Buhari’s mandate to shift dependence from oil yields results, says Kachikwu

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, on Tuesday in Abuja said the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to shift focus from oil-dependence to gas was yielding results.
Kachikwu said this while addressing newsmen after the signing of the Gas Sales and Aggregation Agreement (GSAA) by the NNPC/Total Exploration Production Nigeria Joint Venture, Greenville Oil and Gas Company and the Gas Auto.
According to Kachikwu, the agreement will unlock unbelievable opportunities as the first phase will produce 2200 standard cubic feet, scf, of gas to 5,000 scf.
”President Muhammadu Buhari provided this leadership under the seven big wins. Conversations have been on over the last two-three years.
”Our first step was to set up the Nigerian Gas Management Company and Nigerian Gas Pipeline Transportation Company.
”I am happy that a few months after we launched the gas policy, we are seeing this happening. We want to ensure that the payment issues are dealt with and made on time so there is a good financing for the project,” he said.
He urged other investors to invest in the sector, saying ”we will see what we can do to move this fairly fast from oil-focused to gas-focused zone”.
Admitting that most industries in the North were dying due to the power challenge, he urged the investors to move quickly to help solve the problem.
The Gas Sales Aggregation Agreement will bring an investment of $500 million in the first phase and $350 million in the second phase.
It will also lead to many Compressed Natural Gas companies selling directly to consumers across the country.