After many years of being in the works, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has announced that its $10bn Train 7 project on Bonny Island, Rivers State, has reached 80% completion.
This marks a significant milestone in the country’s quest to advance its energy infrastructure development.
NLNG’s general manager for external relations and sustainable development, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, made this known on Wednesday when she highlighted the project’s advanced technological requirements and the need for highly skilled technical manpower as it progresses towards completion.
The FID for the project was signed in December 2019, aiming to expand NLNG’s production capacity by 35%, from 22m t/yr to 30m t/yr.
The company has entered into partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to kick off an intensive 3-month Advanced Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) Program.
This scheme involves 140 trainees who have completed a 12-month Basic Training Programme in various oil and gas industry-related skill sets.
The on-the-job phase includes active participation in operational areas such as Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), Commissioning, and Desktop Programmes.
The executive secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, stressed the importance of human capital development in sustaining and enhancing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He commended NLNG for its commitment to nurturing world-class Nigerian professionals through the NC-HCD Programme.
Last November, a set of 331 trainees under Batch A of the HCD program began capacity development in facility management, engineering, ICT, HSE, Quality Assurance and Quality Control, as well as welding and fabrication.
The Train 7 project is being executed by the SCD JV Consortium, comprising affiliates of Saipem, Chiyoda, and Daewoo.
When completed, it is expected to attract over $10 billion in investment across the LNG value chain and significantly boost Nigeria’s FDI profile, reinforcing investor confidence in the country’s energy sector.
As the project nears its final stages, the focus remains on completing construction and commissioning activities, with the anticipated inauguration of the facility expected later this year or by 2026.