Experts in the oil and gas sector of the country have called on investors in the sector to adhere to laid down principles and laws governing the sector.
They said this was necessary in order to avoid unnecessary risks associated with the sector, which sometimes lead to loss of lives and property.
They said this at a stakeholders’ engagement on gas utilisation in Nigeria organized by the Nigerian Midstream And Downstream petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Port Harcourt.
The forum also urged for increased gas utilisation in order to promote a friendly and healthy Enviroment.
According to the forum, the law provides that the storage of petroleum products below and above 500 litre need to be regulated.
Speaking with newsmen, the Executive Director, Distribution systems, storage and Retailing infrastructures, Ogbugo kalu Ukoha, said the event was basically to impress on the need for operators in the industry to adhere to all laid down regulations guiding the sector.
He said the event also seeks to create more awareness on the need for utilisation of gas by the society, to guarantee a friendlier Enviroment.
He said, “this engagement sets the objective to enlighten the end users category on the need to urgently obtain the requisite petroleum storage license and to engender the transition from white products to gas at the last mile”.
Ukoha said the Authority’s twelve gazetted regulations define the licensing regime’s procedures and standard for handling petroleum products, which when breached, poses increased risk.
“In addition, gas as the transition fuel represents a cleaner and More cost effective energy source”, he said.
Ukoha stressed the need for operators and businesses to take advantage of the evolving opportunities in the gas value chain for sustainable business growth by their energy needs to embrace gas derivatives such as NL G,LPG CNG Autogas and others inorder to hedge against future global uncertainties to diesel supply.
Declaring the event open, the Authority’s Chief Executive, Faruk A. Ahmed, said the Federal Government has put in place various initiatives and policy framework, including the National Gas Expansion programm and the Decade of Gas programme.
Faruk whose address was read by the South-South Coordinator, George Ene, said the petroleum industry Act (2021) has also established within the Authority, the midstream and Down stream Gas infrastructures fund to catalyze gas investments.
“These efforts are yielding significant results, yet more collaborations and interventions are needed to improve domestic gas utilisation”, he said.
Speaking on gas transition fuel as the last mile, the Manager, Gas Operations, Duruje Elvis, said gas is environmentally friendly, less corrosive and free from adulteration.
He listed other values of gas as limiting possibility of pilfering and stealing, limited flammability range, reduction in noise pollution, less chances of contamination, and ground water pollution.
Elvis further said gas is lighter than air and as such reduces harmful emissions as well as guarantees sustainable development for a long time.

By: John Bibor