive the much needed switch to the product as an alternative energy source.
According to him, although Nigeria is noted for its oil reserve which stands at 40 billion barrels, it is more of a gas nation with over 200 trillion barrels reserve.
He said he had been nursing a long time idea where the state economy would be gas-driven.
“My dream is one day as you have arrived in Nasarawa State is to see our motorcycles being driven on gas,” he stated, while commending Greenville LNG for making the dream a reality.
The managing director/chief executive officer of the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA the office that spearheaded the partnership), Ibrahim. A. Abdullah, said the project would be a springboard to other businesses as it fits into the industrialisation agenda of the state government.
He said the project would usher in the introduction of LNG and LCNG usage for heavy-duty trucks and smaller vehicles such as automobiles and tricycles in the region.
“The project would also provide opportunities for investors and local businesses across the 13 local government areas of the state’s industrial and auto-gas sectors,” he said.
Managing Director of Greenville LNG Mr. Ritu Sahajwalla, who was represented by the director of administration of the company, Mr. Joseph Oyadoyin, said the project would further crystalise the industrialisation drive of Governor Sule by attracting more investments to the state.
He said the company would establish another facility in Karu local government area after the completion of the first project in Lafia.
He added that the project if completed would revolutionise the transportation industry in the state by addressing fuel shortages and enhancing gas usage and distribution within the region.
