President Tinubu’s energy adviser, Verheijen commissions Decade of Gas Secretariat, emphasises Nigeria’s commitment to boosting gas utilisation
Oredola Adeola
As part of the premium placed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration on gas and commitment to seeing the country utilize it to its fullest, Mrs. Olu Verheijen is the Special Adviser on Energy to President has commissioned Decade of Gas Secretariat, presently domiciled at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Annex Office in Abuja.
Verheijen along with Ambassador Aduda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, and other gas industry players, witnessed the commissioning of the Decade of Gas Secretariat last week.
EnergyDay gathered that the Secretariat was tasked to develop an aligned plan involving key stakeholders in the public and private sectors to unlock Nigeria ‘s abundant gas reserves over the next ten years.
The office will therefore be expected to play a key role in the implementation of the Decade of Gas project by addressing challenges limiting domestic utilization of gas and ensuring the repayment of debts owed by oil and gas companies.
Verheijen in her remark said that the development of gas is a priority for the current administration.
She said, “It has been a long journey with gas in this country, and we have gone from being a major exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), to looking into our future, when gas is going to play a big role in the industrialisation of our country.”
Engr. Ahmed, in his remark at the launch of the “decade of gas” secretariat, explained that the authority has already engaged with key stakeholders such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
He said the new gas pricing template will be made public after a review with Olu Verheijen, adviser on energy to President Bola Tinubu.
“We have been engaging with all the stakeholders in arriving at the domestic price for gas,” he said.
“Very soon, after the review with the adviser today (Wednesday), we will release the new price for the sector.”
According to a statement by the NMDPRA, Nigeria currently has ~206 TCF of proven natural gas reserves which has the potential to unlock economic development and GDP growth for the country.
The Authority further disclosed that as the energy transition evolves, there is an opportunity to accelerate development across the gas value chain, providing a low-carbon bridge to a future of sustainable energy.
