Power Set To Improve As NNPC Repairs Damaged Gas Pipeline

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said it had repaired the

sections of the sabotaged Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline Network leading to

significant boost in electricity generation.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Acting

General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr Omar

Ibrahim.
The statement said the repair had ended almost seven months of gas supply

outage caused by hacking of the pipeline in Delta State.

It also said that this would enable the re-injection of almost 200 million

cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) of gas into the grid, the equivalent of about

700 megawatts of electricity.
The statement said the corporation had also completed repair on the

pulverized Trans-Forcados Pipeline last week which accounted for 230

mmcf/d of gas the equivalent of 805 megawatts of electricity.

“With the latest repair of the ELPS, the NNPC within the last one week is

injecting a 430 mmcf/d of gas into the grid which translates to 1,505

megawatts of electricity every day” , it said.
It also stated that an additional 60mmcf/d is expected within three weeks

when ongoing repair at the Utorogu gas plant was projected for completion.

It stressed that Nigerians should expect steady improvement in power

availability through the course of the year.
The statement noted that despite short term challenges being experienced

as a result of deliberate pipeline sabotage, the gas sector reform was

ongoing and on course.
“ In the last three years alone, over 400km of new gas pipelines have been

completed and we are expanding pipeline capacity and enhancing

connectivity with various gas supply sources.''
The statement said that all PHCN and NIPP power plants were now connected

to gas pipeline infrastructure.
It stressed that additional 450km were under construction, of which 340km

was due for completion by the end of 2014 and the balance by 2016.

“The ongoing gas infrastructure work is the most extensive the nation has

ever seen, with many new kilometres of pipeline being added every day.

“Gas production and supply have also grown to an all-time high of

1500mmcf/d from less than 500mmcf/d four years ago.

“A major part of this new supply is being directed to the power sector,

whilst the non-power sector such as cement, manufacturing, etc., have seen

double increase in supply within the same period.
“Unfortunately, challenges of pipeline attack continue to undermine the

impact of these great efforts'', it said.
It noted that supply growth remained the priority of the NNPC and its

Joint Venture partners.
“Many projects are being progressed to assure realisation of this

objective. Before the end of the year, about 200mmcf/d new gas will be

added to the grid as some projects are billed for completion in June and

September.
“The trend is expected to continue through 2015 when many more projects

are completed'', it stated.
It assured that efforts were being put in place to guarantee sustainable

growth in gas supply, with particular focus on the power sector.