Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria LNG Limited says it has no plans of shutting down its six-train, 22 million tonnes per annum capacity in Finiima, Bonny Island in Rivers State, over any proposed maintenance operation.
This is as there as been reports of the gas firm’s alleged plans to shut its sixth train for maintenance in February or March 2024, a development which may worsen the current shortages of LPG (cooking gas) in the country, as well as the impact on the current inadequate supply of LNG to Europe.
Reacting, the management of NLNG assured that the company remains committed to the safe and uninterrupted functioning of its plant and, hence does not completely shut down its operation during routine maintenance.
NLNG General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Andy Odeh, said the temporary taking of a specific train or unit offline for maintenance purposes, does not entail a complete shutdown of the entire plant, adding that the purported planned shutdown reported in the media was its routine turnaround maintenance and part of NLNG’s production calendar.
Odeh in a statement described the report as false and appealed for accuracy and balance in conveying the details of the nation’s energy industry.
“The Company’s commitment to the safe and uninterrupted functioning of its plant underscores the significance of routine turnaround maintenance, referred to technically as a “shutdown.”
“Contrary to the report’s assertions, routine turnaround maintenance, while temporarily taking a specific train or unit offline for maintenance purposes, does not entail a complete shutdown of the entire plant. The meticulous planning and execution of this essential activity allows for the seamless transfer of production loads to unaffected trains, resulting in minimal impact on overall production. The “shutdown” alluded to in the report is a routine turnaround maintenance and is part of NLNG’s production calendar.”
Odeh in the statement further emphasised NLNG’s track record of global achievements during turnaround maintenance, which according to him was consistently setting high standards in safety and project management to ensure the continued operational efficiency of its assets.
“A classic example of NLNG’s achievements is the deployment of the Add-On Gate Valve, AOGV technology in 2022 which involved the replacement of a critical valve while the plant remained online and active. NLNG plant was the first in Africa to implement this technology and its 36” line was the largest pipe size across the globe that the AOGV has ever been deployed on. It is this kind of engineering excellence and unparalleled maintenance execution discipline that NLNG is known for.”
