The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has described Anambra State’s planned transition from diesel-powered factories to gas-based energy as a potential game-changer for the South-East’s industrial landscape.

Speaking at an energy stakeholders forum in Awka, the Chairman of MAN, South-East Region, Lady Adaora Chukwudozie, said the move from diesel to gas was far more than a technical adjustment. She framed it as a strategic pathway to sustainable industrial growth, capable of reshaping the cost structure and competitiveness of manufacturers across the state.

The forum, jointly organised by the Anambra State Government and Shell Nigeria Gas Limited under the theme “Bridging the energy gap for manufacturers,” brought together policymakers, energy providers and industry leaders to address one of the most pressing constraints on Nigerian manufacturing: reliable and affordable power.

Chukwudozie noted that Anambra’s dense industrial clusters in Nnewi, Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor and nearby areas stand to benefit significantly if gas infrastructure is properly deployed. She stressed that energy costs and reliability often determine whether factories expand, stagnate or shut down, particularly for small and medium-scale manufacturers already battling high operating expenses.

She called for deliberate collaboration among energy companies, regulators and government, arguing that gas-driven industrialisation will only succeed with reliable infrastructure, transparent pricing and supportive policies. With those elements in place, she said, gas could cut production costs, stabilise power supply and strengthen the competitiveness of locally made goods, positioning Anambra as a model for sustainable industrial energy in Nigeria and West Africa.

Anambra’s Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Julius Chukwuemeka, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to delivering reliable, affordable and clean power. He highlighted the state’s abundant gas reserves in the Omambala region and Ogbaru axis and said the government is determined to harness them to drive industrialisation, including plans for a 5,000-hectare Anambra industrial city that will depend on stable energy.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, outlined both the state’s strong entrepreneurial culture and its constraints, including energy shortages, infrastructure deficits, poor roads, limited long-term finance and regulatory hurdles.

Shell Nigeria Gas General Manager, Raph Gbobo, pledged the company’s support in displacing diesel through virtual gas solutions and in helping to build a cost-effective power market within key industrial clusters, signalling a new phase in Anambra’s push to align its industrial ambitions with cleaner, more reliable energy sources.