BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

To encourage private investment in storage, terminal, jetties’s refilling plant and local manufacturing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders and accessories, the Federal Government has been urged to boost infrastructural development in the LPG sub-sector.

Experts believed that this can be achieved by means of active collaboration with experienced and competent indigenous oil and gas companies in the distribution of government subsided gas stove to the lower income group.

This call was made by the Managing Director of Techno Oil Ltd, Mr. Tony Onyeama, at the unveiling ceremony of the innovative Techno Oil Gas Stoves. Manufactured by the company, the gas stoves according to Mr. Onyeama is in a bid to encourage the use of cooking gas among low income earners in the country.

He also urged the Federal Government to collaborate with oil and gas companies in Nigeria to fashion out ways to reduce the cost of gas stove which is a major hindrance to usage of cooking gas.

Cooking Gas

Mr. Oyeama stressed that the collaboration would bring numerous benefits to the country to curb the danger associated with the use of kerosene, while promoting a healthier and neater environment.

“Our government should put a program in place to ease the acquisition cost of cooking gas to enable low-income household to switch to gas by acquiring gas stoves and cylinders at affordable cost.

“We want the Federal Government to borrow a leaf from other countries like Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and India that have achieved success in cooking gas utilisation,” he said.

He lamented that most middle and upper-class families in the country were still depending on kerosene for their cooking needs, noting that the development has had adverse implication for the economy.

Shifting to cooking gas, according to Oyeama, would, however, help to save scarce foreign exchange; hitherto, expended on kerosene importation and that collaborating with local energy companies to promote the usage of cooking gas would boost local content initiative of the Federal Government.

Also, in its bid to support the Federal Government’s Gas Master Plan, flagged off by President Jonathan on March 24, 2011, Oyeama said Techno Oil had launched a “Going Green Revolution” that will enhance a shift from kerosene to cooking gas among Nigerians.
“Techno Oil has over the years upgraded its bottling plants, logistics infrastructure and cylinder injection to stimulate domestic consumption of LPG. We have distributed well over 20,000 units of 3kg, 5kg, 6kg, and 12.5kg discounted gas cylinders to Nigerian families at affordable prices.

“This project has received high commendation from consumers and veterans in the petroleum industry. We believe this will go a long way in increasing the consumption rate of cooking gas in Nigeria and help government to save resources spent in importing kerosene,” he said.