European Union Ambassadors have been campaigning in Egypt and Nigeria for increased supply of Liquefied Natural Gas from these countries into Europe.
In Cairo, Frans Timmermans held separate talks with each of Egypt’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Petroleum Resources as well as the country’s Prime Minister.
All the engagements, in the last three days, had at their heart, the increase of African natural gas export to Europe.
Isopi, who is the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, told NNPC Group Managing Director Mele Kyari and some of his management team, that as a result of the current geopolitical situation in Europe, the continent was interested in strengthening its cooperation with Nigeria particularly in the area of possible increase in the supplies of Liquiefied Natural Gas LNG).
NNPC holds 49% interest in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Ltd, the largest gas liquefaction facility in Africa.
Isopi is aware. “Nigeria is the fourth gas supplier to Europe. At least 40% of the Nigerian LNG is currently exported to Europe”, she said. “We are not only major clients for Nigeria, we are also major partners in the Oil & Gas Sector because some of the companies that are working with you are from Europe. So we share the same interest and same objectives.”
In separate meetings in Cairo, EU Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans told Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Foreign Minister and COP27 president Sameh Shoukry, Oil Minister Tarek El Molla, and Planning Minister Hala El-Said, that the EU is looking to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Egypt in the short term — and contribute to building a local green hydrogen production facility in the long term. The war in Ukraine has pushed EU countries to accelerate their transition to clean energy and diversify supply, Timmermans said.
“We desperately need your gas”: (above) EU Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans (left), in Cairo talking with Egyptian Foreign Minister and COP27 president Sameh Shoukry. In the featured photo: EU Ambassador to Nigeria and Ecowas Samuela Isopi (left) engages the NNPC CEO, Mele Kyari.
In Abuja, Mele Kyari the GMD/CEO NNPC Ltd, assured the European delegation that the Company would continue to deepen its historical relationship with EU companies in Nigeria in order to add more value to its business, particularly towards increasing gas supply to the global market and enhancing domestic gas utilisation.
Other diplomats from the European delegation on the visit to NNPC were: Ambassador of Portugal, Luis Barros; Ambassador of Spain, Juan Sell; Ambassador of Italy, Stefano De Leo and Deputy Head of Mission (France), Olivier Chatelais.
