… Pledges Support For Completion Of Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project, AKK, Others
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) and the federal government have received the backing of the United States Government to execute the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project and other major gas projects, THE WHISTLER can exclusively report.
The US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, will also visit the country before the end of this year as part of the country’s commitment to Nigeria’s energy security.
This decision was reached during a meeting at the sidelines of the CERAweek by S&P Global in Houston, Texas, USA, exclusively covered by THE WHISTLER.
The meeting was attended by the US Energy Secretary and an NNPC delegation led by the Minister of Petroleum (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo and the NNPCL Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr. Udobong Ntia.
The meeting came after the Energy Secretary made a bold statement about the Trump administration’s moves to remove barriers to hydrocarbon investments.
The NNPC at the 2025 CERAweek advertised its gas initiatives as a transition fuel to deliver energy security in the country and power the continent through its gas projects.
The plan of the federal government has been to step up oil production to generate revenue to fund its clean energy frontiers, which are liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and compressed natural gas (CNG), among others.
“We are looking at gas as a transition fuel. We are here to collaborate with the United States of America and as a nation, we have our own national oil company, the NNPC, that engages in those transactions with other oil companies and the government will come in in terms of policies,” the gas minister, Ekpo, told Wright.
Last year, Nigeria grew its oil production by 29 per cent to 1.75 million barrels per day and gas production by 23 per cent.
The state-owned company is focused on translating oil and gas to better economic conditions for the country and its shareholders.
In 2020, the NNPC initiated a $19.7bn Trans-Saharan gas pipeline (TSGP), which is a natural gas pipeline from Nigeria to Algeria.
The NNPCL also sees it as an opportunity to diversify the European Union’s gas supplies when completed by 2030.
Another project is the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline designed to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta to Kano, passing through Kaduna.
The NNPC also has the 678 km West African Gas Pipeline Project to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo and Ghana.
The NNPC hopes to expand the pipeline to 48 inches.
The EVP upstream of NNPC, Mr Udobong Ntia, told Wright that the company is looking for a safe cover when it comes to funding.
“We’re doing the best we can in terms of security in terms of pipeline security. We are taking care of the host communities,” said Ntia.
The EVP of Gas and New Energy, Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, told the Energy Secretary that funding is critical for Nigeria to execute the multi-billion-dollar projects.
Ogunleye told Wright, “For us specifically, it will be positive for the US to continue to maintain a positive signal to the international community. In the last five years, banks have been reticent in funding oil and gas projects
“It is important that the message is reiterated. Funding is a major issue, even though we are Africa-centric, using the African Development Bank (AfDB), Afreximbank and we are creating an energy bank.
“This is the area that the US should galvanise funding for oil and gas projects, especially in Africa, specifically transformational projects like the African Atlantic pipeline.”
The delegation assured the US of the security of the gas pipeline projects and other assets.
Reacting to the submissions of the NNPC, the US Energy Secretary expressed excitement about the projects
The US Energy Secretary said, “This will be fantastic for Nigeria and all of Africa. Energy for Nigeria is great. Gas development is great.
“You (Nigeria) are such an energy power that is helping neighbours in West Africa, North Africa and, by extension, Europe. This is how we make the world better.
“This is all music to my ears. We need you in DC to know how we can help you and specific things we can do for you in terms of financial institutions.
“We do want to help when it comes to capital so that you can develop these projects. Of course, I will visit. We will have to work on that and believe me, I will. I would love to see it happen this year.”
Wright added that the Dangote Refinery, Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries will make Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products.
US Energy Secretary To Visit Nigeria Over NNPC’s Gas Transition Initiatives is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
