The campaign mounted by some indigenous oil and gas companies to popularise the use of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) has started yielding dividends for the companies involved and this has attracted encomiums from the Federal Government , which has hailed Techno Oil Ltd, NIPCO Plc and Oando Plc, for spear-heading the drive.
Speaking just before her departure to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave a rare praise to the three companies for promoting the use of cooking gas in Nigerian homes.
The campaign mounted by some indigenous oil and gas companies to popularise the use of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) has started yielding dividends for the companies involved and this has attracted encomiums from the Federal Government , which has hailed Techno Oil Ltd, NIPCO Plc and Oando Plc, for spear-heading the drive.
Speaking just before her departure to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave a rare praise to the three companies for promoting the use of cooking gas in Nigerian homes.
She said that government was delighted over the remarkable increase in LPG consumption from 100,000 metric tonnes to 250,000 metric tonnes in 2012.
“Government appreciates the pioneering efforts of Tecnho Oil Ltd, Oando Plc and NIPCO Plc in the popularisation of small gas cylinders for low-income homes,’’ Alison-Madueke stated.
In 2012, Techno Oil launched its “Going Green Revolution’’, introducing its innovative gas stoves, in a bid to make Nigerian households to embrace the use of cooking gas, rather than continuing to depend on kerosene, fire wood and other sources of energy, harmful to the environment.
Oando Plc had similarly, invested in the deployment of gas stoves, providing the product in major retail outlets nationwide to make Nigerian households to embrace the facility.
Few months ago, the Lagos State Government launched the Clean and Healthy Environment in Lagos scheme, popularly known as “CAGEL Programme'', aimed at prompting clean and sustainable environment in Lagos State.
The programme was commissioned by the Governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, with the active support of Techno Oil and Oando.
The CAGEL Programme, launched at the popular Oyingbo Market in the Lagos heartland, attracted hundreds of households, who went home with 3 kg and 6 kg gas stoves at subsidised rates.
Reacting to the commendation given to oil the and gas companies for popularising LPG use, the Executive Vice-Chairman of Techno Oil, Mrs Nkechi Obi, expressed her delight that government had started appreciating the struggle of the oil companies to promote LPG usage in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a predominantly gas province with untapped huge expanse of gas reserves in excess of 187tcf and an average production capacity of over three million metric tonnes per year.
“But in spite of this huge endowment, Nigeria regrettably, has the lowest per capita LPG consumption of 1.1kg in Africa.
“Nigeria averagely spends about N345 billion on kerosene subsidy yearly and increased LPG use will reduce the amount and also reduce the unjustifiable damage to the environment through the use of fire wood.
“For us in Techno Oil, the advocacy for the switch to the use of cooking gas — a cleaner way of cooking — has become a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We regard ourselves as change agents.
“It is a disgrace that Nigeria with so much gas reserves higher than countries like Ghana and Senegal will have the lowest consumption of cooking gas,’’ the company executive stated.
“It is our determination to sustain the LPG advocacy because the nation will be better for its and the money spent on subsidising kerosene importation will be spent on other critical sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure development.
“We are happy that stakeholders are appreciating the humble efforts of our advocacy and the investment of Techno Oil in making cooking gas the energy of choice in Nigeria,” she added. (NAN)
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