Amidst high cost of fuel in the country, UTM FLNG, a Nigerian gas company has concluded plans to set up the first Floating Liquified Natural Gas (FLNG) facility in Nigeria.
The facility is going to be the very first to be developed by an indigenous private African company.
The FLNG will among other things, boost production and crash the cost of gas for domestic, auto and industrial use in Nigeria.
The facility is expected to leapfrog the national economy by producing an annual 1.5 million tonnes of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for export as well as 300,000 LPG metric tonnes for domestic market.
This is aimed at lowering and stabilising prices of gas, while creating thousands of jobs and investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The Group Managing Director of UTM FLNG, Dr. Julius Rone stated this after an economy and investment driven meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday.
Rone said he was at the Presidential Villa to brief the President on the importance of the facility. He assured the project will serve as a legacy project under the Tinubu administration in the quest to revitalise the nation’s economy, rejuvenate the productive sector, create jobs and investment opportunities while saving millions of Nigerians from the hazards of environmental pollution.
The UTM Boss who said he had a very fruitful discussion with President Tinubu, applauded the President for his strategic policies, commitment and efforts towards stimulating the economy, a disposition he said further motivated the company in its drive to establish the facility in the country.
He explained that the FLNG facility will be anchored offshore in Akwa Ibom State in about 60m water depth.
“We believe the project is coming at the right time in line with your Renewed Hope agenda of leapfrogging Nigeria’s socio-economic development by sustainably developing our enormous gas resources.
“When completed in Q4 2026, the facility will produce on annual basis, 1.5 million tonnes of LNG for export, 300,000 metric tonnes of LPG for domestic market (DLPG) and some quantities of condensate.
“300,000 metric tonnes of LPG production which will be dedicated to domestic market (DLPG) representing 25 per cent of national demand and will go a long way to stabilise the price of cooking gas in addition to its possible use for auto gas and other industrial purposes among others.
“Moreover, about 3000 direct jobs and 4000 indirect jobs will be generated in addition to value creation along the LPG Supply Chain.
“Also, LPG addresses deforestation, helps reduce mortality rate of our women folk as a result of smoke inhalation from the use of firewood.
“By eliminating flaring of Associated Gas, Nigeria can meet its Climate Change goals and this project is one such enabler”, Rone told the President.
He commended the Tinubu administration for its commitment to providing access to clean, accessible, affordable, available and abundant energy for all Nigerians and reiterated UTM’s commitment to partner the Federal Government to realise this agenda.
According to Dr. Rone, Afreximbank is facilitating the financing of the project with financial closure envisaged for Q4 2023.
UTM FLNG Limited, a subsidiary of UTM Offshore Ltd, is a Special Purpose Vehicle created to actualise the project.