Rivers, Oando Expand Gas Pipeline

The Rivers State Government and Oando Plc are closing in on the completion of an 8.5km expansion of the natural gas distribution network in the Port Harcourt franchise area from the Above-Ground Installation (AGI) in Trans-Amadi to BUA Sugar Refineries (BUA).

The project is being executed by the Central Horizon Gas Company (CHGC), a Special Purpose Vehicle set up by Oando and the state government, focused on the rehabilitation, operation, and expansion of the existing natural gas distribution network in Greater Port Harcourt City and the Trans-Amadi area.

According to a statement by the company, the pipeline will boost BUA’s productivity, provide substantial cost-savings, and open the state to a new wave of industrialisation via natural gas utilisation.

The statement noted that the expansion is on the back of Oando’s agreement through its midstream subsidiary Oando Gas & Power (OGP) with the Rivers State Government to assume the operation and expansion of the states existing gas infrastructure in the greater Port Harcourt industrial areas.

The agreement was signed in August 2011 by the Chief Executive Officer, OGP, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya, and the then Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. George Nwolu.

The agreement followed the company’s successful participation in a tender process by the state government to actualise its gas master plan.

The objective was to find a qualified private sector partner to operate, rehabilitate and expand the state’s gas distribution grid for the purpose of utilizing gas as catalyst for industrial development in the state.

Oando’s holistic gas integration strategy includes methods of transmission and distribution to fulfill market requirements while the gestation period for the implementation of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan elapses.