NLNG Completes Train 7 Construction, Eyes Bigger Global Market Share

Nigeria LNG Limited has completed construction work on its Train 7 project, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion programme and Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its position in the global liquefied natural gas market.

NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Leye Falade, disclosed the development during a media engagement on the sidelines of Gastech 2026.

Falade said the project had reached approximately 93–94% overall completion, while engineering stood at about 99.97%. With construction finished, the outstanding activities are now largely focused on commissioning and preparations for start-up, he added.

“Our aspiration is to have the plant ready for start-up by the end of 2027, subject to the safe completion of commissioning activities and the availability of sufficient gas to operate the new train,” he said.

The completion of construction represents a critical step towards delivering Train 7, which is expected to expand NLNG’s production capacity and enhance Nigeria’s ability to serve growing global demand for LNG.

Falade said the company was operating from a stronger and more resilient base, with plant utilisation improving from about 60% over the previous two years to approximately 82–83%.

According to him, plant availability is no longer NLNG’s principal constraint. The company is now concentrating on securing a reliable gas supply to sustain production, meet existing customer commitments and support the operation of Train 7.

He noted that government intervention and closer industry collaboration had contributed to a significant reduction in pipeline incursions — from about 12 incidents in the previous year to zero in 2026. NLNG is also engaging existing and prospective suppliers to close the remaining gas supply gap.

Falade highlighted rising global demand for LNG, particularly from Asia, alongside increasing interest in both long-term contracts and spot-market supplies.

He said NLNG’s immediate priority remained the reliable delivery of volumes to long-term customers, while positioning the company to take advantage of additional market opportunities as production increases.

Beyond Train 7, NLNG is strengthening the integrity of its existing assets, modernising its shipping fleet and developing a pathway for further expansion.

Falade stressed that the company’s ambition extended beyond simply adding production capacity.

“Our ambition is not simply to add capacity, but to operate all seven trains reliably and competitively, creating the foundation for future expansion,” he said.

He added that improved certainty in gas supply, disciplined project execution and continued stakeholder collaboration could enable NLNG to contribute more significantly to global energy security and Nigeria’s economic development.

The progress on Train 7, he said, also supports Nigeria’s broader ambition to become a leading gas-powered economy.