A Dutch energy firm, Energy Ventures B.V, has commenced a project to end gas flaring in Rivers State and convert the waste into electricity and cooking gas. The company's Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Okibe, disclosed this during an inspection of the project site at Agbada 2 in Igwuruta, outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The project aims to harness about 5 million standard cubic feet of gas per day currently being flared from the area.
The gas will be converted into electricity or Liquefied Petroleum Gas for distribution to consumers in communities around the project. According to Okibe, the project is designed to provide sustainable energy for customers who have been underserved in these areas. The Agbada project is being developed by Africa Gas Technology Company Limited, the Nigerian subsidiary of Energy Ventures, and is intended to serve as a pilot for similar projects in Nigeria and other gas-flaring regions across the world.
The project is significant because gas has been flared in the area for more than six decades, with consequences for the environment and public health. Okibe stated that the flare gas has been polluting the environment, causing sicknesses and respiratory problems for over 60 years. The project is a small step to correct the environmental damage caused by gas flaring.
Nigeria has more than 100 locations where significant quantities of gas are being wasted through flaring. Okibe described the country's gas-flaring challenge as part of a wider global problem. He stated that Nigeria is the seventh-highest gas flaring country in the world. The Energy Ventures chief hopes that the Agbada project will demonstrate the technical and economic viability of converting flare gas into energy.
The project, which will cost tens of millions of dollars, is being supported through a combination of private and public-sector funding. Okibe commended the Federal Government for its efforts to curb gas flaring through regulatory measures and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act. The project has already completed its Environmental Impact Assessment, while regulatory approval has also been obtained from the relevant midstream and downstream authorities.
The visit to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company was aimed at advancing the electricity-distribution component of the project. Okibe said they have gotten a green light from the board to engage the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to get the permit to go ahead with the project. Preliminary work has commenced with the fencing of the project location, and full construction will begin after the necessary permit to construct is obtained.
The project is expected to have a positive impact on the environment and the local community. Once completed, it will provide electricity and cooking gas to communities around the project, improving the quality of life for residents. The project will also serve as a model for similar projects in Nigeria and other gas-flaring regions across the world.
Key points
- The project aims to harness 5 million standard cubic feet of gas per day currently being flared from the Agbada 2 area in Rivers State.
- The project will provide sustainable energy for customers who have been underserved in these areas.
- Nigeria is the seventh-highest gas flaring country in the world, with over 100 locations where significant quantities of gas are being wasted through flaring.
