The Department of Gas Resources (DGR) was established by the National Gas Supply and Price Regulations of 2008 duly signed by the President and gazetted as No. 10 Vol. 95 of 19thFebruary, 2008. The Department came into effect in November 2012 and in accordance with Part | Section 2 of the law. With some 199 trillion standard cubic feet of proven gas, Nigeria has become the 11th Country with the largest natural gas reserve in the world. Potentials of higher reserves ranging from 300-600tscf would place Nigeria as 7th Country with largest gas reserve.
Activities/Functions of the Gas Department
- Regulate the gas sector, in accordance with the National Gas Master Plan and other National Policies, as may be issued in respect of the gas sector from time to time by the Federal Government.
- Maintain constant surveillance over indices relevant to gas pricing, identifying macro-economic factors with relation to the pricing of Gas and advice government on appropriate strategies;
- At the beginning of each year, announce the annual Domestic Demand Requirement;
- Allocate a Domestic Gas Supply obligation to every person licensed to produce petroleum at the beginning of every year.
- Establish an Aggregate Price, which shall be used by the Domestic Gas Aggregator, as a basis for gas supply to the domestic sector;
- Establishment of Domestic Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria
Approved Structure and Staff Disposition
The Staff Disposition of DGR stated below:
- Director (1)
- Deputy Directors (3)
- Gathering and Infrastructure (G&l)
- Strategy and Policy (S&P)
- Pricing and Open Access (P&)
- Assistant Director (3)
- G&l, S&P and P&O
- Chief officer (Regulatory framework & Drafting)
Major Activities
- Implementation of Gas Master Plan; evaluation and review of Gas Fiscal Regime, Gas Utilization and Markey Survey, Gas Pipeline and Infrastructure Network Study, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Policy framework Development, Accelerate Gas Development Programmes and Gas Revolution (Establish energy security for Nigeria through the utilization of natural gas resources).
- Overseeing Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, West African Gas Pipeline, WAGP Project, Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline Project, Nigeria-Cameroon Joint Hydrocarbon Development Commission; Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority, Gas Exporting Forum (GECF) and German-African Energy Forum,
Achievements
- During the period under review the Department of Gas Resources was able to review National Gas Policy, Gas flare commercialization Programme, conduct Consultancy Services on Survey of Oil and Gas Production and Utilization in Nigeria.
- It also organized Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Policy Framework Development Campaign on Gas Pipe line Vandalization in conjunction with Ministry of Power.
- Draft framework agreement between the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria relating to cross-border co-operation on Hydrocarbon in the marine boundary area.
- Member Inter-ministerial committee on switching from Kerosene to Gas using Indonesia model chaired by National Planning Commission (NPC).
Gas Sector Development
Key Objectives of the Department of Gas as follows:
- Maximizing the usage of gas in the domestic economy;
- Optimizing gas export opportunities;
- Ensure the long term gas/energy security for Nigeria
