The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has postponed the completion date of the $700 million Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project from March 2024 to August 2024.
This update follows an earlier announcement made in February, where the Federal Government declared the project’s expected completion by March.The OB3 project, which began in 2016, is one of Nigeria’s and Africa’s largest gas transmission systems. It is designed to interconnect the Eastern gas pipeline network with the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System in the West and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline in the North.
A major obstacle to the project’s completion has been the River Niger Crossing operation, hindered by the failure of various technologies to construct the 48-inch pipe under the riverbed between Ndoni in Rivers State and Aboh in Delta State. However, NNPC’s adoption of Micro-Tunnelling/Direct Pipe Installation technology has shown significant progress, with about 860 meters of the 1,800 meters completed.
During an inspection tour of the River Niger Crossing operation, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, expressed optimism about the project’s completion. The new contractors, Messrs HDD Thailand/Enikkom and Tunnelling Services Group (TSG), are confident that the current technology will ensure the project’s timely conclusion.
Seyi Omotowa, Managing Director of NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, affirmed that the River Niger Crossing operation is on track for completion as scheduled, given the current progress rate.The OB3 gas pipeline, also known as the East-West Pipeline, aims to transport over two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, connecting the Obiafu-Obrikom gas plant in Rivers State to Oben in Edo State.
Source: PUNCH