GMD, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) disclosed that most of its gas infrastructure projects are been delayed by lack of fund, despite a pat on its back by the Senate Committee on Gas for implementing key gas infrastructure projects across the country.
In a statement by the Corporation in Abuja, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu told the Senate Committee who were on an oversight visit to the Corporation Headquarter that less than 50 percent of its budget for proposed gas infrastructure projects in the 2012 final year was approved by the National Assembly.
According to the statement was signed and released by the Corporation’s acting General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Fidel Pepple, said “that it made a budget request of $1.05 billion in 2012 to facilitate the construction of some gas infrastructure but got a final appropriation of $490 million from the National Assembly which is less than 50 per cent of the requested funding”.
Yakubu noted that despite the scarcity of fund, the corporation was able to implement nine key gas infrastructure projects within the period, adding that eight of such projects have been stalled by lack of fund.
The GMD further stated that within the appropriation period, gas infrastructure focus was prioritised around critical pipeline expansions and additions to serve stranded power plants especially along the Escravos Lagos Pipelines (ELPS) were executed.
He pointed out that creative strategy to accelerate such outstanding projects through a Public Private Partnership arrangement is being developed to augment envisaged funding from the Federal Government.
“Very significant progress was made with these projects leading to gas deliverability improvement to Geregu, Olorunshogo, Omotosho and Sapele power plants.
In total, an addition of about 250mmscf/d of gas has been enabled towards improved power generation over the period as a result of infrastructure development”.
Due to shortfall in funding, an additional eight projects remain unfunded. These will be represented and focus in 2013’s budget,” Yakubu revealed.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu who led the delegation, expressed satisfaction with the contributions of the Corporation in ensuring adequate gas supply to power plants as well as to industries.
Nwaogu said: “On the whole and in general I think the NNPC’s 2012 budget has been reasonably complied with and implemented, we saw the documentation.
What I saw today and what we saw as a Committee, we are encouraged, we are impressed and we are delighted. What we need to do is to consistently follow-up to ensure that they do not start on a good note and derail along the partway, that is the function of the National Assembly oversight activities.”