by Lekan Olanrewaju

In line with its policy on gas monetization, the Federal Government  has laid out the Gas Master Plan, GMP, awarding over $2.5bn contracts for various gas pipeline projects in the country.

This announcement was made at the just-concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas, NOG 2012 international conference and exhibition.

According to Dr David Ige, the Executive Director, Gas Development, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the projects are part of a drive by government to harness Nigeria’s enormous gas resources as well as building the infrastructure base to support such development.

“2012 will be one of the toughest periods in the power sector in terms of gas to power.” he said.  Ige admitted that gas shortages were a hindrance to sustainable power supply.

The contracts awarded so far include:

Oben-Geregu – 36″ 136km at $245.31million completed last year

Olorunshogo – 24″ 41km at $54.04million to be completed by the end of March

ECPS-A – 101km at $258million to be completed in a couple of weeks

ELPS 2 – 26″ 324km at $382.39million to be completed in November

Oben/Ob – 127km at $662.26million to be completed in 2014

Imo River – 24km at $52.94million

QIT/Obigbo – 54km at $153million

Oso/QIT – 51km at $235million

Answering questions about the feasibility of the Gas Master Plan, Ige said: “We have a credible plan, which will become obvious over time.”