Falcon Corporation has organised a series of sensitisation seminar on natural gas utilisation for major industry stakeholders in Anambra State.
The seminar took place in Onitsha and Nnewi attracting chief executives and key decision makers of potential industrial and power end-users of the gas, high level representation from the Anambra State government, the Anambra State Investment Promotions and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), the Bank of Industry and other strategic stakeholders along the gas and project implementation value chain.
The seminars focused on the information and understanding of the applications, economic and environmental benefits of natural gas as a fuel or feedstock, among owners and operators of industries and manufacturing concerns, as well as power companies within the state.
Speaking at the seminar, Joe Ezigbo, managing director, Falcon Corporation, highlighted the current state of energy and power supply in Nigeria, uses and applications of natural gas in industries; requirements for conversion to natural gas firing; the economics of natural gas utilisation in industry, particularly with respect to the huge savings profile and overall operational cost reductions; technical and commercial dynamics of the natural gas sector, and other critical information vital for decision-making by the industries within Anambra State.
Oladeji Olaoti, commercial services officer, said there will be an increase in employment and higher standard of living of Anambra State citizens as industries are able to reduced operational overheads, and expand their capacity utilisation levels, as well as significant addition to Anambra State and Federal tax revenues – including duties, taxes (Income tax, VAT, PAYE, etc) as industries increase in number and improved performance.
Natural gas utilisation has provided much-needed succour for industries in the various franchises within Greater Lagos, Agbara/Otta, and Ikorodu, where the product has been made available via pipelines for use as a fuel or feedstock.
It has gained significant acceptance and patronage as the preferred industrial fuel across the greater Lagos industrial area, Ikorodu, Agbara, Otta, and parts of Aba and Port Harcourt.
Falcon Corporation is the licensed Local Distribution Company (LDC) operating the Ikorodu Natural Gas Distribution Franchise.
The company has been working assiduously to expand its gas operations and replicate the construction of gas distribution networks across the country.
Falcon’s efforts culminated recently in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Anambra State government to deliver a major natural gas distribution project within the state.
Anambra State is home to huge clusters of industries which have been plagued by economic downturns resulting from the general economic situation, energy challenges, and general high costs of doing business.
The availability of natural gas for industrial and power applications within Anambra State stands to play a critical role in facilitating recovery as well as development of major industrial markets within the state including Onitsha, Oba, Nkpor, Obosi and Nnewi.
Natural gas has many benefits and is the cleanest burning fossil fuel with reduced carbon dioxide emission. Densely packed with energy that is released when it is burned for industrial and domestic heating, natural gas is much preferred, cheaper and less costly to install than any other source of power.
FRANK UZUEGBUNAM
