Abuja stops cooking gas export to raise local supply, reduce price amid nationwide hardship
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Abuja has stopped exportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, to end it scarcity and rising price in the local market.
Petroleum Resources Minister of State Ekperikpe Ekpo announced the decision at the “Internal Stakeholders’ Workshop” in the capital city, titled “Harnessing Nigeria’s Proven Gas Reserves for Economic Growth and Development”.
He said the ministry is discussing constantly with key stakeholders like the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and operators such as Mobil, Chevron, and Shell to address the issue.
__________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Cooking gas goes for N1,300 per kg, Ebonyi, others reeling under price hike
Gasification plants can end unstable power supply within 3 years, says varsity don
Nigeria burns up N373b through gas flaring in H1 2023
__________________________________________________________________
Stakeholders holding talks on solution to scarcity
Ekpo enthused once export of locally produced gas stops there will be more volume for the domestic market that will automatically reduce the price.
“We are interacting with critical stakeholders to ensure that there is no exportation of LPG,” he said.
“All LPG produced within the country will have to be domesticated. And when this is done, the volume will increase and of course, the price will automatically crash.
“I am in contact with the regulator, NMDPRA. We hold meetings almost on daily basis, and [with] the producers such as Mobil, Chevron, and Shell.
“So there is that hope that things will turn around. We don’t need to make noise about it.”