The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says it is pursuing several initiatives to position Nigeria as a major global hub for natural gas production, processing and trade.
The company’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, disclosed this on Monday while speaking at the 2026 Gas Technology and Exhibition Conference (GASTECH) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ogunleye spoke during a panel discussion titled “The New LNG Order: Leadership Strategies for Energy Security and Growth.” He said Nigeria was relying on its more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves to support domestic industrialisation and increase its presence in international energy markets.
He explained that NNPC’s gas development and monetisation strategy was commercially driven and guided by the Gas Master Plan. The plan is designed to close the gap between Nigeria’s current reserve position and its potential to increase proven gas reserves beyond 600 trillion cubic feet.
According to Ogunleye, the company’s strategy is anchored on the Petroleum Industry Act, the Decade of Gas Framework and the Gas Master Plan.
The near-term objective is to raise Nigeria’s national gas production to 10 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.
Ogunleye said Nigeria was already a dependable international gas supplier and was expanding its LNG capacity. He cited Nigeria LNG Trains 1 to 6, which have a combined production capacity of 22 million tonnes per annum and have exported more than 6,000 cargoes since 1999.
He added that Train 7 was expected to be completed in 2027, further strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global LNG market.
According to him, Nigeria’s location gives it access to both the Atlantic Basin and Asian markets. This geographical advantage, combined with the country’s substantial gas reserves and renewed policy focus, makes Nigeria a strategic supplier to international consumers.
Ogunleye said domestic gas consumption and exports were not competing priorities. Rather, he explained that Nigeria was pursuing a dual strategy that would use exports to generate foreign exchange while expanding local gas utilisation to create jobs, improve energy security and support economic growth.
He said Nigeria had reduced the risks associated with new LNG investments through the introduction of a clearer legal and regulatory framework supported by competitive fiscal incentives.
“With continued efforts towards stable security, competitive gas pricing and assured gas supply, there is no better time for investors and financiers to confidently participate in the development of Nigeria’s LNG projects,” Ogunleye said.
GASTECH is one of the world’s largest conferences and exhibitions focused on natural gas, LNG, hydrogen and low-carbon energy solutions.
The 54th edition is bringing together approximately 50,000 participants from more than 150 countries, including energy experts, chief executives, policymakers, investors and technology leaders.
Discussions at the conference are focused on energy security, LNG supply, infrastructure investment and the global transition towards lower-carbon energy.