WAGL Energy Limited, the joint venture between Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Sahara Group, has further strengthened its capacity in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market with the expansion of its fleet to more than 160,000 cubic meters.
The announcement was made on Monday through NNPCL’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, where the company highlighted that the development reinforces WAGL Energy’s standing as one of Africa’s foremost suppliers of LPG. The expansion aligns with the company’s broader mission to provide sustainable and affordable energy solutions across homes, businesses, and industries.
In its statement, NNPCL emphasized: “WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Sahara Group, now boasts a robust fleet exceeding 160,000 cubic meters. WAGL Energy Limited is driving Africa’s access to reliable and clean energy through sustainable LPG supply, extending its impact across the continent and beyond.”
Background
In July 2024, NNPCL secured a major maintenance agreement with WAGL Energy for the Escravos Crude Oil Terminal Facility located in Delta State. The deal was executed through the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited (NPSC), a downstream subsidiary of NNPC, which signed an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract with WAGL for the terminal.
Key Developments
This latest milestone builds on earlier progress. In May 2022, NNPCL and Sahara Group received two 23,000 cubic meter (CBM) LPG carriers — MT BARUMK and MT SAPET — from Hyundai MIPO Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. The vessels represented a major boost to the joint venture’s investment, pushing it beyond $300 million and bringing it closer to achieving its $1 billion gas infrastructure target by 2026.
Speaking at the time, Sahara Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Bethel Obioma, noted that the investment was part of a wider strategy to accelerate access to clean energy across Nigeria and beyond.
Strategic Focus
The joint venture’s initiatives — including the LPG Penetration Framework and LPG Expansion Plan — are designed to increase gas utilization for household use, auto-gas, industrial applications, and power generation, with a target of reaching 5 million metric tonnes of LPG consumption by 2025.
WAGL Energy Limited, as part of NNPC’s five-year $1 billion gas investment drive, plays a central role in advancing Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” and energy transition agenda.
Formed in March 2013, West African Gas was incorporated as a joint venture between NNPC LNG Ltd (a subsidiary of NNPC) and Ocean Bed Trading Ltd, a Sahara Group company. The company was specifically created to manage the offtake, marketing, and trading of NLNG’s natural gas liquids (NGLs) under the equity lifting scheme. Leveraging Ocean Bed Trading’s expertise in long-term NGL trading, WAGL Energy has positioned itself as a key player in Nigeria’s drive for a sustainable and diversified energy supply.
