Ulsan: President Bola Tinubu has commissioned a 40,000 cubic metre (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, christened ‘MT Iyaloja (Lagos),’ in Ulsan, South Korea to enhance the availability and affordability of LPG.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the President emphasized that Nigeria is committed to delivering clean and sustainable energy solutions not only domestically but also across Africa and beyond. The vessel, owned by WAGL Energy Limited-a joint venture between NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group-is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier.
This recent addition increases WAGL’s total LPG vessel capacity to 162,000 CBM. Other vessels in the fleet include MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet. Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, President Tinubu praised WAGL Energy Limited, NNPC Limited, and Sahara Group for their strategic foresight.
In a statement by the NNPC Ltd. management, Tinubu also commended the partners for their technical excellence and steadfast dedication to expanding Africa’s role in the global clean energy value-chain. Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bashir Ojulari, described WAGL’s LPG Vessel as a significant contribution to gas development efforts in Nigeria. Represented by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, he noted that the vessel will be instrumental in realizing the impact of gas on Nigeria’s economic development.
Ojulari stated that NNPC Ltd. is furthering its commitment 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 vessel, owns four other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over six million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last five years,” he added.
Mr. Temitope Shonubi, WAGL’s Chairman/Executive Director at Sahara Group, expressed that the company’s expansion reflects its vision of responsibly addressing the continent’s critical energy infrastructure gap. “The addition of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honor. Sahara Group is proud of its partnership with NNPC Ltd. and reaffirms its commitment to partnerships that drive energy access in Africa,” he stated.
WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Bello, mentioned the company’s dedication to expanding its integrated supply network across the entire energy value chain. “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),” he added.
The symbolic ribbon-cutting of MT Iyaloja (Lagos), named in honor of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji (the late mother of President Bola Tinubu), was performed by her granddaughter, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.