Nigeria’s plan to expand its Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, market to Europe received a major boost on Thursday, February 11, as a visiting German trade delegation indicated interest in the country’s gas supply.
According to a statement by Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, Germany’s Vice Minister for Economic Affairs & Energy and Member of the German Parliament, Uwe Beckmeyer, said his country was seeking development of business relationship to accelerate the supply of LNG, especially for her ship building industry.
Beckmeyer gave the hint when he led a contingent of German business concerns on a visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, at the NNPC Towers.
He said Nigeria’s LNG would come in handy as the country and other European industrial powers seek to cut down drastically on carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions arising from heavy industrial operations since gas is far friendlier to the environment.
“We have a lot of interest in LNG and I think this is one special thing we should develop in the next few years. I think there is increasing demand in Europe, especially as we seek to reduce emissions. It is useful for both sides to develop this special business relationship,” the German Vice-Minister stated.
Welcoming the delegation, Kachikwu said the oil and gas industry was ready to embrace the interest for improved business relationship expressed by the German trade delegation, noting that the Federal Government is working assiduously with other relevant stakeholders to ensure activation of LNG Trains 7, which would help accommodate potential off-takers from new markets.
