Buhari Backs NNPC’s Gas Pipeline Expansion Plan In Nigeria, North Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, reiterated the federal government’s support for efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to expand gas pipelines in the country.

Buhari said the government would soon commence the construction of the 614-kilometer Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline which would move gas from the Southern part of the country to the North.

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The president said the government was also considering the viability of extending the gas pipeline to North Africa.

Buhari said these in his address at the 5th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit at the Sipopo International Conference Hall, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

He said the theme of the summit “Natural Gas – Energy for Sustainable Development” was most appropriate as the summit was “taking place at a critical juncture as global energy supply is transitioning from hydrocarbons to renewables.”

Buhari said, “The Paris Accord of 2015 signalled the first major global commitment to a deliberate effort on this inevitable transition,” stressing that “Nigeria is proud to be one of the first signatories” to the historic Agreement.

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The president said the GECF members were focusing on gas development because they were “mindful of the energy deficit in the developing world especially,here in Africa where we have nearly 600 million people without access to modern energy. As responsible leaders, it is our duty to preserve the environment not only for the present but for future generations.”

Buhari said, “We can achieve this balance between our energy deficit and environmental preservation needs by developing and deploying new technologies. Although classified as fossil fuel, natural gas is a viable solution to both our energy and environmental challenges.”

He added that, “natural gas has the added advantage of availability and affordability,” stressing that, “to fully leverage this potential, nations need to pool resources to put up trans-border and trans-regional energy infrastructure.

“we in Nigeria have led the way by the construction of the West Africa Gas Pipeline which runs through 4 West African countries.”

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kayri, revealed on Wednesday that the cooperation had concluded plans with the China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited (CPPECL) and Brantex Consortium on the commencement of the AKK pipeline project.

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 Kayri made the revelation when he received CPPECL’s President, Sun Quanjun and the head of the Brantex Consortium at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

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