By John Ikani
The European Union (EU) yesterday continued to mount pressure on Nigeria to ramp up its gas supply to Europe, with a visit to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari.
Since the Russia-Ukraine war started, Europe has sought to free itself of Russian hydrocarbons, which produces up to 40 per cent of its total gas consumption. But Nigeria has been unable to increase production and supply despite its over 206tcf of proven gas due to under-investment and inadequate infrastructure.
The visit to the GMD came days after EU ambassadors paid a similar visit to the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, apparently in a bid to mount pressure on the country to raise its gas production.
“We are not only major clients for Nigeria, we are also major partners in the oil and gas sector because some of the companies that are working with you are from Europe. So we share the same interest and same objectives,” the EU Ambassador in Nigeria Samuela Isopi said.
Responding, the Kyari assured the European delegation that the company would continue to deepen its historical relationship with EU companies in Nigeria in order to add more value to its business, particularly towards increasing gas supply to the global market and enhancing domestic gas utilisation.
What you should know
Nigeria is the fourth biggest liquified natural gas supplier to Europe. At least 40% of Nigeria’s gas is currently exported to Europe.
Nigeria authorities say the country has a proven natural gas reserve of 209.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) as at January 2022.
Revenue from oil and gas account for about two-thirds of Nigeria’s funding.
Heritage Times gathered that aside Nigeria, the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, arrived in Algeria yesterday, with an agenda to prioritise the acquisition of larger volumes of Algerian gas.
Algeria currently supplies 30 per cent of the gas required by Italy, and 40 percent comes from Russia, according to official figures.
Draghi’s visit, which would last two days, was a prelude to that of the chairman of the Italian energy group Eni, Claudio Descalzi, a few days ago, during which he met with Toufik Hakar, president of Sonatrach, the Algerian hydrocarbons agency, with whom he reviewed the state the bilateral partnership.
In addition, Egypt and the EU yesterday, held a meeting pledging to enhance cooperation in energy, during consultations between Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly and Frans Timmermans, the EU’s climate chief, in Cairo.
The delegations discussed the potential supply of liquefied natural gas to Europe in the short term, and whether the EU would contribute to building a green hydrogen production facility in Egypt to help the country become a production centre in the region, according to a statement.
