Nigeria-based UTM Offshore Limited is optimistic that its five billion Floating Liquified Natural Gas Facility will create thousands of jobs for Nigerian youth and other professionals beyond Nigeria.
The five billion projects will be the first FLNG facility to be executed in Africa’s most populous nation.
The company is set to make a Final Investment Decision (FID) before the end of 2024.
Speaking to members of the newly-created African Association of Energy Journalists and publishers during a webinar recently, Managing Director and Group CEO of UTM Offshore Limited, Julius Rone, said his outfit has secured all the necessary approvals from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“The project would create 7,000 direct and indirect jobs across the value chain, which means a lot of people, not only Nigerians but all over the world, would participate in this project. It should be noted that during the construction phase alone, over 25,000 jobs would be created.
“We would also take several Nigerian youths to different parts of the world where the construction and integration would take place for training.
“They would understudy the process so that on completion, they would sail back with the floating LNG, and have the hands-on experience to manage and upgrade the plant of such nature offshore.
“Also, the project would support the demand for energy in Nigeria, which requires over two million tonnes of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG for domestic consumption.
Currently, over 1.5 million tonnes are imported from the global market. The supply of our LPG in Naira would enhance the value of the local currency.
“The impact would go beyond Nigeria as one off-taker is currently discussing the possibility of taking the LNG to South Africa with us.
“It would benefit the entire continent. By the special grace of God, this would be the flagship project to open up that space for stranded gas offshore to be monetised through a technology that has been broken,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com