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NLNG plans to book three firm 174,000-cbm LNG carriers, according to the sources.
The delivery of the vessels is targeted for 2029.
In addition, the order could include three optional vessels.
“Many” yards are now bidding to build these vessels, the sources said.
However, NLNG may not decide on this project before 2026, they said.
The sources did not provide further details.
LNG Prime invited NLNG to comment on the matter.
NLNG is a joint venture owned by state-controlled Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 percent), Shell (25.6 percent), TotalEnergies (15 percent), and Eni (10.4 percent),
Its giant Bonny Island liquefaction plant currently has six trains and a capacity of 22 mtpa.
Besides the six existing trains, Nigeria LNG is also adding the seventh production unit at the Bonny Island plant.
The NLNG Train 7 project consists of the construction of one complete LNG train and one additional liquefaction unit.
The new unit will add around 8 mtpa of capacity to the Bonny Island facility for a total of about 30 mtpa.
Fleet renewal
The new move is part of NLNG’s fleet renewal initiative, which aims to diversify and reduce the carbon footprint of the company’s shipping portfolio.
According to NLNG’s website, the firm operates a fleet of 23 vessels under long-term time charters, dedicated to transporting LNG from its Bonny plant.
These include 13 vessels (six TFDE and event steam ships) owned by its shipping unit Bonny Gas Transport (BGT).
The remaining vessels are owned by Japan’s NYK (eight steam ships), and BW Gas (two steam ships).
As part of its fleet renewal, NLNG’s BGT chartered newbuild vessels Aktoras and Axios II.
These 174,000-cbm LNG carriers, built in 2024, are owned by Capital Clean Energy Carriers.
It is worth mentioning here that, last year, NLNG’s biggest shareholder started delivering cargoes to Japan and China on a delivered ex-ship basis
NNPC said at the time that its subsidiary NNPC Shipping intends to build a shipping portfolio, including owned vessels.
(This article was updated to include further information regarding the potential order.)