This Russia/Ukraine war could provide Nigeria with not only a new source of income but also help resolve all her internal power generation problems 

Ayo Akinfe 

[1] Last month, a European Union delegation visited Abuja and said they want Nigeria to replace Russia as their main gas supplier. We should have gone to that meeting equipped with a programme of action that involved building pipelines, signing long term supply contracts and a masterplan that would guarantee at least $50bn generated in income annually 

[2] Now, here is a picture of the Surgut-2 Power Station on the Ob River in Russia. It is the largest gas-fired power station in the world, with an installed capacity of 5,597MW. If Nigeria wants to replace Russia in the international market, we simply need to build a similar sized plant  

[3] American multinational conglomerate corporation General Electric, manufactured and supplied the generators that power the plant. I hope the Nigerian government has opened talks with them about supplying similar generators for our plant

[4] Nigeria has announced plans to build the Ethiope Energy Ogorode Gas Fired Power Plant in the Niger Delta to come on stream next year, It is planned to generate 2,800MW. As a people, we must insist that this project goes ahead and the standard is up to what exists in Russia 

[5] E.ON Russia runs the Russian plant and E.ON is the majority stakeholder of OGK- 4 and currently holds 78.3% stake in the company. German giant E.ON, runs one of the world's largest investor-owned electric utility service providers. Maybe we should invite them to be a major stakeholder in our planned gas-fired plant

[6] Nigeria currently flares 17.2bn cubic metres of gas today. Surgat uses 5.9m cubit feet of gas a year, so Nigeria could supply it about three times over

[7] Surgut's turbines have an efficiency rate of 55.9% which is 33% higher than the turbines currently functioning in other Russian power plants. It is a very environmentally-friendly plant. Nigeria as a nation needs to start thinking green as she expands industrially. Is anyone thinking about our carbon footprint at all?

[8] Surgut currently employs 1,249 persons. Just imagine how many ancillary jobs a similar sized power plant could create in Nigeria. If we had three of such facilities, we are looking at mega employment for our people

[9] Can someone please tell me when a Nigerian delegation will  replicate this Russian site in the Niger Delta. Just imagine the impact of one of these being built at Degema, Buguma, Patani, Yenagoa, Ahoada or Nembe

[10] Earlier this week, Nato warned that the Russia/Ukraine war could last for several years. Nigeria should set herself two main gas targets before this war ends - Become the leading global exporter of natural gas and generate 50,000MW of electricity from gas-fired power plants.