The Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), which groundbreaking ceremony was performed by former President Mohammadu Buhari in 2021 has reached 50 percent completion, Managing Director of the company, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, has stated.
The project when completed will boost the company’s current six-train plant by 35 percent from 22 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes per annum (30 mtpa).
He said this during the visit of a delegation from the European Union (EU) in Nigeria to NLNG’s plant on Bonny Island, Rivers State at the weekend.
Dr. Mshelbila said that “The Decade of Gas plan” was the most comprehensive plan to restore efforts to fully harness Nigeria’s vast gas resources and ensure a reliable global supply of gas as a clean energy source and a major fuel in the energy transition mix.
He added that NLNG was working on a plan to decarbonise and stated that NLNG was also looking to the future for further expansion with more trains, which would act as catalysts for the continued advancement of the gas sector.
The delegation was led by the EU in Nigeria Commissioner for Energy, Ms. Kadri Simson, and was received by Dr. Mshelbila; Nnamdi Anowi, General Manager, Production; Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development and other management staff.
Briefing the delegation on NLNG’s operations and business, Dr. Mshelbila pointed out that there were plans to address the root causes of issues in the gas sector, adding that what was needed to complete the plan was the firm will of all stakeholders and urgent action.
He stated that the remedy to industry challenges lied in a concentrated effort on making the gas sector work as the country has huge potential as the 6th nation with the largest natural gas reserves.
“Our commitment to harnessing the immense potential of natural gas will not only restore Nigeria’s reputation as a major energy powerhouse but also propel us towards a cleaner, greener future”, he stated; adding “with innovation, collaboration by stakeholders, including the government and investors, especially from Europe, and unwavering determination, we can shape the energy landscape of tomorrow, create more opportunities for gas supply globally, drive economic prosperity, create jobs, and mitigate environmental challenges through gas”.
Dr. Mshelbila further highlighted that investment in Nigeria’s gas sector would wield a far-reaching influence on the global gas and LNG supply landscape, ensuring the world has continuous access to reliable and environmentally sound energy throughout the ongoing energy transition.
Responding to the presentation, the E.U. Commissioner for Energy in Nigeria, Ms. Kadri Simson, commended NLNG’s business model.
“The E.U. is accelerating its energy transition, but we also have a need to reinforce our ties with reliable LNG partners like Nigeria in the short-term horizon. This helps us to bridge part of the gap left by former Russian imports while we gradually transition away from fossil fuels. Nigeria has proven to be a reliable partner, and last year, 9.4 bcm of LNG was exported from Nigeria to the E.U. But there is potential to do more – in particular between now and 2027,” she stated.
During the visit, the delegation took a tour of the Central Control Room (CCR), the plant complex and the Train 7 construction site.
Pic. (L-R) Nnamdi Anowi, GM, Production; Ms. Kadri Simson, EU in Nigeria Commissioner for Energy; Dr. Philip Mshelbila, NLNG’s MD/CEO; and Andy Odeh, GM, External Relations and Sustainable Development during an EU in Nigeria delegation visit to NLNG’s plant on Bonny Island…recently.
. TheWitness
