By Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme
ND Western Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company, announced that it will increase gas production from 360 Million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) to 400 MMSCFD before the end of this year.
Mr Eberechukwu Oji, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, ND Western Limited, made this known while speaking with our correspondent at the sidelines of the 20th edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
According to him, ND Western is the only company that produces Non- associated gas in Nigeria and controls about 20 percent of the gas supply to the power sector for the generation of electricity in Nigeria.
He expained, “ND Western currently supplies over 20 per cent of gas to thermal plants across the country in support of the Federal Government’s Gas-to-Power programme.
“We also produce about 10,000 barrels per day refinery in Uturogu, Delta State which will be completed by 2023.
“The Front End Engineering Design for the project which is a Joint Venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been completed.
“This will be followed by the taking of the Financial Investment Decision (FID) by the JV
parties. This should happen within the next few months.
“The period of construction of a project of that size after the FID is about 24 months which means that we should be able to complete it by 2023.”
Oji further explained that the company began operation in 2011 after acquiring 45 per cent equity of some multinational companies JV with NNPC on OML 34.
He said the company was also planning to develop its midstream business by establishing Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Liquefied Natural Gas and Compressed Natural Gas plants.
Oji noted that Nigeria’s vast gas resources should be utilised for national development, adding that ND Western was committed to actualising this objectives.
Speaking on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB), he said the National Assembly should be commended for taking the bold step after several years of delay.
Oji said the passage of the PIB was one of the best things that have happened to the Nigerian oil and industry.