The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bayo Ojulari, has pledged full support for the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) growth agenda and long-term sustainability strategy, underscoring the company’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s energy transition and global competitiveness.
Ojulari made the commitment during a high-level visit to NLNG’s Bonny Island plant on Thursday, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emeka Vitalis, and senior NNPCL executives, including Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye; Company Secretary, Adesua Dozie; and Chief Gas Power Investment Officer, Salihu Jamari.
NLNG as a Strategic Energy Transition Anchor
Welcoming the delegation, NLNG Managing Director & CEO, Philip Mshelbila, described NNPCL as a dependable shareholder with a track record of supporting NLNG’s growth and resilience.
He stressed the urgency of targeted investment in the gas sector to:
- Stabilise gas supply
- De-risk critical infrastructure
- Unlock upstream investments
- Deepen value delivery across the energy value chain
These measures, Mshelbila noted, are essential for sustaining operational momentum, enhancing investor confidence, and positioning Nigeria competitively in the global LNG market.
Driving Net-Zero and Next-Gen Gas Strategy
In his remarks, Ojulari reaffirmed NLNG’s position as “a beacon of governance, performance, transparency, and sustainability” within Nigeria’s dynamic energy sector.
He emphasised that the visit provided an opportunity to:
- Assess NLNG’s operational progress
- Identify improvement opportunities
- Enhance plant availability and reliability
- Boost national revenue from gas exports
Ojulari also revealed plans for a dynamic Gas Master Plan and hydrogen collaboration opportunities with NLNG as part of NNPCL’s long-term net-zero preparations.
Train 7: Expanding Capacity, Strengthening Resilience
The delegation toured key operational areas, including the main plant and the Train 7 expansion project, a flagship development expected to significantly increase LNG production capacity and support Nigeria’s export ambitions.
Permanent Secretary Dr. Vitalis described NLNG as a strategic lever for energy transition and a pillar of macroeconomic stability, highlighting Train 7’s centrality to:
- Achieving national LNG export targets
- Strengthening energy resilience
- Supporting zero-emissions targets across the gas supply chain
He praised NLNG’s asset integrity and operational excellence, calling it a national asset with global credibility.
Sustainability and Competitiveness in the Global LNG Market
From a sustainability and energy economics perspective, the visit underscores three key strategic realities:
- Gas as Nigeria’s Transition Fuel: With global pressure to decarbonise, LNG offers Nigeria a commercially viable pathway to cleaner energy while maintaining export revenue.
- Net-Zero Preparedness: Hydrogen integration and emissions management are critical to keeping NLNG competitive as the global LNG market shifts toward low-carbon certification.
- Infrastructure De-Risking: Continued investment in upstream and midstream infrastructure will be decisive in maintaining supply reliability and safeguarding Nigeria’s LNG export reputation.
Bottom line:
Ojulari’s commitment signals a strategic alignment between NNPCL and NLNG to not only sustain production and revenue growth, but to future-proof Nigeria’s LNG industry in a decarbonising global energy market. With Train 7 nearing completion and net-zero pathways on the table, NLNG is poised to remain one of the nation’s strongest levers for economic stability, industrial growth, and sustainable energy leadership.
