NNPC and Indorama sign $7bn agreement to promote use of natural gas in Nigeria



By Williams Ago

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indorama Petrochemicals to explore and develop suitable opportunities within the remits of both parties’ interests across the hydrocarbon value chain in Nigeria.

According to NNPCL's Group Corporate Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari, “NNPC Limited is on the threshold of making value out of gas beyond any imagination.”

He also stated that through the project, "we are seeing an annual contribution of $3bn to the nation’s GDP and a lifetime contribution of $18bn to Government revenue."

In a press release to newsmen by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Abuja, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the project is also in fulfilment of one of NNPCL's role of alignment with Nigeria’s Nigasification strategy, which is a consolidation of critical programs embarked upon by the company to utilise natural gas and its associated liquids to be the energy source of choice, spur economic growth, free up crude oil for exports, and ultimately enable job creation.

He said, as part of the company’s vision of operating the largest Petrochemical Hub in Africa, Indorama, which owns the world’s largest single-train Urea Plant located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, is currently working on expansion plans within the next six years, in the gas-based heavy manufacturing industries, including fertilizer, methanol, and petrochemicals.

The release quoted the MD/CEO, Africa Indorama Energy, Manish Mundra, saying, “This is a strategic collaboration to unlock Nigeria’s upstream sector, but more importantly, to partner downstream, in order to share the value chain.” 

Manish Mundra also said, “Nigeria’s gas reserves should position the country as one of the largest producers of urea in the western hemisphere.”

Parts of the statement reads thus: Key benefits of the opportunities include the monetization of over 1.7 TCF of gas and 100 million barrels of oil reserves, generation of upstream lifecycle revenue of over $18bn, downstream production of about 4.8 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of products, including methanol, urea, and fertilizer to boost national food security.

Other benefits include the creation of about 55,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, the development of a condensate refinery to boost petroleum product supply and reduce product importation, annual GDP contribution of over $3.8bn, and attraction of over $7bn of foreign direct investment into the country.

The NNPC Ltd. MOU with Indorama follows Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment in India a few weeks ago, to strengthen business relations between both countries.

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