Nigeria’s LNG Output Still Weak Despite Europe’s Thirst for Spot Supplies

Heavy flooding, upstream gas supply issues and pipeline vandalism left the six-train Nigeria LNG (NLNG) facility on Bonny Island producing far below capacity last year, and the trend has largely continued in 2023.

Liquefied natural gas exports have been “protractedly declining” since the 22 million metric tons/year NLNG declared a force majeure in October 2022 due to flooding, said Kpler analyst Ana Subasic. “Nigeria’s LNG exports have been lower, but steady since the beginning of this year.”

Subasic said NLNG, a major Atlantic Basin supplier since 1999 when the first train came online, delivered 1 million tons (Mt) to the global market at a 53% utilization rate in January. The situation seems to be improving, however, as exports bounced back to 1.07 Mt last month, or...