The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Nigeria LNG Limited are intensifying collaboration to boost domestic gas supply, as increasing demand for cooking gas continues to reshape the country’s energy landscape.
This shift has already prompted NLNG to dedicate its entire liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production to the local market, signalling a major change in supply priorities.
The Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made this known while receiving the Managing Director of NLNG, Adeleye Falade, during a courtesy visit.
According to Eyesan, the commission has stepped up regulatory reforms since December, aligning its operations with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act. She explained that the goal is to remove operational bottlenecks, improve ease of doing business, and encourage investment in the upstream sector.
“We are deliberately repositioning the Commission as a business enabler. Through our monthly stakeholder engagements, we X-ray industry performance and resolve issues proactively to ensure they do not escalate,” she said.
She added that the government’s responsiveness to industry concerns has already begun to restore investor confidence, with more final investment decisions now being recorded.
Speaking on the country’s broader gas strategy, Eyesan emphasised that the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative is delivering tangible results, particularly in driving domestic gas utilisation.
“The Decade of Gas is not aspirational; it is a practical framework for expanding domestic utilisation while strengthening export capacity,” she stated.
However, she stressed that operators must match these efforts with improved performance, regulatory compliance, and disciplined investment practices.
“As government continues to be responsive, operators must demonstrate reciprocity through performance, compliance, and investment discipline,” she added.
On his part, NLNG Managing Director Adeleye Falade highlighted the growing importance of collaboration across the value chain to sustain supply, especially for the domestic market.
He revealed that surging demand for cooking gas in Nigeria has significantly influenced the company’s supply strategy, leading to a full allocation of LPG output to local consumers.
“Today, 100 per cent of our LPG production is dedicated to the domestic market, not due to reduced output, but because demand has expanded significantly,” he said.
Falade described the move as a strategic intervention aimed at deepening gas penetration and stabilising supply nationwide.
Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that ongoing expansion projects would further boost capacity. He pointed specifically to the Train 7 project, which is expected to significantly increase output once completed.
“Train 7, expected to come on stream next year, will increase our production capacity by about 35 per cent, positioning us to scale both domestic supply and export volumes,” he said.
