The recently flagged off Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has been described as critical to the achievement of Nigeria’s gas ambitions, just as the stupendous benefits of 12,000 direct jobs, 40,000 indirect jobs and 10 billion dollars Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) were listed.

Managing Director of NLNG, Tony Attah, who said this on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja, added that Train 7 will unlock natural gas utilisation in the country.

Represented by the company’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, the NLNG boss stated that Train 7 will be an inspiration and catalyst for Trains 8, 9, 10 and even to Train 15, in line with the recent declaration of “Decade of Gas” by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also stated that the development of the nation’s gas resources was key to her economic growth narrative and future potentials, noting that the reality of living in a vocal world had necessitated the country’s decision to be intentional in developing its gas and energy industry.

“The flexibilities, the management space, disruption in the business environment means that our response to this reality is what will determine our future.”

“Today, with the volatility in the business place, we must determine the future we want for ourselves as a gas nation. We need understanding to deal with the uncertainty. And we are on that path. We must utilise our gas.”

He also said that domestic gas supply of LPG would be boosted by 35 per cent from the 350,000 metric tonnes to over 470,000 metric tonnes, stressing that this figure would account for over 50 per cent of the nation’s gas volume.

The global gas expert pointed out that, with its current gas reserves of 206 trillion cubic feet (tcf) and possible 600 tcf, Nigeria can top the global oil and gas chart if deliberate actions are taken to actualise its ambitions in the sector.

“With our current gas reserves we are 9th in the world with potential to be the 4th depending on how ambitious we want to be as a nation and the deliberate actions that we must take to actualise this ambition. We must prove the 600 tcf, develop infrastructure and enforce provisions of the gas pricing.”

Attah emphasized the need for Nigeria to embrace the global gas race, maintaining that no country was ready to wait for her to develop her gas infrastructure, informing that more African countries have emerged in the energy space.

“Our gas reserve utilisation when compared with two industry players – Australia and Indonesia, should challenge us to go for more market shows. No country will wait for us to catch up but will continue with their close ambitions.”

“And with the emergence of more African countries such as Mozambique, Senegal and Mauritania in the energy space, we must ensure that our number one position in the continent is not threatened by a market status.”

“Qatar and Australia are not resting on their oars but are aggressive about their growth ambitions, and Nigeria should not be different.”

Earlier, at a panel session during the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2021 on how conducive business environment can be created for Nigerian Content to thrive, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, represented by the Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, enumerated the benefits of diversity and inclusion in the industry.

Dr. Horsfall said every person in the industry, no matter his or her gender, race, orientation, should feel involved to deliver his or her best. She said Diversity and Inclusion increase productivity, profitability and quality of innovation in the industry.

She listed quite a few challenges of women in the industry but stated that advocacy group and policies such as work-life balance and working remotely can help support women in the industry.

Dr. Horsfall, who emphasized that the Nigeria LNG was passionate about diversity and inclusion, advocated for consistent capacity building, coaching and mentoring in the area of supply chain management, calling for gender sensitive criteria in the industry’s supply chain management system.