Nigeria, Jan. 29 -- On Tuesday, the Nigerian government awarded 10 gas distribution licences (GDL) to six companies to improve the country's gas utilisation drive.

The beneficiary companies are NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, Axxela, NIPCO Plc, Central Horizon Gas Company and Falcon Corporation Limited.

The GDL, as provided in Sections 148-152 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), according to the government, is a licence that gives exclusive right to establish, construct and operate a gas distribution system in a designated local Gas Distribution Zone (GDZ) issued to qualified applicants to distribute gas at the 'last mile'.

Speaking during the award ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Petrole...