Nigeria is witnessing a surge in interest for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes as global energy disruptions create new market opportunities. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced this trend at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, noting that the country’s LNG sector is increasingly attractive to international buyers amid geopolitical tensions.
NNPC Executive Vice President, Olalekan Ogunleye, said Nigeria’s strategic location—just 10 sailing days from Europe and close to both the Atlantic Basin and Asia—makes it a prime LNG supplier. He highlighted that the country also boasts the largest gas reserves in Africa, positioning it to meet growing energy demands despite global uncertainties. “We see commercial opportunities on top of the fact that we have the most gas reserves in Africa,” Ogunleye said.
To meet rising demand, NNPC is exploring the addition of two new LNG trains and pursuing a 12 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) LNG project. This initiative, alongside gas-based industrial hubs, aims to tap into over 200 trillion cubic feet of Nigeria’s gas reserves. Nigeria LNG (NLNG), where NNPC is the largest shareholder, currently exports up to 22 mtpa and is completing its seventh production train, expected in 2027.
Experts say global conflicts, including the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, have accelerated the need for buyers to diversify their gas supply sources. Martin Houston, a seasoned LNG developer, noted that African and South American countries with discovered but underutilized gas reserves could benefit from increased interest in new LNG supply, including floating LNG projects.
Despite past disruptions from pipeline sabotage in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s LNG exports have rebounded since 2024. NNPC Group CEO Bayo Ojulari added that the country is gradually increasing crude oil production, aiming for an average of 1.8 million barrels per day in 2026. These developments underscore Nigeria’s growing role as a reliable energy supplier in a volatile global market.
source: nairametrics