…as Ekpo addresses Pipeline Technology Conference in Berlin
Nigeria seeks to establish itself as a steady gas provider internationally while focusing on stable domestic energy supplies,
minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said.
Ekpo stated this on Tuesday in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 21st Pipeline Technology Conference (PTC) held in Berlin, Germany, where he outlined Nigeria’s strategic gas development agenda amid evolving global energy demands.
The minister said Nigeria’s pipeline expansion projects were designed to strengthen both local supply and international competitiveness.
He added that the country’s approach reflects “a strategic vision to position itself as a reliable supplier in the evolving global energy market, while also ensuring that our domestic needs are met sustainably.”
Ekpo noted that Nigeria is making deliberate investments in gas infrastructure to unlock its vast reserves, describing natural gas as “a strategic instrument for economic transformation, industrialisation, and energy transition.”
He identified the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) as a critical asset in Nigeria’s regional strategy, noting that it continues to supply gas to neighbouring countries while strengthening economic ties and supporting electricity generation and industrial development within the sub-region.
Speaking on ongoing projects in the country, he said the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline would open up the northern region for industrial growth and power generation, while the OB3 Gas Pipeline would enhance supply flexibility and strengthen the domestic gas network.
He further disclosed that Nigeria is advancing export-focused projects, including the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Atlantic Gas Pipeline, both aimed at connecting Nigerian gas to European markets and creating new energy corridors.
According to him, the government is also exploring the Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline to expand bilateral cooperation and optimise cross-border gas utilisation.
He called for strong regulatory frameworks, investor-friendly policies, and global partnerships, stressing that infrastructure development alone would not guarantee success.
The Pipeline Technology Conference is Europe’s premier conference and exhibition, bringing together pipeline operators, industry leaders, and experts to discuss the latest developments and advancements in pipeline technology on a global stage.
The conference has as its theme: “Energy security, infrastructure resilience, decarbonisation, digitalisation, and emerging hydrogen and CO₂ transport systems,” which Ekpo described as “central to the decisions we must take today to secure tomorrow.”
SOURCE: LEADERSHIP NEWS PAPER
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