By Stella Odueme
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Nigeria into a global gas hub through strategic investments, increased production and expanded liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
The company’s Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, disclosed this on Monday at the ongoing 2026 Gas Technology & Exhibition Conference (GASTECH) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ogunleye spoke during a panel session titled, “The New LNG Order: Leadership Strategies for Energy Security and Growth,” where he outlined Nigeria’s strategies for leveraging its vast gas reserves to drive industrialisation, strengthen energy security and expand its presence in international markets.
According to a statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, Andy Odeh, on Monday , he said Nigeria’s over 215 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven gas reserves provide a strong foundation for meeting domestic energy needs and increasing export capacity amid changing global energy supply and demand dynamics.
“Gas development and monetisation from Nigeria’s standpoint is a purely commercial play. NNPC Ltd. is implementing a Gas Master Plan (GMP) engineered as a gap-to-potential tool to move Nigeria from a 215TCF reserves position to above 600TCF,” Ogunleye stated.
According to him, the company’s gas development strategy is anchored on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Decade of Gas Framework and the Gas Master Plan, with the immediate objective of increasing national gas production to 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by 2027 and 12 Bcf/d by 2030.
Ogunleye noted that Nigeria remains a major global gas supplier and is pursuing further expansion through critical LNG projects.
He cited the existing Trains 1-6, which have a combined production capacity of 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and have exported more than 6,000 LNG cargoes since 1999.
He also disclosed that Train 7 is scheduled for completion in 2027, describing the project as part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to increase its LNG export capacity.
The NNPC executive said Nigeria’s strategic location, with access to the Atlantic Basin and Asian markets, gives the country a competitive advantage in the global gas trade.
He added that the advantage was reinforced by the country’s substantial gas reserves and renewed focus on gas development and monetisation.
Ogunleye further explained that domestic gas utilisation and exports were not competing priorities, stressing that Nigeria had adopted a dual-track approach to maximise the benefits of its gas resources.
He said while LNG exports would generate foreign exchange earnings, increased domestic gas utilisation would support industrial growth, create jobs, improve energy security and enhance economic wellbeing.
The NNPC official also said the company had taken steps to de-risk new LNG projects through a robust legal and regulatory framework supported by attractive fiscal incentives.
“With continued efforts towards stable security, competitive gas pricing and assured gas supply, there is no better time for investors and financiers to confidently participate in the development of Nigeria’s LNG projects,” he said.
GASTECH, now in its 54th edition, is the world’s largest exhibition and conference focused on natural gas, LNG, hydrogen and low-carbon solutions.
The conference brings together about 50,000 participants from more than 150 countries, including energy experts, chief executive officers, policymakers, investors and technology leaders, to discuss energy security, LNG supply, infrastructure investment and decarbonisation.