By Kunle KALEJAYE

Experts in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector have expressed optimism that the country can save up to $1.25 billion (N200 billion) if kerosene consumers switched to the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas).

It is believed that Nigeria consumes about 11 million litres of kerosene daily, out of which eight million litres are consumed by Nigerians who were under-privileged.

One such experts, is the Managing Director of The Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO), Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy, who urged the Federal Government to formulate a policy that would promote use of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) as cooking gas in the country.

The NIPCO boss stated this during the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) 2012 First Quarter Business Forum in Lagos.

Venkatapathy said that the Nigerian cooking gas market is very large with high demand potential, but yet to be tapped, adding that LPG could substitute imported kerosene for domestic energy use.

He, however, urged government to waive taxes, duties and levies on imported LPG kits to reduce cost and increase affordability. “The rural poor need an additional income of N800 million per day to meet their kerosene consumption needs,” he said.

As a result, he urged government to “waive VAT on domestic LPG sources; remove all forms of duties and levies on LPG imported kits, cylinders and accessories. All levies like land tax, DPR Levies, and other government taxes be waived for setting up LPG kits and bottling plants in the country,” he said.

Venkatapathy said that for massive LPG growth programme, “government needs to approve capable public and private companies with the capacity to produce”.

He also said that the regulation of the LPG final price should be the responsibility of the government.

He said that if Government can encourage the use of LPG, it would reduce the huge foreign exchange spent on kerosene yearly and also prevent irregular supply of kerosene, which had always created hardship.

Venkatapathy said that most of the challenges confronting LPG consumption in Nigeria include: the decline in the demand of the product; roadside LPG cylinder to cylinder transfer; and lack of specific regulations.

He said that for home use, the challenges include high cost of LPG to the common man.

He suggested that government should pass a legislative bill that LPG cylinders be marketed by approved big LPG marketing companies.

Mr Chima Ibeneche, President of NGA, in his remarks, said that “The association has come a long way in its quest to contribute to the development of Nigerian gas industry.

“I am delighted to state that NGA have been part of the evolution of a vibrant gas industry characterised by high energies in building consensus between the private and the public sectors in fashioning out Nigerian gas structural plan,” Ibeneche said.

He added that, “the task today and in the years to come is to ensure sufficient gas supply to industries and homes in Nigeria in line with the gas revolution declared by President Goodluck Jonathan.