The 400-kilometre network is expected to deliver first gas by mid-2028, connecting five states and supplying industries with an estimated demand of 254 million standard cubic feet daily…..
The Federal Government is advancing plans for a $100 million gas pipeline project designed to boost industrial activity across the South-East, with construction scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027 and initial gas deliveries expected in the second quarter of 2028.
The proposed 400-kilometre network will link the ANOH gas processing plant in Imo State to major commercial and industrial centres across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, potentially improving access to reliable energy for manufacturers, power producers and agro-processing businesses.
The South East Development Commission (SEDC), through the South East Investment Company (SEIC), is developing the project alongside GasSync and NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
SEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Okoye, said the commission had committed $3 million to the initiative after completing technical, financial and legal assessments. The commission is also seeking to attract up to $30 million in investment from regional stakeholders to help finance the project.
The project timeline was announced on Tuesday by Callistus Mba, a representative of GasSync, during the South-East Gas Infrastructure Investment and Project Development ceremony in Enugu.
Mba said the pipeline was expected to serve approximately 150 prospective customers across manufacturing, electricity generation and agro-processing, with projected demand estimated at 254 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The network will originate in Ohaji, Imo State, pass through Owerri and connect industrial centres including Aba in Abia State and Onitsha in Anambra State, before extending to Enugu and Ebonyi.
According to Mba, delivering gas directly to industrial users would reduce dependence on road transportation of compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas, potentially improving supply efficiency and supporting business expansion.
GasSync is already engaging potential customers, including Geometric Power in Abia State. The pipeline is also expected to create opportunities for the reactivation of dormant industrial facilities in Enugu and support the growth of agro-processing enterprises in Ebonyi.
Mba disclosed that procurement activities had commenced, while preparations for engineering, procurement and construction were progressing alongside efforts to finalise funding arrangements.
President Bola Tinubu said the pipeline could help tackle persistent energy shortages that have constrained industrial development across the South-East, opening up opportunities for new factories, industrial parks and businesses.
Represented at the ceremony by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, the president said the project was intended to extend energy access beyond existing industries and create the conditions for new investments to emerge.
Tinubu said the initial phase would require approximately $100 million, stressing the importance of attracting private investors and development finance institutions to complement government funding.
He urged development institutions to identify commercially viable projects, deploy public resources responsibly and mobilise private capital on a scale that government budgets alone could not sustain.
The president also emphasised the need for transparent project management, environmental safeguards, community participation and strict compliance with safety standards.
He called for clearly defined implementation timelines, measurable milestones and regular progress reports, describing the initiative as part of a broader effort to convert the South-East’s economic potential into industrial production, employment and increased prosperity.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah described the agreement as a significant step towards expanding investment and strengthening the region’s industrial base, pledging cooperation from state governments to facilitate implementation.
Mbah said the signing marked the commencement of investment activity and called for coordinated action to ensure the project progresses as planned.
He added that South-East governors would work to accelerate right-of-way approvals and environmental impact assessments needed to move the pipeline towards construction.
Imo State Deputy Governor Chinyere Ekomaru said the state’s gas resources positioned it to benefit from the proposed infrastructure, particularly through opportunities linked to the Assa North-Ohaji South gas development.
Anambra State Deputy Governor Onyekachukwu Ibezim urged communities along the proposed pipeline corridor to support the project, noting that local cooperation would be important to its successful delivery.
Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Patricia Obila also pledged support, saying improved gas availability could help businesses expand and enable inactive companies to resume operations.
Meanwhile, Mary Ogbe, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, said the SEDC’s interventions were aimed at improving living standards and complementing development programmes being implemented by state governments.
If delivered within the proposed timeline, the pipeline could strengthen the South-East’s access to natural gas, support industrial investment and reduce logistical challenges associated with supplying fuel to businesses across the region. However, the project’s impact will depend on completing construction, securing sufficient gas supplies and converting projected demand into firm customer commitments.
