Kaduna State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with the NNPC and Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria on the Gas Utilisation and Expansion Project with a view to boosting gas supply and it’s business in the State.
Governor Nasiru Elrufai while speaking shortly after signing the MOU with the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Malam Mele Kyari at Government House Kaduna said the state government was delighted to execute the MOU with the NNPC and the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria.
Malam Nasiru Elrufai noted that, the Gas project when completed would help in creating job opportunities and provide skills for artisans who would work on the gas pipelines and associated infrastructure.
“Beyond that, it will also power the industries that have responded to the state government investment promotion campaign”.
He said the project would also expand power supply capacity and options in the State as well as to provide feedstock for the 215MW power plant in Kudenda community.
The governor also announced that, Kaduna State Government would locate an 84MW power plant in Kudenda, also to be powered by gas.
“The combined effect of these two power plants will be able to make power supply more reliable in Kaduna State”.
“The Kaduna State Government has since 2015 worked to create two new industrial areas in the state. The Green Agro-Allied Industrial Zone (GAAIZ) is located in Chikun Local Government Area, along the Kaduna-Abuja highway, while the Green Economic Zone (GEZ) is in Igabi Local Government Area. GAAIZ is already hosting investments like the Olam project, the fertiliser plant of OCP of Morocco and DPAN, the joint venture between Dangote Industries and Peugeot for vehicle assembly”.
Malam Nasiru Elrufai thanked Malam Mele Kyari and the NNPC for the remarkable initiative also welcomed the zeal of the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria to deliver the project.
In a remark, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari said the purpose of their visit to Kaduna was to bring the frame work of the MOU with all the stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.
Malam Mele Kyari disclosed that, the company has a reboots plan of establishing it own power plant up to 1300 megawatt in Kaduna State.
He gave an assurance that, the ongoing Ajaokuta – Kaduna- Kano Gasline project would be deliver within the stipulated time, noting that, the construction work is still going smoothly.
The Group Managing Director described the Gas Utilisation and Expansion project as a game changer in the country if completed in the area of energy especially to the people of Kaduna State.
He said the focus of President Muhammadu Buhari administration agenda was to deepen gas penetration.
AMINU DALHATU