By Michael Eboh

THE Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria, GACN, has attributed the difficulty and unattractiveness of harnessing stranded gas in the country to the fact that the commodity is scattered in different isolated fields.

Oil-pipeline

Speaking at Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria’s, GACN, Gas Buyers’ Forum in Abuja, Managing Director of the GACN, Mr. Morgan Okwoche, stated that because the fields are isolated with small quantities of gas in each of the fields, harnessing them does not make economic sense.

He said, “That is how naturally, we have the deposit. The gas gathering facilities would make it so expensive that it would not be worth it.

Unless we have mobile arrangement, which is technology evolving, that you can go there.” He noted that this was one of the reasons why most companies still flare gas, despite the huge demand for gas in the country and the benefits that could be accrued from the commodity.

Furthermore, Okwoche lamented that the gas market in Nigeria was evolving and was highly segmented, particularly the domestic supply obligation, when it came into force.

He said, “The market is segmented, particularly the domestic supply obligation, when it came into force. We have the power sector with a different price; the gas-based industry has a different price, bulk distribution of gas has a different price. We need to educate our people very well.’’