The federal government has inaugurated Nigeria’s first modular Liquefied Petroleum Gas extraction plant and a 20-megawatt gas-to-power project in Rivers State.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, commissioned the projects at the Otakikpo field, describing them as a major step in Nigeria’s gas sector.
The projects, developed by Green Energy and Lekoil Joint Venture, are expected to improve domestic gas use, boost electricity supply, and support economic growth.
“These projects will create opportunities for a strong gas economy, provide electricity for the communities, create jobs for youths, and bring other benefits aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ekpo said.
Before the commissioning, the JV management took the minister on a tour of the facilities, including the power plant, LPG extraction plant, Early Production Facility, and a land terminal – the first built by an independent company in Nigeria.
Ekpo praised the companies for using local resources and working peacefully with host communities, traditional rulers, and stakeholders, which helped in the timely completion of the projects.
The event was attended by key government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella. The JV’s leadership, including Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, Chairman of Green Energy International, and Mr. Olalekan Akinyanmi, Chief Executive Officer of Lekoil, also welcomed the dignitaries.
The federal government further pledged to speed up access to clean cooking, increasing the target from 22 percent per year to 25 percent annually.
