The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has unveiled plans to transform Nigeria into a global gas hub by expanding production, deepening domestic utilisation and increasing the country’s LNG export capacity.
NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, disclosed this on Monday while speaking at the 2026 Gas Technology & Exhibition Conference (GASTECH) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ogunleye, who spoke during a panel session titled, “The New LNG Order: Leadership Strategies for Energy Security and Growth,” said Nigeria would leverage its more than 215 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas reserves to drive industrialisation, strengthen energy security and expand its presence in the global gas market.
He said NNPC Ltd. was implementing a Gas Master Plan (GMP) designed to bridge the gap between Nigeria’s existing reserves and its long-term gas potential.
«“Gas development and monetisation from Nigeria’s standpoint is a purely commercial play. NNPC Ltd. is implementing a Gas Master Plan engineered as a gap-to-potential tool to move Nigeria from a 215tcf reserves position to above 600tcf,” Ogunleye said.»
According to him, the company’s strategy is anchored on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Decade of Gas Framework and the Gas Master Plan, with an immediate target of increasing national gas production to 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by 2027 and 12 Bcf/d by 2030.
Ogunleye said Nigeria was already a major and reliable supplier of gas to international markets, noting that the country’s LNG expansion includes Trains 1-6, with a combined production capacity of 22 million tonnes per annum.
He added that Nigeria has exported more than 6,000 LNG cargoes since 1999, while Train 7 is expected to be completed in 2027.
The NNPC executive highlighted Nigeria’s strategic geographical position, saying the country is well placed to serve both the Atlantic Basin and Asian markets.
He stressed that Nigeria’s substantial gas resources, combined with ongoing reforms and renewed focus on gas development, could position the country as a major player in the evolving global LNG market.
Ogunleye also dismissed concerns that increased gas exports could undermine domestic energy needs, saying both objectives could be pursued simultaneously.
He said Nigeria had adopted a dual pathway that uses gas exports to generate foreign exchange while expanding domestic gas utilisation to create jobs, improve energy security and support economic growth.
According to him, the country has also taken steps to de-risk new LNG projects through an improved legal and regulatory framework backed by fiscal incentives designed to attract investment.
“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,” he said.
GASTECH, now in its 54th edition, is a major global conference and exhibition focused on natural gas, LNG, hydrogen and low-carbon solutions.
The 2026 edition in Bangkok brings together about 50,000 participants from more than 150 countries, including energy experts, chief executives, policymakers, investors and technology leaders, to deliberate on energy security, LNG supply, infrastructure investment and decarbonisation.