*NLNG-Train-6.
Mkpoikana Udoma
Abuja — The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, has listed out the key areas of opportunities available for Nigerians on its upcoming $6.5billion seventh gas production plant, commonly called Train-7, in Bonny Island, Rivers State.
NLNG Managing Director, Mr. Tony Attah, gave the list at the just concluded Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Abuja while showcasing opportunities where stakeholders and business people can take advantage to stimulate the nation’s economy.
Represented by NLNG Manager, Nigeria Content Development, Mr. Charles Epele, Attah said the Train7 project would put Nigeria back on its position as the fourth largest LNG producer in the world, and also increase the capacity of Nigerian manufacturers and service providers to meet international standards.
The NLNG boss said the project will engender sustained development in the value chain and value network for gas suppliers, as well as community empowerment, as thousands of youths will be mopped up for gainful employment.
He further noted that the economy must be stimulated for the youths to be gainfully employed for the sake of the future, otherwise there will be more trouble in the future.
“There is going to be at the peak of that construction project over 10,000 personnel on site in Bonny Island, and more than 80percent of this number will be Nigerians.
“75,000 cubic meters of concrete, made up of sand, cement, water, gravels, etc. 25,000 tones equivalent of structural steel, 15,000metres of pipping of different sizes including carbon and stainless pipes.
“150 piles to hold the structure. 10,000 valves will be utilized on this Train7 project. One million metres of electrical cables, including high and medium voltage cable, instrument cable, land cables, and optic fibre cables.
“100,000 bottles of welding and inert gases, including nitrogen, argon, helium, etc. Cranage, equipment leasing, medical services, fabrication, procurement services are all opportunities for NLNG Train-7 project.”
He said NLNG already has good stakeholders engagement with DPR, NCDMB, Federal Ministry of Environment and has received all approvals consequent to the project, assuring that the final investment decision on the project would be taken in the fourth quarter of 2019.
He also pointed out that NLNG as a company currently pays $6.5billion in taxes to the Federal Government, while an additional LNG plant in the country will improve on that performance.
“Between 2005 and 2007, we were number four largest producer of LNG in the world, at that time NLNG contributed more than seven percent to Nigeria’s GDP. The vision today is to return to that position by implementing the train-7 project.
“Currently, we are just about number 10 in global LNG production. So if we implement train-7 we will come back probably to our fourth position, if other countries do not add much more volume than we are planning to add.
“In fact one of the competitors, Qatar LNG is planning to add to their current production what we are hoping to develop as our capacity, 30million tonnes per annum.”
