LPG will reduce the pressure on demand for dollars- NLPGA

Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) has said Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) can help reduce the pressure on demand for dollars since it is a fuel that is sourced locally.

It is also said that it is targeting to 90 percent of the commodity in the composition of the country’s energy mix.

The association stated this recently during a press conference in Lagos to announce their 6th annual conference and exhibition themed “LPG Revolution: The beginning, which is holding tomorrow at Federal palace hotel, Lagos.

Dayo Adeshina, president of NLPGA, who explained the importance of deepening the consumption of the commodity among Nigerians said, using the commodity for cooking by Nigerians would reduce the rate of deforestation.

‘‘Today, firewood takes 60 perecent in the energy mix, kerosene 30 percent, coal 5 percent and LPG, a dismal 5percent. Our goal as an association is to see that shift from 5 percent to at least 90 percent,’’ he said.

Adeshina noted: “Consumption figures back in 2006 and 2007 ranged from 350,000 tons to almost 400,000 tons but fell significantly because the refineries were Nigeria’s main source of supply and not until the Federal Government made it mandatory for the Nigerian LNG to intervene in the market, supply was 150,000 tons. Only then did we see some form of stability in terms of supply.

On their own, Nigeria LNG increased that figure to 250,000tons two years ago.

‘‘LPG is a unique and versatile fuel. In other places, it serves as an automotive fuel called auto-gas and it is also a solution to power,’’ the president said.

According to Nuhu Yakubu, deputy president, NLPGA, LPG will reduce the pressure the country is currently facing on demand for dollars since it is a fuel that is sourced locally.

‘‘If we are able to apply LPG for the multiple applications that it is feasible for, it means that we will be importing less fuel. We think we have the solution that will take the country out of recession and it is LPG,’’ Yakubu said.

Felix Ekundayo, treasurer, NLPGA, said LPG will address most of the economic crisis bedeviling the country in addition to solving the huge problem of unemployment.

‘‘For every one dollar of gas we burn, we end up importing $6 to $7 worth of fuel to substitute it and that is not ideal for the condition that we find ourselves in today.

‘‘Gas is a good and viable way as we are seeing with our neighbouring countries in terms of making our youths to be productive members of our labour force. It is about time we started to adopt what is in our own backyard,’’ he said.

Jacob Coker, former vice president of NLPGA advised Nigerians to use LPG because it is cleaner, performs better and cheaper than kerosene.

‘‘The kerosene we import can be used for aviation and that is why it has been downgraded for our own use which makes it very expensive. So, it is better to use LPG,’’ Coker said.

Nkechi Obi, executive vice chairman, Techno oil and Coordinator of women in LPG in Nigeria said the women in Nigerian LPG chapter will be formally inaugurated during the conference because women have been known to be the agents of clean cooking.

‘‘We want to be able to empower our women to preserve the environment and improve their health because they are the ones who are actually using those dangerous fuels to cook, endangering their health,’’ Obi said.

 

CHINWE AGBEZE