The new Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Tony Attah (photo), has vowed to work with his team in delivering the NLNG’s planned Train-7 project which has been without a final investment decision (FID) for a while now.

This he declared at a farewell and welcome ceremony conducted during the weekend.

The construction of the Train-7 is aimed at increasing the total production capacity of the plant to 30 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) and works are in progress with the initiation of an early site preparation work and an FID from the shareholders.

According to Attah, although the current volatility in the global oil industry is considered as a huge challenge, the company has no choice but to keep on increasing its values and competitiveness in the global LNG market.

“We are right in the middle of the turbulence. Gas supply is down, assets are about 18 to 20 years old if you add the construction phase meaning the asset is aging. So we are also beginning the second half almost the same way we started the first half. These are tough times and by far the toughest impacts on this business today are the price of gas in the market. With the Americans who used to import now exporting, Australia capturing the Indonesian market where we used to cream off, it is no longer a kid’s play to lead a company like this. We have a lot to do but we have no choice, we have to win and to win, you have to win this second half,” Attah told.

Nigeria LNG Limited is a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 49%, Shell Gas B.V. with 25.6%, Total LNG Nigeria Ltd with 15% and Eni with 10.4%.

Anita Fatunji