Nigeria Expects Rise in LNG Output, Supply to Japan

Nigeria is expected to reach LNG production capacity of over 52 million tons per annum on completion of ongoing projects, state-run oil giant NNPC said in a statement.

Last year, the country exported 22 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) last year, the company said in the same statement, AFP reported.  Nigeria as moved from modest two train  base LNG project of eight million tons per annum in 1999 to the current six operating train capacity of 22 mtpa,  the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, said.

Other major LNG projects are in different stages of development, he said.

Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to help Japan meet its energy demand. Two Japanese firms—LNG Japan and Itochu—have been selected as strategic investors to NNPC in a Nigerian LNG project, the statement said.

A significant portion of gas from this project, to be supported by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, is expected to be delivered to Japan, said Yakubu.