UTM FLNG signs UN global compact on human right

Ahead of its projected 2.8 million tons per annum (MTPA) gas production, UTM FLNG Ltd, owner of Nigeria’s first indigenous Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG), has signed the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) on Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption.

UTM Group Managing Director Dr. Julius Rone, OFR, signed the UNGC document in a ceremony at the UTM Towers on Wednesday, marking UTM’s commitment to implement the UN Global Compact and its Ten Principles as part of its business strategy, culture, and daily operation. Ms. Naomi Nwokolo, CEO & Executive Director, UNGC Nigeria, signed on behalf of UNGC.

The UTM FLNG Plant, which will be located 60km offshore Akwa Ibom State in the oil-rich Niger Delta of the South-South region of Nigeria, is expected to be completed and commissioned in 2028, with gas production projected to commence the following year.

Recall that in September 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria granted UTM the License to Construct (LTC) Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility, with a production capacity of 2.8 million tons per annum (MTPA) of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and condensate from re-injected gas at the OML 104 Yoho Field.

With the signing of the UNGC document, UTM FLNG also commits to public accountability, transparency, and engaging in collaborative projects that advance the broader development goals of the United Nations, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The signing of the UNGC by UTM, on the heels of the issuance of the License to Construct its FLNG facility, underscores the company’s commitment to leapfrogging the Nigerian economy by ensuring the availability of gas at a lower cost, generating massive employment, and creating multi-million Naira business opportunities for Nigerians and other nationals.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Rone stated that UTM is imbibing global best practices, upholding transparency and accountability in its operations, and is committed to the Ten Principles of UNGC as part of its business strategy, culture, and daily operation. He also stated that, in line with its ESG commitments, UTM will strictly implement its Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDGs 5, 8, 13, and 14, among others, through its organizational policies, governance structure, and robust engineering design.

Part of the requirement for participation in the UNGC is the annual submission of a Communication on Progress (CoP) on the efforts of the company to implement the Ten Principles on human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption, which provide a robust plan for businesses pursuing collaborative efforts for expansion and growth.

The UNGC is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General designed to spur collective action among companies to unite and align their operational strategies with the Ten Principles for global business models that enable them to absorb escalating pressure from customers, employees, and investors, and play a pivotal role towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

Its ambition, as contained in the UNGC brochure, is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption to evolve and deliver the SDGs through ambitious, accountable companies and environments that enable change.

The UNGC enables companies like UTM FLNG to drive impact on specific goals, scale ambitious action, make measurable progress, and communicate it through a trusted reporting framework.

With its 2.8 million tons per annum (MTPA) capacity, UTM FLNG is expected to provide about 7,000 jobs, in addition to value creation along the LPG supply chain. Part of the gains is that the facility will also address deforestation, improve the socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians, especially our womenfolk, while reducing environmental hazards by eliminating flaring of associated gas in the country.