Ongoing reforms in Nigeria's gas sector will make the West African country a regional hub for petrochemical and fertilizer production by 2017, according to Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) Group Executive Director David Ige.
During an acceptance speech at the Oil and Gas Yearbook's Man of the Year Award ceremony, Ige said that Nigeria is well on its well to achieving gas export parity, which would encourage greater private sector investment in gas exploration and production.
RELATED: Qatar aims to increase petrochemical output
“All that we need to make Nigeria a regional hub of petrochemical and fertilizer is in place, and by 2017 Nigeria clearly will become the regional hub of gas in Africa," said Ige as quoted by Ventures Africa.
Ige noted that domestic gas usage has been increasing and that the nationwide Gas Infrastructure Development program has made the transport of natural gas easier.
He also commended Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for taking measures to resolve the country's power crisis, citing as an example the Ajaokuta-Kano-Kaduna gas line, which will supply gas to the northern part of the country for power generation.