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NNPC head sees AKK pipeline
boosting Nigerian economy
NIGERIA MELE Kyari, the group managing director of said. “He has given us all the necessary support
Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC), and incentives to deliver on this project.”
has said he expects the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano In a reference to recent news reports alleging
(AKK) natural gas pipeline to give a boost to that NNPC was searching for new sources of
Nigeria’s economy. funding because of difficulties accessing Chinese
In a statement delivered by NNPC’s top credits, Kyari also asserted that the AKK project
spokesman Kennie Obateru at a recent industry had not fallen behind schedule. The pipeline is
event in Kano, Kyari pointed out that the AKK still set to begin operating by the end of 2023, he
project would provide crucial support to the stated.
Nigerian government’s domestic gasification His words were echoed by Nigeria’s Minister
programme. The pipeline will be able to deliver of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva,
at least 2bn cubic feet (56.64mn cubic metres) who said at the same event that he expected the
per day of gas to the domestic market in its initial Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) natural gas pipe-
stage of operation, and supply levels are likely to line to come on stream in 2023 as anticipated.
increase in the future, he said. “Let me assure you that the [AKK pipeline] pro-
The additional volumes will help make gas ject will be completed by 2023 as scheduled and
available across Nigeria, he stated. “What this the aim of rejuvenating the industrial base of the
means is that it will debottleneck the gas supply affected linkage states [will] fully be achieved,” he
network in the entire country,” he commented. was quoted as saying by This Day.
This, in turn, will foster economic growth in the The AKK pipeline will pump gas from fields
agricultural, industrial and manufacturing sec- in the southern part of the country to new
tors of the economy, he added. domestic customers, including TPPs with a com-
Kyari further noted that the AKK pipeline bined generating capacity of 3,600 MW and pet-
would support the government’s electrification rochemical producers that use gas as feedstock.
programme by delivering gas to thermal power As such, it is a key component of the Nigerian
plants (TPPs). The project is expected to lead government’s domestic gasification strategy.
to the establishment of three new independent NNPC and its contractors began building
power producers (IPPs) in Nigeria, he said. the pipeline along a 614-km route that runs
He also thanked Nigerian President Muham- northward from the left bank of the Niger River
madu Buhari for backing the AKK initiative. in Kogi State to the capital city of Kano State in
“This is possible because of the clear direction June 2020. When finished, the pipe will have a
that Mr. President has shown on the need to nameplate capacity of 99.11 mcm per day of gas,
deepen domestic gas consumption, with a view or approximately 36.175 bcm per year. Initially,
to creating prosperity out of the enormous gas throughput will amount to around 56.64 mcm
resources we have as a nation,” the NNPC head per day, or around 20.67 bcm per year.
P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 31 05•August•2021
