Nigerian Gas Industry Faces Pressure to Deliver on Schedule

Nigeria's gas industry is facing increasing pressure to commercialize projects rapidly and generate returns on significant capital investments, according to Iretomiwa Odusote, Regional Segment Leader for Energies and Chemicals in West Africa. Odusote argued that possessing abundant gas reserves alone is no longer enough to succeed in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market.

Nigeria remains a major player in the global LNG market, accounting for 3.4% of global LNG exports, but it faces stiff competition from developments in other regions such as the United States, Qatar, Australia, and East Africa. To remain competitive, Nigerian projects must deliver on schedule and begin production safely.

Odusote stressed that achieving first gas would not guarantee long-term success, as operators must manage equipment reliability, energy consumption, production efficiency, and maintenance after facilities become operational. He highlighted the need for greater access to real-time operational information to monitor equipment health, energy consumption, and process performance from a unified operational environment.