The Abia State government has announced plans to provide private sector players in the oil and gas industry with over 100 hectares of land, infrastructure, and an enabling environment for the construction of an environmentally-friendly energy hub consisting of a modular refinery, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) processing plants through a private-public partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State made this disclosure, in his address on the theme: ‘Nigeria’s energy transition: Enhancing investment opportunities and addressing challenges in energy sector, at a recent session with the media in Lagos.
The governor, who was represented at the event by Joel Ogbonna, his commissioner for petroleum mineral resources, said that the energy transition hub would help to reduce the carbon footprint of the oil and gas industry. According to him, the project aims to grow the economy of the state and ensure prosperity for its citizens.
He said, “The Abia State government’s decision to provide land and infrastructure for the project is a significant step towards achieving a sustainable energy future. The project will also create job opportunities for the citizens of Abia State and boost the state’s economy.
“We are committed to unleashing and spending resources on technology and infrastructure to make this agenda a reality. We are however committed to decarbonisation to reduce our carbon footprint.
“So as a government in Abia state, we have decided to drive a good environment clean initiative,” the Commissioner for Petroleum Mineral Resources said.
Read also: Otti to Abians: ‘Look to the future with great optimism, expectations’
Ogbonna emphasised that good governance is the fundamental thing that can make all these aspirations a reality.
He said, “The government that lacks vision and goals might not be able to achieve basic developmental objectives.”
He further stated that the crude oil in the natural field has little economic and financial value, if the molecules were not broken down into useful commodities, including petrochemicals and plastics.
“Governor Otti has decided to make Abia State a new hydrocarbon investment haven. He has initiated the idea of establishing an importation bank so that we can take advantage of those resources.
“This would enable us to bring all the players together for an investment and establishment of modular refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilisers plants and logistics in Abia State,” the commissioner said.”
He, therefore, noted that Otti’s administration agenda was crafted with the Abia State future in mind. This is to ensure that whatever action is being done in the state is channelled towards securing the future for generations to come.
“We are, therefore, inviting all to Abia State to see what we are doing in terms of energy transition. We are determined to provide infrastructure and an enabling environment for every investor seeking to establish modular refineries and petrochemical plants in the state.”
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