NLNG upgrades three jetties with N150m

The management of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG)  has said that about N150 million had been invested to upgrade three jetties in Lagos to boost Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply to domestic market.

Mr Tony Attah, Managing Director, NLNG disclosed this on Tuesday during a visit to some LPG popularly known as cooking gas terminal facilities in Lagos. Attah said that the company had estimated over N150 million to  support in refurbishment and upgrading the Petroleum Wharf Apapa (PWA), New Oil Jetty (NOJ) and Bulk Oil Platform (BOP) to increase cooking gas supply to domestic market.

He said that the management of NLNG decided to visit the facilities to take a look at the infrastructural challenges inhibiting the free flow of the product into the market. He said that the company had committed to supply of 350,000 tonnes of cooking gas into the market, but was able to supply only 262,000 in 2016 because of these challenges.

According to him, so, there is enough volume for the market but these infrastructural challenges inhibit the flow to the market.  “NLNG will refurbish some of the jetties and upgrade them so that they can have more capacity to receive and operate optimally and safely.

“Once supply increases into the market it will reduce the ability of people to play foul

“ As part of NLNG’s constant advocacy on helping to build a better Nigeria, we are focusing on supply of LPG,’’ he said.

The NLNG boss said that stay committed to the development of Nigeria, adding that its part of the company’s vision in helping to build a better Nigeria. “We focused on energy, bringing energy into the country; today most of it is within the domestic. But the future that we see is an industrialised aspect powered by LPG.

“In 2007, when there was a shortage of LPG in the market, NLNG intervened and we are glad to say that as a result of NLNG’s intervention volume consumed has scaled up to over 250,000 tonnes. “And we are looking to scale the volume up more as the company has set aside 350,000 tonnes for the market,’’ he added.

According to him, In the LPG industry, we see opportunities for business and partnerships. We will upgrade the jetties and open more avenues for the product will come in. “Today, about 400,000 of LPG in the market is used largely for domestic purposes, but we have a vision that Nigeria’s industrialisation can be underpinned by gas.

“Our continuous advocacy in helping to build better Nigeria, we are focusing more on supply of cooking gas. In his remark, Mr  Venkataraman Venkatapathy, the Group Managing Director, NIPCO  Plc, said that the company has commenced construction of  5,000 metric tonnes LPG storage tank to boost domestic gas supply to the market.

Venkatapathy said that the tank which is the largest storage facility in African will improve access, facilitate gas evacuation across the nook and crannies of the country and quick turnaround of NLNG vessel.

He commended the management of the NLNG for playing a big role as the biggest producer of LPG to the domestic consumption. According to him, we have excellent relationship with off takers who for obvious reasons (proximity to jetty, enduring LPG business operations, improved loading and weighing facilities to ensure accuracy of product loaded.

“We thank NLNG for proving LPG receipt facilities in BOP follow by that in PWA, this will help for easy berthing of the vessels. `Now NLNG can vessels can pump simultaneously in two different pipelines to PPMC and another to NIPCO,’’ he said.

The NIPCO boss said that the company has made effort in consumer education to increase awareness of the benefits of LPG and other forms of domestic fuel. Mr Awalu Ilu, Chairman, Ultimate Gas Limited, commend NLNG for prompt product supply intervention to Lagos for market consumption, adding that before 2007 gas supply to the marketer  had been a serious challenge.

Ilu said that urged NLNG to assist in expansion of the gas terminal in Lagos to boost supply to Lagos market, while appealing to the management of NLNG to increase supply of LPG to Lagos to crash price.