EU shuttles Nigeria to strengthen ties as 9.5bcm LNG shipped in 2022

Ben Eguzozie

The European Union (EU), in need of additional energy for their region outside of Russia, more so, from Africa as the viable frontier, have been reaching out to energy producing countries on the continent since the Russian-Ukraine war.

An EU delegation led by the EU commissioner for energy, Kadri Simson, was at the Nigerian LNG plant on Bonny Island recently to “reinforce ties”.

Although the EU got 9.4 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas from Nigeria last year (2022), this was not enough considering the increasing energy demand of EU’s 447 million people; seeing that Russia has flicked off supplies to the rest of the region, thereby creating a considerable energy gap.

On their part, North African nations like Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Mauritania are capitalising on vast swaths of uninhabited land, solar radiation intensity, offshore wind capacity and existing pipeline networks and transmission capacities to sell renewable energy to Europe.

In addition, Morocco, Africa’s biggest clean energy producer, is ‘exporting the Sun’ to Europe through Spain. Its plan to install 12 million solar panels and over 500 wind turbines to provide up to 8% of the UK’s electricity, is judged as one of the world’s renewable energy megaprojects. Algeria has the largest wind energy potential, capable of producing more than 7,000 gigawatts if fully harnessed; while Mauritania’s combined wind and solar energy potential is estimated to be nearly four times what the country produces a year.

Simson, the EU commissioner for energy lauded Nigeria’s LNG business model, saying the “E.U. is accelerating its energy transition, but we also have a need to reinforce our ties with reliable LNG partners like Nigeria in the short-term horizon”.

According to her, “this helps us to bridge part of the gap left by former Russian imports while we gradually transition away from fossil fuels”.

The EU commissioner for energy said though Nigeria has proven to be a reliable partner for the EU; and last year, 9.4 bcm of LNG was exported from the West

African top energy producer, to the EU, “but there is potential to do more — in particular between now and 2027,” she added.

Philip Mshelbila, managing director and chief executive of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), said the country’s ‘decade of gas’ plan is the most comprehensive plan to restore efforts to fully harness Nigeria’s vast gas resources; and ensure a reliable global supply of gas as a clean energy source and a major fuel in the energy transition mix.

Mshelbila speaking to the delegation from the EU at the NLNG’s plant on Bonny Island, Rivers State, on the gas liquefaction company’s operations and business, and the plans to address the root causes of issues in the gas sector, said what is needed to complete the plan is the firm will of all stakeholders and urgent action.

He stated that the remedy to industry challenges lies in a concentrated effort on making the gas sector work as the country has huge potential as the 6th nation with the largest natural gas reserves. 

“Our commitment to harnessing the immense potential of natural gas will not only restore Nigeria’s reputation as a major energy powerhouse but also propel us towards a cleaner, greener future. With innovation, collaboration by stakeholders, including the government and investors, especially from Europe, and unwavering determination, we can shape the energy landscape of tomorrow, create more opportunities for gas supply globally, drive economic prosperity, create jobs, and mitigate environmental challenges through gas,” he said.

Mshelbila further said investment in Nigeria’s gas sector would wield a far-reaching influence on the global gas and LNG supply landscape, ensuring the world has continuous access to reliable and environmentally sound energy throughout the ongoing energy transition.