Fuel energy: Gas usage will save Nigeria $10 billion in 2019
Temitayo Ayetoto is Businessamlive Reporter.
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The development and usage of Nigeria’s vast liquefied petroleum gas resources as energy source rather than kerosine will save the country of $10 billion in 2019 in addition to creating one million jobs for Nigerians.The Nalpgam boss who expressed concerns over the low level of gas usage especially in the rural communities, a trend which rates Nigeria low on the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption index, said commitment to the implementation of gas policies will enable millions of homes contribute to conservation of Nigeria’s forestry.
“It is regrettable that Nigerians still use kerosene in large quantities, while the cleaner fuels like cooking gas can save over 55 per cent of Nigeria’s primary forest,” said Ogieva-Okunbor, speaking at a seminar on “Promoting a Sustainable Environment for Best Practices in LPG Marketing”.
With increased gas subscribers, he projected that gas consumption level would at least shore up to five million tonnes yearly, up from the current rate of about 400,000 metric tonnes.
“This can be achieved if we replicate the success story of Indonesia, which was able to get 53 million homes to use gas in three years. Today, in the energy mix of cooking in Nigeria, firewood takes the pride of place with 60 percent, kerosene 30 percent, coal five percent, and cooking gas a dismal five percent,” he said.
Besides consumption rate, LPG marketers are also bothered the existing Value Added Tax on locally sourced variants in spite of its pledges. As such government has been under pressure to address factors hindering the growth of the industry in Nigeria as the potential of LPG keeps growing.