The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Sahara Group, through their joint venture, West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL), have expanded their liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fleet with the commissioning of a new vessel in Ulsan, South Korea.
The 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) carrier, named MT Iyaloja (Lagos), increases WAGL’s total LPG vessel capacity to 162,000 CBM. The company now operates five LPG vessels, including MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (gas), commended NNPC and Sahara for what he described as a “strategic step” in boosting Nigeria’s participation in the global clean energy market.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Bayo Ojulari, represented by Olalekan Ogunleye, executive vice-president, gas, power and new energy, said the development aligns with the company’s plans to improve LPG affordability and accessibility across the country.
“NNPC Ltd. is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous company which, in addition to the newly commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), owns four other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last five years,” Ojulari said.
WAGL chairman and Sahara Group executive director, Temitope Shonubi, said the commissioning reflects the company’s plan to bridge energy infrastructure gaps on the continent.
“The addition of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honour,” Shonubi said.
WAGL managing director, Sani Bello, disclosed that the joint venture will further expand its fleet with the planned addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) within two years.
The ribbon-cutting of the vessel, named in honour of Mogaji, the late mother of President Tinubu, was performed by her granddaughter, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria.
