The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has assured that the company was well positioned to transform Nigeria into a gas hub within the Gulf of Guinea, in line with the global quest for cleaner energy.

Locally, Shell said its subsidiaries in Nigeria were also working with the federal government of Nigeria to build a network of gas plants and pipelines to help bring power to the country’s growing industrial and commercial sectors.

The company said it actively supports the nation’s Natural Gas Expansion Programme of the federal government introduced in 2020 and geared towards making the country utilize its vast gas resources effectively.

SPDC’s Country Head, Corporate Relations, Mr. Igo Weli, disclosed this Monday during the 7th Annual Public Lecture of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, held at Matho Crystal Hotel, Yenagoa.

Weli said that the network of gas plants and pipelines beinf built in Nigeria would help to increase the export of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to meet global demands for power and heating.

“In Bayelsa State, Shell Nigeria Gas signed an agreement with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB) to provide gas infrastructure to the NCDMB industrial gas park in Polaku.

“NCDMB estimates the park could generate over 30,000 local employment opportunities.

“As the only wholly owned Nigerian subsidiary of an international oil company in domestic gas distribution, Shell Nigeria Gas, (SNG), is a symbol of Royal Dutch Shell’s commitment to clean, sustainable energy access and security in Nigeria and across the globe,” Weli stated.

Weli was represented at the occasion by the SPDC’s Government Relations Adviser for Bayelsa, Chief Owei Bubo,

He explained that the Assa North/Ohaji South Gas Development Project in Imo State was expected to be one of the largest gas facilities in Nigeria.

He also said Shell was involved as others located at Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Abia and Rivers States were examples of Shell’s long-term commitment to Nigeria.

He called on traders and businesses that had traditionally used petrol and diesel generators to power their equipment to switch to natural gas which is cleaner and cost efficient.

He said that Shell Nigeria Gas Limited pioneered natural gas supply to Independent Power Projects to raise the country’s power generation.

The SPDC Country Head, Corporate Relations, also urged journalists to justify the trust reposed in them by the public by religiously sticking to the ethical standards of the journalism profession in their reportage.

“If reportage does not realize these responsibilities and continues to propagate only coverage that emphasizes and provides fodder for insecurity, picketing of premises of corporate citizens and generally make the environment rougher for business operations, with no respect for rule of law, then we should not be surprised when government is unable to provide the infrastructure for better life.

“We, the community people, corporate citizens and the public are all looking to you, the Media, to continue to overcome the challenges that we recognize you face and deliver these services right all the time; helping us to shape up for a future that stares at all of us

“You need to highlight that the Nigerian government must safeguard lives and property; preserve the sanctity of contracts without which business decisions and investments with longer-term values cannot be made. In doing so, you will create an environment that is conducive for business, with employment and revenue for our people,” he said.

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