NLNG Train 7 Alone No Longer Ambitious — Tony Attah
Tony Attah Urges Broader Vision for Nigeria’s LNG Expansion
Tony Attah, the former Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), has stated that the ambitious NLNG Train 7 project alone is no longer sufficient to meet Nigeria’s aspirations in the global gas market. Attah, who played a key role in securing the final investment decision (FID) for the Train 7 project, emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt a broader strategy to compete with global players like Qatar, which has aggressively expanded its liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity.
Attah’s call for a larger vision reflects the challenges Nigeria faces in the rapidly evolving LNG sector, as global competitors continue to make bold moves to dominate the market.
Train 7 to Add 35% Capacity But More is Needed
The NLNG Train 7 project is designed to boost Nigeria’s current LNG production capacity by 35%, increasing it from 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to around 30 MTPA. While this is a significant achievement, Attah pointed out that it pales in comparison to Qatar’s strategic investment, which aims to add 30 MTPA to its existing capacity of 77 MTPA, cementing its position as a leading global LNG producer.
At a recent Petroleum Club dinner event, Attah underscored the need for Nigeria to step up its efforts in the global LNG race. “Essentially, Train 7 alone is no longer ambitious, and we should now pull up our sleeves to actively pursue the development of our gas reserves as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Nigeria’s LNG Journey: From Gas Flares to Revenue Streams
Attah highlighted that Nigeria’s journey into the LNG space initially began as a strategy to manage gas flares while creating a new revenue stream for the country. Notably, Nigeria started this journey just two years behind Qatar. However, while Qatar surged ahead, Nigeria has been constrained by political and developmental bottlenecks that have stalled further progress beyond Train 6.
Attah stressed that the country must take more decisive action to fully tap into its gas reserves and meet its LNG potential. “We grew our ambition to build NLNG Trains 1-3 and went on to add Trains 4, 5, and 6 between the year 2000 and 2006,” he said.
The Halt in Nigeria’s LNG Growth Since 2006
Despite being regarded as the fastest-growing LNG country globally between 2000 and 2006, Nigeria’s momentum stalled after the completion of Train 6. According to Attah, political challenges, lack of political will, and the dilemma between expanding brownfield projects like NLNG Train 7 and developing new greenfield projects such as OK and Brass LNG halted the nation’s LNG expansion.
These factors have caused Nigeria to fall behind in the global LNG market. While Train 7 is a step in the right direction, it is no longer enough to secure Nigeria’s competitive position.
Train 7: A Critical Yet Insufficient Step
BusinessDay reports that Train 7 is expected to increase NLNG’s production capacity by 35%, boosting it from 22 MTPA to 30 MTPA. The project is currently 67% completed as of June 2024, and once completed, it will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s LNG output. However, Attah cautioned that the project alone does not position Nigeria as a major contender in the global LNG market.
Attah also noted the growing discussions around developing new capacity through greenfield projects like OK LNG and Brass LNG, which have the potential to further strengthen Nigeria’s LNG ambitions. However, these projects have been mired in political and financial complications for years.
The Path Forward for Nigeria’s LNG Industry
In conclusion, Attah’s message is clear: Train 7 is an important milestone, but Nigeria must adopt a more aggressive strategy to develop its gas reserves and remain competitive in the global LNG market. Expansion beyond Train 7, including new LNG projects, must be prioritized if the country is to realize its full potential and secure its position in the global energy landscape.
Social Media Reactions
- Nduka Nwosu (Twitter): “Tony Attah’s insight is spot on. Nigeria’s LNG ambitions need more than just Train 7. Time to think bigger! #LNG #NigeriaGas #GlobalEnergy”
- Adamu Suleiman (LinkedIn): “Qatar is adding 30MTPA while we’re focused on just 8MTPA with Train 7. We need to accelerate our gas development! #NigeriaLNG #EnergyExpansion”
- Claire Donovan (Facebook – USA): “Nigeria needs to keep up with global LNG giants like Qatar. Tony Attah’s comments are a wake-up call. #LNGMarket #Nigeria #GasIndustry”
- Chukwuma Igwe (Instagram): “Train 7 is great, but it’s not enough. Nigeria has to do more if we want to be a major LNG player. #LNG #EnergyRevolution”
- Andrew Taylor (Twitter – UK): “Tony Attah is right—Nigeria’s LNG sector can’t afford to stagnate. We need more ambitious projects to stay competitive globally. #LNGExpansion #GasIndustry”
- Ngozi Akano (WhatsApp): “Train 7 is good, but we need to step up our game. Nigeria has to move faster in the LNG space. #EnergyGrowth #NigeriaLNG”
- Uche Eze (Telegram): “Tony Attah speaks truth—Train 7 alone won’t get us there. We need new projects like Brass LNG to stay relevant globally. #NigeriaEnergy #LNGExpansion”
- Hassan Rahman (Facebook – UAE): “Ambitious plans like Qatar’s will leave others behind. Nigeria must think bigger than Train 7! #GlobalLNG #NigeriaGas #EnergyIndustry”
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