Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s efforts as Local Content chairperson have paid off, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is set to commission five mini-liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Ajaokuta, Kogi state.
The concentration of five mini-LNG plants in one location is unprecedented in Nigeria.
On December 3, 2024, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had announced at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)’s 13th annual conference and exhibition held in Bayelsa that NNPC plans to establish these five mini-LNG plants. She expressed her appreciation for the projects being located in her senatorial district, stating that they will create jobs, enhance domestic energy supply, and provide feedstock for the Ajaokuta/Kaduna/Kano pipelines.
“I would like to appreciate NNPCL and the industry experts who have also considered and humbled us at Ajaokuta Local Government, with the (not too sure if it’s too early to speak about it), establishment of five mini LNG plants which will be flagged off early next year.
“This is actually the largest concentration of such projects in one district in the entire country. Five, not one, two, three, four, but five mini LNG plants will be established in Ajaokuta by God’s grace next year (2025).
“That’s good news for us, good news for Nigeria. So what does that mean? This and many others are just pivotal, it’s important to know that if there’s any place in the country where we should situate a technology hub that will not only drive innovations but talk about the testing and brainstorming around the various kinds of metals and what these metals can do for the industry. It’s just Ajaokuta Local Government,“ she was quoted as saying.
Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, in an invitation letter to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, announced that the groundbreaking event for the five mini plants will take place in Ajaokuta local government area on January 30, 2025.
The invitation, contained in a letter dated January 15, 2025, comes after several efforts by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to have the five plants located in Ajaokuta local government of Kogi because of its strategic importance to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd.
“The establishment of these Mini LNG plant marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to promote cleaner energy alternatives, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance energy security for our nation, in line with the aspiration of the Federal Government,” the letter stated.
The establishment of five mini-liquefied natural gas plants in Ajaokuta is expected to transform the region into a gas hub, boosting domestic energy supply and creating jobs.
As the chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has been a strong advocate for promoting local content and economic development in Nigeria.
