Nigeria kickstarts decade of gas with new petroleum bill
The government is embarking on a sweeping natural gas development drive, in order to make its energy cleaner, more affordable and more accessible
W
hile better known as a major oil producer, Nigeria has vast but largely untapped natural gas resources. In its latest statistical energy review, BP estimates the
country’s proven gas reserves alone at 5.5 trillion m3. Nigeria’s
government believes roughly a further 17 trillion m3 could be discovered. Authorities in Abuja are eager to capitalise on this wealth. They want to see Nigeria expand its LNG exports, already set to
JOSEPH MURPHY
reach 30mn metric tons/year in 2024 when the NLNG consortium commissions a seventh train at their liquefaction complex on Bonny Island. But they are also eager to see gas play a greater role in the domestic economy, both to drive economic growth and improve standards of living, and to reduce emissions by displacing more polluting fuels. The government envisages increased gas use in a range of sectors, from vehicle transport and household cooking to power generation and petrochemicals.
63
G L O B A L VO I C E O F G A S
O C TO B E R 2 0 2 1
