National Conference debate toughens on gas flaring

ABUJA (National Conference Report) – The consideration of the Report of the Committee on Energy was completed with a resolution by the Conference that the powers of the Minister to grant exemption to gas flaring should be abolished under Nigerian law.
 
The Conference adopted the recommendation on a total ban on the flaring of associated gas, noting that any oil field that does not have infrastructure to capture associated gas should be shut down by the end of 2014. The delegates agreed that communities in the Niger Delta region should be paid adequate compensation for the gas flaring which has affected their lives and environment. It demanded immediate initiation of efforts to clean-up oil spill and restore degraded environments in the Niger Delta in line with the recommendations of the United National Environment Programme.
 
Report from the Conference Secretariat informed about the resolution that government should find immediate means of improving gas supply and transmission to ramp up power delivery to the system as a solution to current cash shortfall in the sector. The report indicated that the Conference advised Government to implement the National Gas Plan whose main objective is to transmit gas to all the States of the Federation for industrial and domestic use and to the Independent Power Projects.  “The delegates however, voted against a declaration of a state of emergency in the power sector in line with the promise made in 2008 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua during a visit to France. It was however resolved that government should release take-off grant to the Hydro Electric Power Area Development Commission so that communities in river banks would have access to power. Adequate representation of Nigerian engineers in the planning and implementation of all aspects of the Power Sector Reform Programme was also recommended by the Conference,” the report said.
 
The Conference delegates also asked the government to ensure that there are level playing grounds for the independent power producers and other genuine investors in the power business. It said that as a matter of urgency, Government must set up a committee to review the current National Electric Power Policy to make it suitable for providing a quantum leap required to propel Nigeria into the top 20 economies of the world; adding that the Electric Power Sector Reform Act be aligned with the new policy.
 
According to the Conference agreement, the new private power companies are to be given two years to stabilize and provide efficient electricity supply to every Nigerian. To realise the vision of providing electric power supply at affordable cost, the Conference resolved that a deliberate policy be put in place to encourage local production of spare parts and all electrical equipment needed by the electricity supply industry.
 
“Politicians especially elected public officials and aspiring politicians were demanded to make the availability and usage of liquefied petroleum gas part of their constituency project undertaking. The Conference therefore called for the establishment of the Niger Delta Energy Corridor to serve as a veritable tool for the rapid industrialization of the country,” the Committee report noted.
 
“The development of simple solar appliances for home use received a unanimous approval of the Conference. Delegates urged government to immediately conduct full implementation of the Electricity Reform Act as enacted in the interest of the national economy.”