The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the supply of gas to the $3.3 billion Brass Fertilizer & Petrochemical Company Ltd project, a key initiative aimed at harnessing the country’s vast gas reserves for industrial growth.
The agreement was finalized through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and involves partnerships with Shell, TotalEnergies, and Agip.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the deal as “a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to monetize Nigeria’s gas resources.” He added that the agreement represented a crucial step toward utilizing natural gas for industrialization and economic development.
“This project is expected to bring in much-needed Foreign Direct Investment and create thousands of jobs, while changing the fortunes of the host state and community for good,” Ekpo stated.
Located on Brass Island in Bayelsa State, the methanol plant is expected to generate over $1.5 billion annually from exports of fertilizers, petrochemicals, and other gas-based products. In addition to boosting exports, the project is set to reduce Nigeria’s fertilizer imports by 30%, saving around $200 million in foreign exchange every year.
Ambassador Nicholas Ella, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, also emphasized the broader economic impact of the project, stating that it “will contribute about $600 million annually to Nigeria’s GDP, with related industries spurring up to $2 billion in economic growth.”
NNPCL is expected to deliver 270 million standard cubic feet of gas daily to the project, which is part of Nigeria’s broader “Decade of Gas” initiative, aimed at positioning gas as the cornerstone of the country’s industrialization and energy security.
On completion, the project is anticipated to create over 5,000 direct jobs and an additional 35,000 indirect jobs, significantly improving livelihoods in the Niger Delta region.
