NNPC LTD, SAHARA GROUP UNVEIL AFRICA’S LARGEST INDIGENOUS LPG VESSEL TO BOOST CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS

Nigeria boosts clean energy drive as NNPC Ltd and Sahara Group unveil Africa’s largest indigenous LPG vessel, MT Iyaloja Lagos.

Africa Nigeria Lpg vessel Mt iyaloja Clean energy Transformation.
Nigeria unveils Africa’s largest indigenous LPG vessel, MT Iyaloja Lagos.
Nigeria unveils Africa’s largest indigenous LPG vessel, MT Iyaloja Lagos.


Nigeria has taken a major step towards strengthening Africa’s clean energy future with the unveiling of MT Iyaloja (Lagos), a 40,000 cubic meter Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, jointly owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Sahara Group.

The vessel, commissioned on Monday in Ulsan, South Korea, is the latest addition to WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between the two energy giants. With this addition, WAGL now boasts a total LPG fleet capacity of 162,000 CBM, reinforcing Africa’s position in the global energy transition.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, hailed the milestone as a clear signal of Nigeria’s determination to deliver affordable and sustainable energy solutions across Africa.

“The MT Iyaloja Lagos reflects strategic foresight and technical excellence. It demonstrates our commitment to clean energy access, not only within Nigeria but across the continent,” Tinubu said.

The new LPG vessel WAGL’s existing carriers, MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet, are expected to significantly enhance gas distribution infrastructure, energy access, affordability, and security challenges in Africa.

Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, described the commissioning as a boost to Nigeria’s gas development agenda. Represented by Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Ojulari emphasized that the vessel would play a vital role in making LPG more available and affordable across the country.

Over the last five years, WAGL’s fleet has delivered over 6 million metric tonnes of LPG across West Africa, underscoring its growing influence in the region’s energy market.

Mr. Temitope Shonubi, Chairman of WAGL and Executive Director of Sahara Group, noted that the new vessel symbolises a bold move towards bridging Africa’s critical energy infrastructure gap.

“The addition of MT Iyaloja Lagos embodies the spirit of empowerment and progress. It honours the legacy of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji while reaffirming our partnership with NNPC Ltd to drive energy access for millions of Africans,” Shonubi said.

WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Bello, disclosed that the company plans to further expand its fleet with a Small Gas Carrier (SGC) and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) within the next two years, as part of its long-term strategy to deepen its integrated supply network.

With the commissioning of MT Iyaloja Lagos, Nigeria is not only investing in infrastructure but making a strong statement on Africa’s capacity to lead the clean energy transition.

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