He disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH.
The project, tagged Optimera Energy, is a consortium led by
Falcon Corporation, ND Western Limited, and First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Gas
Limited. The estimated cost of the mega power project is $25m.
The consortium was established as a special-purpose vehicle
to develop and operate its natural gas distribution network within The Lagos
Free Zone.
Promoted by Singapore-based Tolaram Group, Lagos Free Zone
is the first private free trade zone in Nigeria.
Centrally located in Lagos State, the commercial center of
West Africa’s largest economy, the zone covers an area of 830 hectares.
At the signing of the Gas Infrastructure Development deal in
May 2022, it was projected that the project would be complete by early 2024.
However, according to Rathi, the project would not reach completion until at
least mid-2024.
According to Rathi, lack of access to efficient and cheap
energy, as well as port logistics had been the biggest challenges currently
faced by the productive sector of the economy.
He said the project would be a game changer that would
ensure access to clean and efficient energy for the industries that would be
operating within the fee zone.
He said, “If we analyse the key problems faced by business
operators running operations in Nigeria, there are two basic challenges; the
first one is the port logistics which is being solved by Lekki Port. The second
biggest challenge is access to efficient and low-cost power.
“We realise that the second one is a strategic point to be
addressed when we were designing the growth map for our zone. We have been able
to put together a partnership with a consortium of three major companies in the
oil and gas space. It comprises Falcon Corporation, ND Western Midstream Ltd
and FHN Gas Ltd.
“All three of them have combined to create a consortium
called Optimera and they are in the process of bringing piped natural gas to
our zone by the middle of next year. So, the gas is available 10km away from
our zone. So, in the next 12 to 15 months we will get piped natural gas
delivered to our zone.”