The federal government has revealed plans to doonate 10 million LPG cylinders in a year through certified marketers in 12 pilot states.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo made this revelation.
He disclosed this at the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sensitisation under the theme: “Stimulating Delta state’s socio-economic growth through LPG adoption and expansion,” on Monday, in Asaba, Delta State.
The programme was organised by the National LPG Expansion Implementation Plan (NLEIP) under the Office of the Vice President.
He revealed that Nigeria had proven gas reserves of 260 trillion cubits feet (tcf) and unproven reserve of 600tcf, and that the country needs to maximize its use.
Osinbajo said, “Nigeria is gas rich as well as oil. Unfortunately, the concentration has been on oil, when we have 260tcf of proven gas reserves and 600tcf unproven gas reserves. All those figures will remain statistics unless we do something about it.
“A state like Delta is crucial because of the abundant gas available here. Gas flaring must come to an end and we must make use of resources that will come from ending gas-flaring.
“This programme is crucial because of the several advantages attached to usage of gas: the same cooking gas can be used to power vehicles. The power sector can also take advantage of the same LPG.
“Delta being one of the 12 pilot states, two from each geopolitical zone, where for the next one year, we will concentrate on making sure that both the state, industry and the people enjoy the advantages of this fuel.
“It was set up in 2017, and it was critical for us to look at the regulatory environment and also a way that distribution of gas is carried out in the country.
“Today, you buy your cylinder, I buy my cylinder, that is about to change that is why the 12 pilot states were chosen, so from consumer-cylinder-owned model, we are hoping to transit to marketers’ cylinder-owned model.”
He also added that the regulations for LPG cylinders states that five years after manufacture, the cylinder is supposed to recertified. 10 years after, reverify that cylinder, and 15 years after, that cylinder should be scrapped.
Osinbajo said that the FG has engaged two plants to manufacture cylinders and will inject five to 10 million cylinders within the 12 pilots states in the next one year.
“The marketer will be given these cylinders and they are responsible to ensure that the cylinders get to your homes,” the vice president said.
Earlier, the Federal Government disclosed that it is planning to launch Liquefied Petroleum Gas distribution channels in every local government in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva revealed that the ministry is targeting to ameliorate the energy challenge in Nigeria and clean cooking gas is key in this regard because 70% of greenhouse emissions are caused by deforestation.