- NLNG Exports 4,000th LNG Cargo, Plans Expansion
The nation’s biggest gas exporter, Nigeria LNG Limited, has announced the exportation of the 4,000th cargo of Liquefied Natural Gas from its Bonny Island Terminal in Rivers State.
The NLNG, in a statement on Monday, said the cargo was exported to Mamara LNG Terminal in Turkey, which also received the company’s 3,000th cargo three years ago.
It said the cargo, which was shipped a board one of its chartered vessels, LNG Sokoto, was sold to Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation, and was estimated to arrive its destination by May 14.
A statement issued by the General Manager, External Relations, NLNG, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, noted that the NLNG exported its first cargo on October 9, 1999 to Montoir LNG Terminal, France, and had since grown to Africa’s largest single private sector industrial investment, safely and reliably supplying about seven per cent of the total world LNG demand.
It said the company planned to expand its production capacity at its six-train plant complex from 22 million tonnes per annum to some 30 mtpa.
According to the statement, the plans are expected to stimulate upstream gas development of the country’s vast gas resources and attract about $15bn of foreign direct investments in the upstream alone, as well as another $10bn in the construction of the trains.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah, was quoted as saying, “I am excited about this milestone, which would not have been possible without the shared vision within our company of helping to build a better Nigeria; our core values of integrity, teamwork, respect, excellence and caring; the commitment of our staff; and the cooperation from the government and shareholders as well as other stakeholders, including our loyal customers.
“This milestone is coming at a crucial time. It symbolises many things. It signifies that the NLNG remains a successful company. At 4,000th cargo, we have shown the world that the NLNG is a world-class company, safely and reliably delivering clean energy to its customers. Secondly, and most importantly for Nigeria, it shows that it is time for gas; it is time to encourage this success story.”
He said it was time to unleash the country’s gas potential through catalysts like trains 7 and 8 to spur industrial and economic transformation.
Attah described the NLNG as a success that “we need to sustain as an inspiration to the country,” adding that it had generated $90bn in revenues as well as paid $5.5bn in taxes.
He added, “The company has generated $13bn for the Federal Government through feed gas purchases and $15bn in dividends. While monetising the country’s gas resources, the company has contributed to the reduction in gas flaring from about 65 per cent before it commenced operations to less than 20 per cent today.
