Nigeria’s southeast state Imo is on track to become a major player in Nigeria’s gas sector as the first phase of the Assa North-Ohaji South (ANOH) gas processing plant prepares to start production by July 2025.
This was revealed by Effiong Okon, the Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited (AGPC), during a courtesy meeting with Governor Hope Uzodimma in Abuja.
While the facility is ultimately designed to process up to 600 MMscfd, the current development phase targets 300 MMscfd, supplying both the energy market and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to domestic consumers in Imo and beyond.
“We’ve completed the plant’s construction and now plan to begin gas commissioning. From July, Imo will officially become one of Nigeria’s leading gas-producing states,” Okon said.
In response, Governor Uzodimma expressed excitement about the development, emphasizing its economic impact on the state. He assured ANOH of the government’s full cooperation and requested the company to maintain a physical presence in the state.
“This is a major economic win for Imo. It means more jobs, more local content, and recognition of Imo as an emerging gas powerhouse,” the governor said.
Okon explained that the decision to site the $420 million project in Imo was driven by the state’s vast gas reserves, which date back to the 1960s.
The ANOH gas field, he said, contains about 40 billion cubic feet of gas and approximately 200 million barrels of condensate.
He noted that AGPC is a 50-50 joint venture between NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy Plc.
He also stressed the need for ANOH to supply clean energy locally, a move that aligns with Nigeria’s broader shift to sustainable energy as supported by recent federal initiatives.
The ANOH gas project was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in May 2024.
It achieved mechanical completion in December 2023, recording zero lost time incidents across 12 million man-hours—a remarkable safety milestone.