The installation of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant has been agreed upon by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Norwegian business Golar LNG. The initiative aims to increase gas exports from Nigeria and local gas use.
With access to substantial gas reserves off Nigeria’s coast, NNPCL is the continent’s largest oil producer. The 22 million metric tons per year (mtpa) Bonny Island LNG plant is Nigeria’s current LNG exporter. A seventh train with a capacity of eight more mtpa is now being added to the facility as an upgrade.
Nigeria LNG Limited, a unit of NNPCL, is working in collaboration with Nigeria’s UTM Offshore to build the country’s first floating LNG plant. The planned facility will have a liquefaction capacity of 1.2 mtpa and will use resources from the Yoho gas field owned by ExxonMobil and NNPCL.
The entrance of Golar LNG, one of the world’s largest owners and operators of marine LNG infrastructure, is expected to accelerate investments in Nigeria’s rising demand for gas liquefaction.
Recently, Golar LNG has been making inroads in the gas-rich West African region. The company owns the 2.4 mtpa Hilli FLNG, located in Cameroon.
At Singapore’s Keppel Shipyard, a second 2.5 mtpa FLNG, Gimi, is currently undergoing conversion. In accordance with a 20-year contract, Gimi is anticipated to begin providing services to BP’s Tortue FLNG project offshore of Mauritania and Senegal in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Golar LNG Chairman Tor Trøim stated in November of last year that the business is spending over $300 million on the purchase of long-lead goods for its third FLNG conversion project. The action is being taken against a backdrop of rising FLNG plant demand across the globe.
