The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has undertaken moves with a hope of increasing the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (cooking gas) to 5milliion metric tonnes, surpassing last year’s supply of 1.7mmt by 194 per cent.

Group Executive Director, Downstream, NNPCL, Engr Adeyemi Adetunji, who made the disclosure at the World LPG Association India-Nigeria Summit 2022 yesterday in Abuja, noted that in order to achieve such quantum of supply, the company was partnering with the Indian Oil Company (IOC), after the Asian country boosted its LPG penetration from 62 per cent in 2016 to 99.8 per cent by August 2019.

Engr. Adetunji, who maintained Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Indian experience, also disclosed that the NNPC Limited was well positioned to deploy 740 LPG Micro-Distribution Centres (MDCS), 37 Filling Plants and Skids in its 541 stations within the next three years.

He said: “Nigeria has identified its abundant gas resources as fuel for energy transition which informed her Net Zero commitments by 2060 and the declaration of 2021- 2030 as Decade of Gas.

“NNPC Limited is an energy company with new investments in gas, power, and renewables. Key pipeline projects such as ELPS I1, OE5 and AKK to deliver a total of 6.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day to demand nodes across the country are at various stages of completion.

“We have strong presence in the LPG value chain contributing about 45% of Domestic supply via JVs (Oso Bonny River Terminal), affiliates (Nigeria LNG Ltd & Ashtavinayak Hydrocarbon Limited) and subsidiaries (NPDC).

“The initial target is to do 5 million metric tons, in the next two, three years, but there is the need to do much more. I believe that template will be revised very soon.”

Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters in the Office of the Vice President, Amb. Adeyemi Dipeolu, who pointed out the very low LPG penetration in the country, said the Federal Government was hopeful it would be able to convert 30 million households to the use of LPG by year 2027.