Synopsis Of The 2017 National Gas Policy

UPSTREAM:

This includes activities related to:

• Exploration for, development and production of gas;

• Drilling and operation of gas producing wells;

• Construction and operation of gas gathering pipelines/facilities;

• Gas separation and treatment facilities and operations;

• Transportation of personnel and equipment to and from upstream gas locations and facilities. 

MIDSTREAM: 

This means activities related to:

• Construction and operation of gas transportation pipelines, in general after the flow station;

• Gas gathering and processing facilities;

• Natural gas liquefaction plants;

• Gas bulk storage facilities;

• Shipping of gas and related products;

• Other bulk transport methods, such as rail, barge and trucks for transporting gas and related products on a wholesale basis.

DOWNSTREAM:

This includes activities pertaining to:

• Construction and operation of facilities for distribution of gas to end-users;

• Retail stations for Compressed Natural Gas (”CNG”);

• City gate reception terminals;

• Distribution of gas;

• Wholesale marketing of gas and gas products;

• Marketing, retailing and sale of gas.

Goals of the NGP 

The strategic objectives of the NGP are described under broad heads to wit; Governance (establishment of requisite legal, regulatory and institutional framework); Industry Structure (provisions in respect of the roles of government-owned corporations, export gas ownership and tolling arrangements, wholesale domestic market, separation of transport and trading, domestic gas supply obligations (“DSO”), review of the gas aggregation policy (“GAP”); Development of Gas Resources (including gas flare-out, gas field development & resource management plans); Infrastructure (development of a gas infrastructure blueprint & strategy necessary for the improvement of the whole supply chain); Building Gas Markets (strategies for financing and developing gas markets, LNG, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (“LPG”) and pipeline projects domestically, regionally and internationally); Developing National Human Resources (for achieving local content and building in-country capacity); Communications (specifying models for internal & external communication within the MPR and government entities as well as consultations with industry stakeholders; necessary to properly explain the policy and changing attitudes); and a Roadmap and Action Plan (setting timeline for the gas policy roadmap). 

Timeline of Gas Policy Roadmap

Without prejudice to the ultimate role of the private sector in delivering on gas utilization in the country, the Government, in order to ensure the development of the gas market, is expected to set targets for market development, monitor progress and take appropriate actions.