Oredola Adeola

In an unexpected twist just three months after assuring a timely completion by the end of 2023,  Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) has revealed a new target date of March 2024 for the Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben (OB3) gas pipeline—the ambitious 42″ line spanning 127 kilometers to deliver a staggering 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.

Minister Ekpo gave this new assurance in his gas industry address during the opening ceremony of the 7th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2024) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

This dramatic shift comes amidst a recent Senate Committee on Gas meeting led by Senator Agom Jarigbe, where Ekpo assured the contractors’ dedication towards fulfilling their promise before the end of 2023.

Minister Ekpo further underscored that the projected completion timeline is in alignment with the estimates provided by Oilserv Limited.

He highlighted the pivotal role of the OB3 pipeline in supplying gas from the prolific fields of Obiafu, Obrikom, and Oben to the vital Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline.

Emphasizing the significance of this development in advancing Nigeria’s gas-centric economy, the Minister of State Gas Resources lauded the progress made in erecting crucial gas infrastructure projects nationwide.

He expressed confidence in the government’s commitment to ensuring timely completion and successful commissioning of these transformative initiatives.

Ekpo also extended commendations to the NNPCL Group for their unwavering dedication and proactive efforts in driving forward the OB3 pipeline project to its imminent completion.

The OB3 gas pipeline project, is a major pipeline project spanning 127 km with a 48-inch diameter, stretching from the Obiafu-Obrikom gas plant near Omuku, Rivers State, to Oben, Edo State.