Uncertainty dogs Nigeria’s $2.8 bn AKK pipeline project, as NNPC gives new date for completion
Ilenre Irele
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd)once again has announced a new date for completion of Nigeria’s $2.8billion Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline project being constructed by Oilserve Limited.
Recall that the construction of the AKK pipeline began in July 2020 and the project is designed to ameliorate and ease the challenges of transportion of natural gas from Ajaokuta in Kogi state to Kano through several states.
Oritsemiyiwa Eyesan, executive vice president, Upstream, NNPC in November 2023 had announced then that the project will have been completed for commissioning in December 2023.
However, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Thursday stated that the completion date for the project is now December 2024.
Kyari made this known while delivering his address at the 2024 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Oloibiri Lecture Series & Energy Forum (OLEF) in Abuja on Thursday.
Kyari explained that efforts were ongoing at the NNPC Ltd to develop the right infrastructure needed to bridge the energy access gap in Nigeria, while drivinv prosperity for Nigerians.
“We are committed to developing gas infrastructure across the country. We are dedicated to investing in critical infrastructure to enhance economic prosperity by supplying gas to the domestic market, targeting at least 8 billion cubic meters,” he said.
According to Kyari, the company is on course to ensure that the AKK pipeline is ready to start receiving gas by the end of this year. He added that work was ongoing to repair its pipelines so to limit the use of tankers in delivering petroleum products.
Kyari, calling for support in leveraging Nigeria’s abundant gas resources for economic prosperity, said that on the global front, NNPC Ltd was working on expanding gas supply to the international market primarily through the NLNG Train 7 project while efforts were also being made to kick off Train 8 as well as the various floating LNG initiatives.
In his remarks, Salahuddeen Tahir, Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, stressed on the importance of technology in improving infrastructure, transportation, and security efforts in the energy sector, adding that ensuring stability in the energy sector would drive economic growth, national security, and environmental sustainability.
