Gas Alert for Sustainable Initiative (GASIN) is a faith-based non-profit, non-political and a non-governmental organization registered in April 2012 with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under registration number CAC/IT/NO 42093.

GASIN strives to be a leading non-governmental organisation with an expert background in the effects of gas extraction, processing and distribution in Nigeria. In partnership with the local communities and through dialogue with Government and oil and gas companies, the organisation contributes to a clean and safe environment in which the exploration of the natural resources contributes to the livelihood and wellbeing of the people.

GASIN is an initiative of Fr. Dr. Edward Obi, MSP. The initiative was taken over as a Technical Agent of the Niger Delta Catholic Bishops’ Forum (NDCBF). GASIN has the support of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) through the Bishops’ Forum, whose interests agree with the objects of GASIN, namely, to protect the communities in the Niger Delta from negative environmental and social impacts as a result of the fast growing Gas Industry. GASIN is accountable to this Forum through its 7-member Board.

The organisation is based in Port Harcourt city of Rivers state, Nigeria. You can Contact Us now to partner with us on gas-related issues in the Niger Delta.

We research into and monitor gas-related issues that affect the health, environment, safety, security and the overall livelihood of the people in the communities that host gas companies in the Niger Delta.

The issues we follow up are the major causes of unrest, conflicts and disagreements among stakeholders all of which contribute to the worsening environmental degradation in these areas. With our recognition of the current position of the Nigerian government to amass the potential in gas to satisfy her energy and thus economic needs, the developments in the gas sector is therefore our major concern.

Hence, we stand and operate in these areas where there are functional gas facilities and partner with the local people to advocate and lobby for the right practices in all the nitty-gritties of gas exploration, processing and transportation. To bring peace among these stakeholders, GASIN brings them together for peaceful dialogues that will ensure that the natural resources, with which God has blessed the people is exploited in accordance with the requisite standards and best practices of international repute.

We also work to make certain that the proceeds from the resources exploited contribute to the livelihood of these people that are most impacted by the extractive activities, and that necessary measures are undertaken to mitigate all negative impacts. Our efforts and respectful actions create a peaceful atmosphere for a more friendly exploration of gas and for better understanding among stakeholders that ensures conflicts are resolved in a win-win manner.

GASIN achieves its goals through research and monitoring of on-going gas operations, information gathering and dissemination, and awareness raising in the Niger Delta communities. We engage in fact-based and respectful lobby and advocacy with the Government and Oil and Gas companies. We facilitate multi stakeholder platform (MSP) thatinvolves the Nigerian Government, Oil and Gas companies, affected communities and Civil Society Organisations. 

These, we do in partnership with the local communities, who, in most cases, lack the requisite technicalities to effectively request for their rights before the government and operators.k

We work in the Niger Delta communities, where there are functional gas facilities. Presently, we have twelve communities in Rivers state and three in Bayelsa state. These, we call Our Target Communities. 

In Rivers state, we have two clusters namely Ogba/Egi and Egbema. In Ogba, we have seven target communities that are impacted by the operations of TotaFinaElf and Nigeria Agip Oil Co. Ltd. (NAOC). In Egbema, we have five target communities that are directly impacted by the natural gas exploitation activities of mainly NAOC. 

In Bayelsa state, we have only one cluster made up of three target communities that are around the Integrated Oil and Gas Project (IOGP) operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC). 

These fifteen communities were carefully selected because they are directly affected by the activities of natural gas exploration, processing and distribution.

Click here for the list of the communities.

GASIN’s vision is aimed at creating a better and more conducive environment for the communities where gas exploration is going on, as well as for Operators and Government through designed activities. GASIN also aims at reducing the negative environmental, social and climatic effects resulting from unhealthy industrial processes, by bringing affected Communities, Government and Operators to work towards improved standards accepted internationally.

Therefore, Our Vision is:

A clean and safe Niger Delta in which natural resources are extracted and processed in accordance with the highest internationally agreed standards on oil and gas exploration and in which conflicts over natural resources are resolved through dialogue between the Government, Extraction companies and Communities.

GASIN wishes to ensure that Gas extraction and processing including transportation, storage, shipping and trading in the Niger Delta are done in accordance with international standards, taking into consideration the negative effects of these processes on the atmosphere, water, land, health and other basic social amenities of the people. We retain the hope of resolving conflicts, disputes and addressing impacts on the people through dialogue.

Thus, Our Mission:

GASIN is to be a leading non-governmental organisation with an expert background in the effects of gas extraction, processing and distribution. In partnership with local communities and through dialogue with Government and oil and gas companies, we contribute to a clean and safe environment in which the exploration of the natural resources contributes to the livelihood and well-being of the people.

• Monitoring developments in the oil and gas industry with the purpose of undertaking advocacy for human-friendly and environmentally safe practices throughout the industry.

• Preventing discord between host communities and multinational corporations by proactively encouraging participatory ownership through respectful dialogue between all stakeholders to resolve sticking points that may arise from time to time.

• Advocating the curtailment of the use of chemicals in the dehydration of Natural Gas, and where such toxic chemicals are unavoidably used, to advocate the safe disposal of the consequent toxic wastes.

• Encouraging and supporting access to justice for those who have a genuine case against defaulters; supporting justifiable claims by affected individuals/communities for fair compensation, when and where their rights to a safe, secure, and humane environment have been violated.

• Seeking and establishing partnerships with shareholder organizations for the purpose of bringing pressure to bear on corporation managers to do business with integrity, within internationally accepted standards, and in a socially responsible manner.

Our Values and Guiding Principles

GASIN is a non-profit, non-political and non-Governmental organisation, which was initiated by the Niger Delta Catholic Bishops’ Forum (NDCBF) during a meeting held on the 22 & 23 of August, 2011.

Based on that meeting, the following values and guiding principles were agreed upon:

Dignity of Human Person

All human persons have been created in the image and likeness of God and therefore possess a dignity given freely by God, and not out of anything they may have done themselves to earn it.

The Common Good

In order for all of us to have an opportunity to grow and develop fully, we have a right to participate in the creation of a common good. We encourage economic, political, material and cultural behaviours that enhance our ability to realize this good and also to reach our full potential as persons.

Rights and Responsibilities

Every person has basic rights and responsibilities that flow from our being members of the human family. These belong to us as humans, regardless of race, gender, social status or religious belief.

Solidarity

Because we constitute one human family in an increasingly interconnected world, we must act and relate in such a way that no part of this family suffers unduly without experiencing the help and support of other members.

Option for the Poor

In every economic, political and social decision, we give a weighted concern to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable in or midst in order to strengthen the entire community, because the powerlessness of any member hurts the rest of society.

Stewardship

We believe in the inherent integrity of all creation which requires careful accountability for all our resources, ensuring that we use and distribute them justly and equitably in line with fair agreements.

Subsidiarity

We believe that a higher level of government, organization or authority should not usurp and perform any function or duty that can be handled more effectively at a lower level by people who are closer to the problem and have a better understanding of the issue.

Gas supply to power plants across the country has increased as about 300 million standard cubic feet of the product is currently being pumped into the system. 

The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Gas Company, Mr. Saidu Mohammed, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday, said, “We have been able to restore gas flow and we are currently pumping 300 million standard cubic feet of gas into the system. We have isolated the vandalized pipeline and re-route gas supply to the second pipeline. 

Right now, gas supply has increased and the impact of the damage is now minimal. “The power plants are coming up and they have all been told to raise generation. However, you need to know that we have lost a lot of pressure due to the vandalism (of the pipelines), and we hope to regain pressure as soon as possible so that the power plants can go at full blast. We will still go ahead to repair the vandalized pipeline.” 

Power generation in the country dropped by 1,598 megawatts on Sunday following the vandalism of two major pipelines supplying gas to eight power-generating stations. 

The affected stations are Egbin/AES, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu NIPP, Afam IV and VI as well as River State Independent Power Station. 

In a statement signed by the General Manager (Public Affairs), Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Dave Ifabiyi, the company said one of the vandalized pipelines was taking supply from the Okoloma gas plant, while the other was taking from Escravos.

Ifabiyi said, “With the disruption of gas supply through the lines, the Nigerian Gas Company is unable to move gas to Afam IV and Afam VI as well as the Independent Power Plant in Rivers State, resulting in generation loss of 593MW. 

“Also, the second vandalized gas pipeline from Escravos to Warri caused a cutback of 1,005MW in power generation from Egbin/AES power generating station, Olorunsogo, Omotosho and Geregu NIPP power generating plants.” According to the statement, with the loss of 1,598MW, the total power generation as of 2pm on Sunday was 2,290MW.

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Press Release-NNPC Unveils $16 Billion Gas Infrastructure Investment Opportunity Press Release-NNPC Unveils $16 Billion Gas Infrastructure Investment Opportunity

· Set to Commence Site clearing of Multi-billion dollar Ogidinbge Gas Industrial Park in Delta State

·Says President’s Gas Revolution Agenda in full throttle.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has outlined a comprehensive gas infrastructure development programme projected to attract an industry wide investment outlay of over $16billion within the nexlass="newsfont" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> 

Providing details of the gas infrastructure development drive in a presentation at the recently concluded Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, Dr. David Ige, Group Executive Director, Gas and Power of the NNPC, said the aspiration for gas development is anchored on the three point strategic focus of the Gas Master Plan.

Under the strategic themes of the GMP, it is envisaged that the plan will deliver gas to power for at least threefold increase in generation capacity by 2015, achieve reasonable level of gas based industrialization by positioning Nigeria as the undisputed regional hub for gas based industries such as fertilizer, petrochemicals and methanol by 2014. This item is the corner stone of the President’s Gas Revolution Agenda.

The GMP is also focused on achieving high value export via LNG and regional export drives. Dr. Ige said the ongoing work to consolidate the agenda has thrown up investment opportunities in the gas sector to the tune of $16billion.

"Opportunities for investments exist in the areas of Financial Services, Gas Transmission Pipelines, Pipe Milling and Fabrication Yards, Upstream Gas Development, LNG and LPG Plants and Gas Processing Facility/Gas Based Manufacturing Industries,’’ he said. On the proposed Ogidingbe Gas based Industrial Park, the NNPC GED said that investment opportunities are available in the areas of Free Trade Zone Infrastructure, Port Infrastructure and Real Estate Development.

He stated that the park which is designed to emerge as Africa’s largest Gas City ultimately aims to create the largest gas industrial park Sub-Saharan Africa with Fertilizer, Methanol and Power projects. Dr. Ige explained that after initial choice of Koko as site for the project, Ogidingbe emerged as the new site due to the potential high cost of dredging the 90km Koko access route to the Ocean.

"Ogidingbe has some natural features which made it the choice location based on technical consideration. It has the desirable location by the sea hence better draught than Koko, it is also located by the Escravos River for inland access, it has proximity to existing gas infrastructure via the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System thus enabling relatively easy gas access with less pipeline infrastrucess pipeline infrastructure development cost,’’ he said.

On the attitude of the Delta State Government and the Host Community to the project, Dr. Ige described their outlook as supportive.

"The people of the area are excited about the project, His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Warri has been supportive and the State Governor has encouraged us in every step of the way, the Governor has already approved and issued the Cof O for the 2,700 hectare site.’’ He said.

The GED informed that phased work on the project with massive job creation and service opportunities would commence later this month with clearing of the access site in Ogidingbe, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

"Potential services required at this stage include: equipment rentals like bulldozers, chain saws etc; Labour services which includes catering, procurement services; Timber Processing and Marketing as well as hospitality services among many others.’’

Providing a timeline of activities for the project, he said it is envisaged that work would commence on the Ogidingbe FTZ full infrastructure development and Pre-Front End Engineering Design of the Central processing Facilities also known as CPFs in June this year while the Final Investment Decision for the CPFs is slated for June 2014.

In January 2015 construction work on the CPFs would begin and in March same year work begins on real estate development of the Ogidinbge area to service the industrial park while the construction work of the petrochemical complex tees-off in 2016/2017.

Tumini Green, Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division NNPC, Abuja. (13/05/13)

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THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), is optimistic that the country will become the regional hub of petrochemical and fertilizer by 2017. 

The Group Executive Director of Gas and Power, Dr. David Ige, said the gas development reform and capacity in the country were being redoubled and that a few years from now, the entire nation would be wired up for gas. 

Ige disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the prestigious Man of the Year Award from the Oil and Gas Year book that chronicles the Who’s Who of the Global Energy Industry. 

A statement signed by the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Tumini Green, quoted Ige as saying: “All that we need to make Nigeria a regional hub of petrochemical and fertilizer is in place and by 2017, Nigeria clearly will become the regional hub of gas in Africa,” Dr.Ige affirmed. 

He noted that the dedicated major Gas Infrastructure Development initiated by the Federal Government is designed to create flexibility of movement of domestic gas nationwide. Ige further revealed that the Ajaokuta-Kano-Kaduna gas line is at an advanced stage of design to supply gas to the northern part of the country for power generation and gas-based industries, stressing that similar gas infrastructure projects are ongoing in different parts of the country. 

The NNPC GED averred that these improvements in gas supply and power availability are a testament to the holistic approach of the government in resolving the power crisis in Nigeria permanently.

He posited that the nation is on its way to achieving gas export parity, a development that would encourage greater investment by the private sector in the gas exploration and production.

He revealed that domestic gas usage has been increasing, noting that 300 taxi drivers have converted their cars to run on gas in Benin city through NIPCO initiative .

Ige applauded the organizers for the award and said it would spur him and the NNPC to record more milestones in the gas revolution agenda of the Federal Government.

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