Frank Okon

Shell Nigeria Gas has intensified efforts to position natural gas as a critical driver of industrial competitiveness and domestic manufacturing growth, as it hosted a Business and Investment Forum in Port Harcourt aimed at encouraging manufacturers and investors to transition to cleaner and more cost-effective energy solutions.

Ad >>>

The forum brought together manufacturers, gas users, investors, policymakers, development institutions, and energy sector stakeholders to examine how wider adoption of natural gas can reduce operating costs, improve productivity, strengthen commercial viability, and support sustainable industrial expansion across Nigeria.

The event coincided with the onboarding of two new industrial customers in Agbara, Ogun State — Intercontinental Distillers Limited II and Rumbu Industries Limited — into SNG’s growing gas distribution network. Their addition brings the number of companies currently powered by SNG’s gas solutions to more than 150, reflecting growing demand among manufacturers seeking stable and affordable energy alternatives amid rising production costs.

SNG said many of its industrial customers are already recording improved operational efficiency, lower energy expenditure, and stronger business performance through the switch from conventional fuels such as diesel to natural gas.

Speaking during the forum, SNG’s Head of Gas Distribution, Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi, who represented the Managing Director, Ralph Gbobo, said the company’s strategy is centred on helping industries improve competitiveness through access to reliable and commercially sustainable energy.

“Companies that transition to natural gas consistently benefit from lower and more predictable energy costs, reduced exposure to liquid fuel price volatility, enhanced operational uptime, improved planning certainty, and stronger competitive offering for their customers,” he said. “Our focus is to provide solutions that deliver immediate economic value while supporting long-term growth.”

SNG officials also highlighted the company’s expanding infrastructure footprint and ongoing investments in gas distribution networks, particularly in Rivers State and the broader Niger Delta region. According to the company, natural gas offers manufacturers a more efficient and environmentally sustainable alternative capable of supporting long-term industrial development and reducing dependence on expensive liquid fuels.

Participants at the forum included representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Bank of Industry, the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, and the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture.

Industry stakeholders at the event noted that expanding gas access could help revive industrial activity in regions where businesses continue to struggle with high energy costs and unstable power supply.

Chairman of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, Idaere Gogo Ogan, represented by Board Secretary Chief Solomon Edebiri, said the increased utilisation of natural gas has the potential to reverse declining industrial productivity in the Niger Delta.

“Effective utilization of gas can significantly reshape industrial practices and revive business activity in the region,” he stated, noting that over 500 companies in the Niger Delta have ceased operations in recent years.

The forum also featured the execution of Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements with Boskel Nigeria Limited and Bluefinn Global Resource Limited in Rivers and Bayelsa states, further strengthening SNG’s presence within Nigeria’s industrial gas market.

SNG said the integration of Intercontinental Distillers Limited II and Rumbu Industries Limited into its network represents another milestone in its efforts to deepen gas penetration within the manufacturing sector. The company disclosed that gas supply to the facilities is equivalent to approximately 4MW of electricity, a development expected to enhance production efficiency while significantly lowering operational costs.

According to Gbobo, the latest milestones reflect the company’s broader commitment to supporting industrialisation and economic growth through expanded gas infrastructure and customer partnerships.

“These milestones underscore our commitment to expanding our gas distribution footprint, deepening customer engagement, and supporting Nigeria’s industrial growth,” he said.

Founded in 1998 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell, SNG currently supplies natural gas to industrial customers across Abia, Bayelsa, Ogun, and Rivers states, positioning itself as a major player in Nigeria’s drive toward cleaner energy adoption and domestic manufacturing growth.