According to THISDAY news service, Oando Group Chief Executive Officer Wale Tinubu said the pipeline would accelerate industrialisation in the ‘South-South’ region by providing cheaper, safer, cleaner and environmentally friendly fuel to industries in the region.

“The gas infrastructure has the capacity to deliver up to 100 MMcf/d of natural gas and will deliver an initial 22 MMcf/d of gas to its maiden customer, United Cement Company, to fuel its new 2.5 MMt/a cement plant, located in Mfamosing, Akampka Local Government Area of Cross River State,” Mr Tinubu reportedly said.

The news service went on to quote Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke as saying that the inauguration of the project marked the successful take-off of the gas revolution programme of the Federal Government, which targets $US25 billion worth of investment, and would generate approximately $US10 billion over the next three years.

According to Ms Alison-Madueke, over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created from the Oando gas project and other similar projects contained in the gas revolution agenda.

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“The completion of this project marks the beginning of a journey towards the restoration of Nigeria into the league of nations that have successfully enjoyed the advantage of the abundance of natural gas to positively impact on the lives of present and future generations of their citizens. By 2014, this present government would have positioned Nigeria firmly as the undisputed regional hub for such gas-based industries as fertiliser, petrochemicals and methanol,” THISDAY reported Ms Alison-Madueke as saying.

“As a nation, we are continually striving to realise the great potentials in the vast human and natural resources which Nigeria has. One such major resource is our proven gas reserves base estimated at 187 Tcf and a further undiscovered potential of 600 Tcf.”