In a bid to address the challenges of low gas supply to Gas (Thermal) Power Generating Stations in the country, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo and the Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, on Wednesday 7th February 2024 in Abuja, have set up an Inter-ministerial Committee that will suggest ways and means of achieving steady and sustainable gas supply to Gas Power Generating Plants to meet both domestic and industrial needs of Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee was formed at the end of a meeting between the two Ministries in the Office of the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas).
At the meeting, Ekpo outlined the challenges causing low supply of gas to Thermal Power Plants to include the gas legacy debts; vandalization of oil and gas pipeline infrastructure in the Niger Delta Region; domestic pricing of gas in dollars, among others.
Ekpo expressed his willingness to work harmoniously with any individual, organisation and agency to solve these challenges.
“We need to work collaboratively to solve the problem of gas supply to thermal plants and uninterrupted power supply to consumers in the country. There is absolutely nothing that can be done in Nigeria without stable power,” Ekpo said.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu in his remarks stated the need for the two Ministries to work collaboratively to resolve the problem of low gas supply to the Thermal Power Plants in order to achieve uninterrupted power supply in the country.
He assured that resolutions from the committee would be submitted to President Bola Tinubu which would be acted upon to bring an end to the crisis in the power sector.
Members of the committee were drawn from the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power, Regulatory Agencies, Operators and Critical Stakeholders in the Gas and Power Sectors.
The meeting was witnessed by some Directors in the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power.