CEO NLNG, Dr. Philip Mshelbila
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Dr Philip Mshelbila, has advocated investment in Nigeria’s gas sector as an enabler to global influence in gas and liquid natural Gas (LNG) supply landscape.
He added that it would ensure that the world has continuous access to reliable and environmentally sound energy throughout the ongoing energy transition.
According to him, the Decade of Gas plan is the most comprehensive plan to restore efforts to fully harness Nigeria’s vast gas resources and ensure a reliable global gas supply as a clean energy source and a major fuel in the energy transition mix.
He made the disclosure during the visit of a delegation from the European Union (E.U.) in Nigeria to NLNG’s plant on Bonny Island, Rivers State over the weekend, according to a statement on Sunday by the Acting Manager, of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG, Yemi Adeyemi.
The delegation, led by the E.U. in Nigeria Commissioner for Energy, Ms. Kadri Simson, was received by Dr. Mshelbila; Nnamdi Anowi, Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, and other management staff.
During the visit, the delegation took a tour of the Central Control Room (CCR), the plant complex, and the Train 7 construction site
Dr. Mshelbila while briefing the delegation on NLNG’s operations and business, pointed out that there were plans to address the root causes of issues in the gas sector.
He added that what was needed to complete the plan was the firm will of all stakeholders and urgent action.
He stated that the remedy to industry challenges lies in a concentrated effort on making the gas sector work as the country has huge potential as the 6th nation with the largest natural gas reserves.
“Our commitment to harnessing the immense potential of natural gas will not only restore Nigeria’s reputation as a major energy powerhouse but also propel us towards a cleaner, greener future.
“With innovation, collaboration by stakeholders, including the government and investors, especially from Europe, and unwavering determination, we can shape the energy landscape of tomorrow, create more opportunities for gas supply globally, drive economic prosperity, create jobs, and mitigate environmental challenges through gas,” he said.
He stated that the Train 7 project was about 50% complete and would bolster NLNG’s production capacity to 30 million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) upon completion.
He added that NLNG is working on a plan to decarbonize and stated that NLNG was also looking to the future for further expansion with more trains, which would act as catalysts for the continued advancement of the gas sector.
Responding to the presentation, the E.U. Commissioner for Energy in Nigeria, Ms. Kadri Simson, commended NLNG’s business model.
“The E.U. is accelerating its energy transition, but we also need to reinforce our ties with reliable LNG partners like Nigeria in the short-term horizon. This helps us to bridge part of the gap left by former Russian imports while we gradually transition away from fossil fuels. Nigeria has proven to be a reliable partner, and last year, 9.4 bcm of LNG was exported from Nigeria to the E.U. But there is potential to do more – in particular between now and 2027,” she stated.
NLNG is owned by four shareholders, namely, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (49%), Shell Gas B.V. (25.6%), TotalEnergies Gaz & Electricity Holdings (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr.l (10.4%).