From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The federal government has set up an Inter-ministerial committee to address challenges of low gas supply to Gas (Thermal) Power Generating Stations in the country.
The initiative will also lead to a steady and sustainable gas supply to power generating plants to meet both domestic and industrial needs of citizens.
According to a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations of the Gas Ministry, Chris Ugwuegbulam, the committee was formed at the end of the meeting between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
Ekpo outlined the challenges causing the low supply of gas to the Thermal Power Plants to include; Decade of Gas legacy debts; vandalisation of gas resources infrastructures in the Niger Delta Region; domestic pricing of gas in dollars etc and he expressed his willingness to work harmoniously with any individual, organisation and Agency to solve these challenges.
Adelabu stated the need for the two ministries to work collaboratively and solve the problem of low gas supply to the Thermal Power Plants in order to achieve an uninterrupted power supply in the country, stressing that, “there is absolutely nothing can be done in Nigeria without stable power.”
Members of the committee were drawn from the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power, Regulatory Agencies, Operators and Critical Stakeholders in the Gas and Power Sectors.
The meeting was witnessed by some Directors in the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power.