OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — Nigeria has sent out its first batch of liquefied natural gas, LNG of 950,000 metric tons as countries gradually lift lockdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valued at N354billion, the much volume was fit into over 16 vessels and were sent to various destinations from the Onne port in the last few months, according to the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA’s shipping data.
Sines Port in Portugal alone took delivery of 141,000 cubic meters of the product. The Port had already taken delivery of 315,900 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas from Onne in the last six months.
Other vessels which included LNG Lokoja were delivered to China, Spain, and United States- 66,000 tons; Maran Gas Olympias, 70,000tons; LNG Cross River, 63tons; LNG Borno, 66,000 tons; LNG Bayelsa, 63,000 tonnes; Castillo De Caldelas, 70000tons; Valencia Knutsen, 70,000tons; LNG Bonny II, 72,000tos; Catalunya Spirit, 65,000 tons; LNG Finima II, 72,000 tons and LNG River Niger, 63,000 tons.
Nigeria LNG Limited operates six liquefaction units (LNG trains) producing 22 million mtpa. This amounts to roughly 10% of the world’s LNG consumption. Trains 1, 2 and 3 have production capacities of 3.2 mmtpa, whilst trains 4, 5 and 6 have capacities of 4.1 mmtpa each.
As of April 2020, trains 1-3 had nominal production capacities of 3.3 mtpa.
According to the International Gas Union’s World LNG 2017 report, Nigeria was the fourth largest LNG exporter by share after Qatar, Australia, and Malaysia between 2015 and 2016.
Train 7 project upon completion is expected to increase the company’s production capacity at its plant on Bonny Island, Finima, Rivers State from 22 million metric tons to 30 million metric tons per year.
Train 7 is expected to create over 12,000 jobs at construction, will generate more revenue to the government in dividends, taxes and feed gas purchases and will further reduce the level of gas flaring in the country.