In a major breakthrough, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is on track to deliver the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline project, a critical step towards boosting nationwide gas supply and driving industrialization and economic growth.
The OB3 Gas pipeline is a game-changer, linking the Eastern gas pipeline network to the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) in the West and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline in the North. But the River Niger Crossing operation has been a major hurdle, with various technologies failing to achieve the construction of the 48-inch pipe under the river bed.
However, with the adoption of Micro-Tunnelling/Direct Pipe Installation technology, the new contractors, Messrs HDD Thailand/Enikkom and Tunnelling Services Group (TSG), are making significant progress, achieving about 860meters out of the 1,800meters so far.
NNPC Ltd’s Group CEO, Mr. Mele Kyari, expressed delight at the breakthrough, confirming that the project will be completed by mid-August. “This is a major project of monumental value to our country. Once completed, we will see about 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas coming into our network, giving our country a breathing space of demand,” Kyari stated.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, also expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, describing it as “Renewed Hope at work.”
With the project’s completion, Nigeria is poised to witness a significant boost in gas supply, driving industrialization and economic growth. The nation holds its breath as the project team races against time to complete the project, paving the way for a gas revolution that will unleash prosperity and transform the country’s energy landscape.
LV