Nigeria LNG, one of the country’s leading gas exporters, is currently operating at only a third of its full capacity due to illegal connections on key supply pipelines, the company’s chief executive, Philip Mshelbila, revealed on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Nigerian International Energy Summit in Abuja, Mshelbila explained that only two out of the company’s six processing trains are functioning, as three major gas supply pipelines are undergoing repairs.
“These are the biggest lines that supply NLNG with gas,” he said, highlighting the severity of the issue.
Gas Sector Remains Vulnerable to Theft
Oil and gas theft, along with illegal refining, is widespread in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, where both impoverished locals and organized criminal networks tap into pipelines. While security in the oil sector has seen some improvement, Mshelbila noted that the gas sector remains particularly vulnerable.
This situation has hampered Nigeria LNG’s ability to meet growing global demand, especially from European countries seeking alternative suppliers in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“Since the war began, we have been approached by dozens of European and other countries looking for LNG, but we are unable to supply due to pipeline theft,” Mshelbila said.