26-02-09 The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Chima Ibeneche has disclosed that 100 tcf of the nation's 200 tcf estimated gas reserve are stranded and not available for use.
Speaking before a gathering of both local and international investors, managers and players in the oil and gas industry at the 2009 Nigeria oil and gas conference in Abuja, Ibeneche said "though Nigeria has 200 tcf of gas reserve, 100 tcf are stranded, so we prefer to talk of 100 tcf as our gas reserve".

He wondered why Nigeria was exporting when it could not supply the domestic market adequately, noting that the priority in gas use should be domestic.
On the rationalisation of the law governing the industry, he said the law and the gas master plan needed to be harmonised quickly such that investors are guided in their investments. The NLNG boss observed that for Nigeria to hold its position as a respected and significant member of the world's LNG export community, it must make more effort to create local industry and carry out a proper clarification of investors before embarking on any project.

Also, Total warned the Nigerian government that without investments, it would fail to meet its gas and LNG export commitments and its requirements for domestic power generation. The Senior Vice-President, Exploration and Production, Africa Total, Jacques Marraud des Grottes gave the warning at the 2009 Nigeria oil and gas conference saying that the Nigerian domestic gas network was not yet mature.
"Without substantial investments, Nigeria will fail to meet its gas and NLNG export commitments and its requirements for domestic power generation", he emphasised. He disclosed that flared gas projects will deliver an additional 1 bn cf of gas daily to the market by 2010.