Dutch Firm Steps Up To End 60 Years Of Gas Flaring In Rivers, Bring Power And Cooking Gas Home

Port Harcourt, Nigeria — For over six decades, communities around Agbada 2 in Igwuruta, Rivers State, have lived with the pollution, sickness, and frustration that come from gas flaring. That chapter is finally closing. Dutch energy firm Energy Ventures B.V has officially kicked off a project to convert that wasted gas into electricity and cooking gas for the people who need it most.

This is not just another foreign investment story. This is about turning a 60-year-old environmental injustice into a win for Nigerian communities. It is about taking what has been poisoning our air and using it to power our homes and kitchens.

What Is The Agbada Gas Project All About?

The project is designed to capture about 5 million standard cubic feet of gas per day currently being flared in the area. Instead of letting it burn off into the atmosphere, the gas will be converted into electricity or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) for distribution to consumers in communities around the project site.

Herbert Okibe, CEO of Energy Ventures, put it plainly: “What we are trying to do is to convert waste gas to sustainable energy for customers who have been underserved in these areas.”

And he is not mincing words about the stakes. “This has been flared in this region for over 60 years. That is 60 years of polluting the environment, causing sicknesses and respiratory problems. What we are doing is a small step to correct that.”

Why This Matters For Nigeria

Nigeria has more than 100 locations where significant amounts of gas are being wasted through flaring. In fact, the country ranks as the seventh-highest gas flaring nation in the world. That is not a badge of honour; it is a wake-up call.

Okibe made it clear that this problem is global, but the solution can start right here at home. “Nigeria is not unique to this problem. It is actually the seventh-highest gas flaring country,” he said.

Who Is Behind The Project?

The Agbada project is being developed by Africa Gas Technology Company Limited, the Nigerian subsidiary of Energy Ventures. The delegation on the ground included the company's CFO, Govert Rietema, and Chief Commercial Officer, Yvonne te Wierik-Chioke.

This is not a token gesture. The project is backed by tens of millions of dollars in funding, combining private and public-sector support. It has already completed its Environmental Impact Assessment and secured regulatory approval from the relevant midstream and downstream authorities.

What Happens Next?

Preliminary work has already begun, including fencing of the project location. Full construction will start once the necessary permit to construct is obtained.

The company also visited the headquarters of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) to advance the electricity-distribution component of the project. Okibe confirmed: “With our visit today to PHED, we have gotten green light from the board to engage the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to get the permit to go ahead with the project.”

A Pilot For Africa And The World

This is bigger than Rivers State. Okibe called the Agbada project a pilot, saying: “We hope that this first project will be an example as a pilot to demonstrate both the technical and economic viability. Once that is proven, it will be the first of many other projects, not just in Nigeria but also around the world.”

That is the kind of confidence we need. A project that cleans up our environment, powers our communities, and puts Nigeria on the map as a leader in sustainable energy solutions.

The Federal Government also deserves a nod here. Okibe commended its efforts to curb gas flaring through regulatory measures and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

What Does This Mean For The People?

For the people of Igwuruta and surrounding communities, this means cleaner air. It means access to electricity and affordable cooking gas. It means an end to decades of neglect and a new chapter of development.

This is what progress looks like when foreign investment meets local needs. This is what happens when we say enough is enough and start turning our problems into power.

The gas has been burning for 60 years. The correction starts now.