A’Ibom gets equipment for CNG mother station

Akwa Ibom State has recorded a major milestone in its gas industrialisation drive as Nsik Oil & Gas Company Limited took delivery of the first consignment of equipment for its 10 million standard cubic feet per day CNG Mother Station at Uquo Isi Edoho, Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state.

The equipment manufactured by Chinese Original Equipment Manufacturer comprises compressors, dehydration and filtering units, heat exchangers and generating sets.

Speaking at the project site on Thursday while taking delivery of the equipment, the Project Consultant, Mkposong Asuquo, said the arrival fulfilled the promise to fast-track the facility from groundbreaking to installation and inauguration.

He said, “The delivery has moved the project closer to inauguration and the establishment of a statewide Compressed Natural Gas distribution network. The arrival fulfilled the promise to fast-track the facility from groundbreaking to installation and inauguration.”

 Asuquo said the facility was sited to harness pipeline gas within its corridor, noting that the location is about 500 metres from Frontier Energy and three kilometres from Savannah Energy’s Accugas facility where its feedstock would be sourced.

He described the project as an equity partnership between Nsik Oil & Gas Company Limited, led by its Managing Director/CEO, Nsikan Johnny, and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, under the supervision of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas).

According to him, the shipment followed a successful Factory Acceptance Test in Jiangsu Province, China, involving the project team and regulators from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

“We have our first set of equipment from CIMC China, all the way from the Jiangsu Province. We actually went there, we did the Factory Acceptance Test with the regulators from NMDPRA, and by the time that was concluded, we looked at their excellent performance and we went into a contract with them,” he said.

 Asuquo said the equipment, which has been cleared and delivered to site, would form the core of the compression and processing system.

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He listed four reciprocating compressors, dehydration and filtration systems, heat exchangers and four generator sets.

Asuquo added that the power configuration included gas-fired generation with an alternative gasoline-powered backup to guarantee reliability.

He disclosed that the company had also ordered two trailers to transport compressed gas from the mother station to planned daughter stations across the state.

“Our intention is also to feed most of the vehicles that are already CNG-powered. This project will not be limited to large off-takers, but would bring CNG closer to motorists and industries,” he stated.

The project consultant said the project had crossed critical stages, including land acquisition, Environmental Impact Assessment, Front-End Engineering Design, Detailed Engineering Design, Licence to Establish, Licence to Construct and gas supply arrangement.

He commended President Bola Tinubu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, MDGIF (Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund) led by Mr Wole Adama, NMDPRA and Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom for their support.

He expressed optimism on quick completion of the project, saying, “From now to a very short period of time, we’ll be gathering here again, by the grace of God, for the inauguration.”

 Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) on Political Affairs, Kufre Sam, said the minister was interested in the project for its potential to deepen the Federal Government’s CNG initiative in Akwa Ibom.