The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced a revised completion timeline for the $700 million Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project, moving the expected delivery from March 2024 to August 2024.
Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, disclosed the new schedule in a recent statement.
During an inspection of the OB3 pipeline’s River Niger Crossing section in Aboh, Delta State, the Minister for Petroleum Resources for States Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, confirmed that the project is now slated for completion and inauguration by August at the latest.
The minister expressed confidence in the revised timeline, noting significant progress since his last visit and anticipating a presidential commissioning in the summer.
This update contrasts with Minister Ekpo’s earlier prediction at the 7th Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he anticipated a March completion.
Initiated in 2016, the OB3 pipeline is expected to deliver 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, significantly boosting Nigeria’s gas supply and supporting the nation’s gas revolution.
The project has faced delays, primarily due to challenges with the River Niger Crossing operation. However, the adoption of Micro-Tunnelling/Direct Pipe Installation technology has led to substantial progress, with the new contractors, HDD Thailand/Enikkom and Tunnelling Services Group (TSG), completing approximately 860 meters of the required 1,800 meters.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, assured that the project is on track for delivery, emphasizing its importance for national gas supply and economic growth. He expressed satisfaction with the recent advancements and the project team’s assurances of an August completion.
The OB3 Gas pipeline is a crucial link connecting the Eastern gas pipeline network with the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) in the West and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline in the North.
Olu Verheijen, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, shared her anticipation for the project’s completion, confident in the technical team’s ability to overcome the River Niger Crossing’s complexities.
Ingo Justen, the Managing Director of TSG, overseeing the project’s execution, is optimistic about the efficacy of the new technology in expediting the project’s conclusion.
Seyi Omotowa, the Managing Director of NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), highlighted the steady progress made with the new technology, indicating that the River Niger Crossing operation is nearing completion, marking a significant milestone for the OB3 Gas Pipeline project.
