Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has denied claims that it directed a halt to gas supply for power generating companies (GENCOs).

It clarified  that no such directive was issued during a recent stakeholder engagement in Lagos.

According to NMDPRA,the meeting which was held recently aimed to discuss the implementation of the wholesale supply license under the Petroleum Industry Act.

It reassured stakeholders that efforts are ongoing to ensure uninterrupted gas supply, especially as the festive season approaches.

The statement said:”The attention of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has been drawn to a news publication with a spurious claim that the Authority has directed that Gas Supply to power generating companies (GENCOs) be halted and instructed wholesale gas suppliers to stop further supply of gas to companies due to failure in payment obligations.

“The NMDPRA wishes to state categorically that this report is false and completely unfounded. It has absolutely no bearing on the information shared at a recent stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos between the Authority, the OPTS, IPPG and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

“The purpose of the engagement was to sensitize stakeholders on the requirements, opportunities and benefits associated with the implementation of the wholesale supply license as provided by sections 142 and 197 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

“It was a follow up to an earlier stakeholder engagement held at the NMDPRA corporate headquarters in Abuja on November 27, 2024.

“The Authority wishes to reassure all our stakeholders and indeed the general public that at no time was the false statement made at that event and anywhere else, and are advised to completely disregard the publication as every effort is being made to ensure that the supply and distribution of natural gas and petroleum products to end users is seamless and unabated as we head into the festive season and indeed all through the coming year 2025”.

      Mohammed Shosanya

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative,PCNGI,and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to facilitate the implementation of the CNG policy in the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC Managing Director,Dr Samuel Ogbuku,who spoke during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the PCNGI, led by the Programme Director, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, stated that the CNG initiative was critical for the country.

He observed that the Presidential CNG Initiative was a component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s intervention, which was directed at providing succour to Nigerians following the harsh effects of the fuel subsidy removal policy.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer,in a statement by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, noted that implementing the CNG policy would create jobs and local technology transfers for youths and women by supporting auto manufacturing, retrofitting, conversions, and developing critical gas distribution, processing, and production infrastructure and facilities.

Speaking at the opening of a CNG conversion and training centre at Rumuokwuta community in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku said that the NDDC considered the CNG initiative a Presidential directive that deserved utmost attention.

He stated: “This groundbreaking event, the first of its kind in the Niger Delta region, is part of the efforts to set up training centres in all parts of the country.

“The more we train our youths in energy conversion facilities, the more youths we train to make them gainfully employed and financially independent. We want to make the Niger Delta the hub of CNG technicians in the country.”

He said that the Commission was making efforts to set up training facilities to train youths on the conversion to CNG in the Niger Delta region, noting that with the energy transition in the country, Niger Deltans would be allowed to take advantage of the transition to gas.

Also speaking at the facility operated by Lapomik Energies,the PCNGI Programme Director, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, highlighted the gains from embracing CNG, noting that the initiative would stimulate investments in Nigeria’s abundant gas market and develop sustainable gas markets locally while growing the economy and expanding the government’s revenue base.

He emphasized the need for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to train technicians and enhance local capabilities in CNG conversion.

Oluwagbemi said the Presidential Initiative on CNG fully manifested President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of leveraging Nigeria’s gas resources. He stated that Rivers State was the home of natural gas.

He added:“The key objective is to drive down and manage transportation costs for Nigerians by utilizing the cheaper gas alternative that is abundant but currently underutilised in Nigeria.

“Our pilot phase started with training 1,000 auto technicians, engineers, and support staff. By the end of 2024, we aim to have trained 2,500 individuals, and by 2027, our goal is to reach 10,000 trained professionals.

The traditional ruler of Rumuokuta, Eze Michael Chinda, thanked the firm operating the conversion and training centre in his domain for bringing development to his community. He observed that his community was friendly and peace-loving.

The monarch implored the NDDC to assist the community in completing their civic centre and thanked the Commission for providing solar street lights in the area.