Energy
NCDMB to boost domestic manufacturing by 1 million LPG cylinders annually, as Sylva unveils Gas hub and Rungas Plant
Yemie ADEOYE
YENAGOA -IN an effort to further strengthen the federal government’s quest for economic diversification and local manufacturing, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is now set for the domestic production of about one million Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) annually, from its newly unveiled gas Hub situated in Bayelsa state, south-south Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva graciously unveiled the NCDMB Gas Hub and performed the groundbreaking ceremony of Rungas LPG Composite Cylinder Manufacturing plant, located inside the Gas Hub at Polaku community in Bayelsa state.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Board in Yenagoa, and made available to Biztellers.com.ng via electronic mail.
The Gas Hub is sited at the 10.6 hectares of land which the Board had purchased at Polaku Community in 2013 for the purpose of establishing a pipemill. Discussions with various investors regarding set up of the pipemill did not yield desired results, thereby forcing the Board to re-strategise on how to utilise the land for productive uses.
Speaking at the event, the Minister stated that the project was in furtherance of the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to diversify the Nigerian economy by developing the nation’s huge gas resources across the entire value chain.
He commended NCDMB for re-strategizing to utilize the 10 hectares of land for gas related projects, adding that the event is a practical step being taken to give effect to the Federal government declaration of 2020 as year of gas.
Commenting on the proximity of the NCDMB gas hub to the Shell Gbarain-Ubie gas plant, Sylvia hinted that it will provide opportunities to leverage and activate value adding initiatives.
“The location of this land is close to the Gbarain Gas Plant that produces more than one billion standard cubic feet per day of gas; that provides opportunities to leverage on the proximity to activate value adding initiatives and lead to industrialization and multiple economic activities.
Commenting on the groundbreaking of Rungas Prime limited facility, Sylva said achieving LPG penetration across Nigeria will require targeted interventions directed at both the demand and supply end of the LPG value-chain. He mentioned that it is a pragmatic step towards achieving Federal Government’s agenda of LPG penetration towards making LPG the preferred choice for cooking fuel.
The Minister indicated that the manufacturing plant will have the capacity to produce between 400,000 to 1 million LPG composite cylinders per annum and in turn make composite LPG cylinders accessible and affordable to Nigerians as well as create employment opportunities during its construction and operations phase.
Sylva assured Rungas and other stakeholders that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was committed to supporting the success of the manufacturing plant, adding that a committee had been set-up to drive the National Gas Expansion Program to make Nigeria the gas hub for the African continent.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote explained that the Board developed a 10-Year Strategic roadmap in 2017 and commenced its implementation in January 2018, with an ambitious goal of achieving 70 percent Nigerian Content level by the year 2027.
He said: ”Technical Capability Development is one of the pillars of our Strategic Roadmap meant to facilitate the building of manufacturing facilities and capabilities to support in-country manufacturing and assembly of equipment and input materials required for exploration and production activities’’.
Wabote explained that the strategic roadmap provided the leverage to use the Polaku land for gas related activities and partner with Rungas Limited to setup LPG Cylinder Manufacturing plant; Shell Nigeria Gas to set up Pressure Reduction and Metering Station and Total Support Energy Limited for the provision of CNG and LNG mother-stations.
Shedding more light on the Board’s new strategies for the Polaku land, Wabote stated that “within a year of changing the direction towards gas, we have finalised partnerships with three investors with four hectares of the land already taken up.
He mentioned that these activities will contribute to our drive towards the 70 percent Nigerian Content and creation of job opportunities and other economic activities.
He congratulated Rungas Prime Industries Limited and other stakeholders for taking the bold step to bring the facility to Bayelsa State.
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Energy
Nigeria’s Gas Output Increases By 2.9%, Reaching 2.29 MSCF
Amid a slight increase in gas production, Nigeria’s oil output experienced a substantial rise in November 2024.
Gas production saw a 2.9% month-on-month (MoM) increase, reaching 2,292,951 million standard cubic feet (MSCF) from 2,292,471 MSCF in October.
However, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the growth was minimal, with a mere 0.02% increase in output for the first 11 months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
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The latest gas report from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also revealed a 1.6% increase in domestic gas consumption.
A total of 606,658 MSCF was consumed locally, compared to 596,861 MSCF during the same period in 2023. Gas exports, meanwhile, rose by 6.9%, reaching 829,156 MSCF, up from 775,547 MSCF in the corresponding period of 2023.
This growth in exports continues to play a vital role in bolstering Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
Despite these positive figures, sources close to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) noted that oil remains the dominant force in Nigeria’s energy sector, with gas taking a secondary role.
On the other hand, the NUPRC’s oil production report revealed a remarkable surge.
Nigeria’s oil output, including condensates, rose by 13.3% year-on-year in November 2024, reaching 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.5 million bpd in November 2023. Month-on-month, oil production also increased by 10%, from 1.5 million bpd in October 2024.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), discussed the broader structural dynamics within Nigeria’s economy, highlighting the dominance of the non-oil sector.
In his 2025 Outlook, Dr. Yusuf noted that the non-oil sector contributed 94.43% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q3 2024, while the oil sector accounted for just 5.57%.
“However, the economy is characterized by a paradox of the oil sector contributing an estimated 90% of foreign exchange earnings, while the non-oil sector accounts for about 10%,” Dr. Yusuf said.
“This is a structural shortcoming in our economy which needs to be addressed, as sectors that contribute hugely to GDP have no corresponding contribution to foreign exchange earnings.”
He further emphasized the need to address the challenges faced by the non-oil sector, which include issues related to productivity, infrastructure, funding, and regulatory constraints.
“The policy implication is that more should be done to fix the challenges of productivity and competitiveness of the non-oil sector of the economy,” Dr. Yusuf added
Energy
JUST IN: NNPC Ltd Reopens Warri Refinery
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced that the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Warri, Delta State, has become operational.
This is coming about a month after the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, made the disclosure during a tour of the facility on Monday.
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A video posted by Channels TV on Monday showed Kyari addressing a tour team, which included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
Before the tour commenced, Kyari explained that the inspection aimed to show Nigerians the level of work completed so far.
According to him, although the repairs on the facility are not yet 100 per cent complete, operations have commenced.
He said, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
Located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Warri, the petrochemical plant produces 13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black.
Commissioned in 1978 and managed by NNPC Ltd, the WRPC was built to supply markets in the southern and southwestern regions of Nigeria.
The mechanical completion of the facility was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, according to the Spokesperson of the NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
“Warri should be done by Q1 (first quarter) 2024,” Soneye stated.
The WRPC is one of Nigeria’s four refineries. Others include the old and new Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State.
Energy
Dangote Partnership: MRS Urges Nigerians To Insist On N935/Litre Petrol Price Nationwide
MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, a prominent player in the Nigerian downstream oil industry, has implemented a new petrol price of N935 per litre across all its retail service stations nationwide.
The company has also called on Nigerians to monitor and report any outlets that fail to adhere to the new price structure.
Biztellers reports that this is consequent upon an announcement by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to offer petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets, following a reduction in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre.
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It was gathered that MRS Oil Nigeria Plc has instructed all its outlets to implement the new price immediately, setting up a digital platform and monitoring team to ensure full compliance.
In a statement on Monday night, the company declared, “Petrol is now being sold at N935 at MRS Filling Stations nationwide. If you find any station not following this price, please report it. Call 08009447853 or email: NG-FMKPMGWHISTLEBLOWING@NG.KPMG.COM”
Emphasising the eco-friendly nature of its products, MRS Oil added, “We call on all petrol station owners to join MRS Oil Nigeria Plc in improving the supply chain of our beloved country, ensuring product quality and availability in every corner of Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
In Lagos, commuters were seen queuing at MRS filling stations to purchase petrol, with many expressing their gratitude to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil and Gas, urging other marketers to support the indigenous refinery rather than import off-spec products into the country.
A commuter at the MRS station at Alapere on the Lagos Ibadan Express way, Ibukun Phillips, could not hide her joy as her husband filled up their car.
“I am very happy today. This is a victory for Nigeria,” she said. “The price reduction is the best gift of the season. But beyond just the reduction, we are buying standard, eco-friendly petrol at a lower rate. My husband and I have decided we will only be using MRS from now on because we are confident in the quality of the product and supporting the economy.”
A commercial bus driver, Adio Ajibade described the price reduction as a great relief, especially during the festive season.
“The reduction is a great relief. It will reduce transportation costs and benefit Nigerians. God will continue to bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” he said.
A public affairs analyst and university lecturer, Dr. Tunde Akanni, said the collaboration between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil represents a significant step towards improving the affordability, quality, and sustainability of petroleum products in Nigeria.
According to Dr. Akanni, “this move will not only help ease the financial burden on Nigerians but also promote a more environmentally conscious approach to fuel consumption, benefitting both the economy and public health in the long term.”