Sopuruchi Onwuka
WAGL Energy Limited, the special purpose entity for an NNPC Ltd. /Sahara Group Joint Venture, on Monday commissioned 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, christened “MT Iyaloja (Lagos),” in Ulsan, South Korea.
According to a statement from the national oil company, the new vessel adds to a growing fleet of trading vessels that would participate in delivering clean energy sustainably to the country and the African countries.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who sent in the Minister of State for Petroleum in charge of Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, to commission the vessel on his behalf, stated that the dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier indicated strategic foresight, technical excellence and unwavering dedication to expanding Africa’s role in the global clean energy value-chain.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo (representing the President) and the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo at the official naming ceremony of the 40,000 cubic metres (CBM) WAGL Energy Limited’s Liquiefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel in Ulsan, South Korea.
The Oracle Intelligence reports that the vessel christened MT Iyaloja Lagos brings WAGL’s total LPG fleet capacity to 162,000 CBM. The NNPC Limited counted other vessels in the fleet to include MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.
Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, stated that the MT Iyaloja Lagos would enhance the impact of gas in Nigeria’s economic development.
Ojulari was represented by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, who stated that the vessel was part of efforts to ensure LPG affordability, availability and access, nationwide.
“NNPC Ltd. is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous Company which in addition to the newly commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), owns four (4) other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last 5 years,” he added.
WAGL’s Chairman/Executive Director at Sahara Group, Mr. Temitope Shonubi, is quoted by the NNPC Limited as stating that “the company’s expansion demonstrates its vision of responsibly driving efforts aimed at bridging the continent’s critical energy infrastructure gap.”
Naming the vessel MT Iyaloja Lagos, it was stated, honours the legacy of progress and empowerment championed by the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the mother of President Bola Tinubu.
Sahara Group also stated that its partnership with NNPC Ltd. drives energy access in Africa.
WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Sani Bello, said the company is dedicated to expanding its integrated supply network across the entire energy value chain, adding that WAGL already has plans to further expand the fleet within the next two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC).
