By Ikenna Asomba
The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), has launched the U.S. Gas Infrastructure Exports Initiative.
As part of the Initiative, USTDA is announcing a call for gas-related project proposals for project preparation grants.
USTDA grant funding typically ranges between $500,000 to $1 million USD for project preparation activities necessary to demonstrate the bankability of infrastructure projects.
For over 35 years, USTDA’s programs have advanced infrastructure projects in partner countries like Nigeria.
USTDA has committed over $60 million to fund more than 50 projects in Nigeria.
Recently, USTDA supported several gas infrastructure activities, including a reverse trade mission in March 2017 to support Nigeria’s gas flare commercialization program.
USTDA also supported a feasibility study for a 511-km southwestern gas pipeline for the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company limited (NGPTC) that was presented to NGPTC in September this year.
The call for gas proposals is a continued demonstration of USTDA’s commitment to supporting the development of gas infrastructure in countries like Nigeria.
“This Initiative will enable USTDA to continue building partnerships that can connect U.S. expertise to countries seeking to build, enhance, or improve their natural gas infrastructure,” said USTDA Acting Director Thomas R. Hardy.
Under the Initiative, USTDA will use the full breadth of its proven toolkit to support natural gas development in Nigeria including early stage project preparation assistance that informs how emerging market gas projects will ultimately be designed, financed and implemented.
Thomas R. Hardy was appointed on July 11, 2017 to lead the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, a U.S. government agency that helps U.S. businesses create jobs through the export of their goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies.
USTDA links U.S. companies to global export opportunities by providing early project preparation assistance that matches U.S. technological expertise with overseas infrastructure development needs – creating lasting business partnerships between the United States and emerging market economies.
