The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Sahara Group, and WAGL Energy Limited have announced a significant expansion of their joint venture fleet, which now exceeds 160,000 cubic meters in capacity. This development strengthens WAGL Energy’s standing as one of Africa’s foremost suppliers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and underscores Nigeria’s growing role in the continent’s energy transition.
Driving Energy Access Across Africa
In a statement released on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, NNPC emphasized that the expansion aligns with its mission to deliver sustainable and affordable energy solutions to households, businesses, and industries.
“WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between NNPC Limited and the Sahara Group, now boasts a robust fleet exceeding 160,000 cubic meters. WAGL Energy is driving Africa’s access to reliable and clean energy through sustainable LPG supply, extending its impact across the continent and beyond,” the company said.
A $1 Billion Gas Infrastructure Push
The expansion is part of NNPC’s broader $1 billion investment plan, designed to accelerate Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” agenda and strengthen the nation’s role in global energy transition. WAGL Energy, formerly West African Gas, was incorporated in March 2013 as a joint venture between NNPC LNG Ltd — a subsidiary of NNPC — and Ocean Bed Trading Ltd, a Sahara Group company.
Since inception, WAGL Energy has focused on the offtake, marketing, and trading of natural gas liquids (NGLs) under the equity lifting scheme, positioning itself as a strategic vehicle for Nigeria’s gas commercialization goals.
Strategic Milestones
The joint venture has consistently deepened investments to expand capacity and infrastructure:
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July 2024: NNPC signed a maintenance agreement with WAGL Energy for the Escravos Crude Oil Terminal Facility in Delta State, ensuring improved operations and reliability.
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May 2022: The JV took delivery of two 23,000 CBM LPG vessels — MT BARUMK and MT SAPET — from Hyundai MIPO Shipyard in South Korea. This boosted their joint investment to over $300 million, advancing toward their $1 billion gas infrastructure commitment by 2026.
Toward Cleaner and Wider LPG Adoption
The initiatives underpinning these investments — the LPG Penetration Framework and the LPG Expansion Plan — are aimed at driving wider adoption of gas across Nigeria. The targets include achieving 5 million metric tonnes of LPG consumption by 2025 through applications in households, auto-gas, industrial processes, and power generation.
By expanding its fleet and deepening its infrastructure footprint, NNPC, Sahara Group, and WAGL Energy are not only consolidating their position in the LPG market but also helping Nigeria chart a path toward cleaner, safer, and more reliable energy use.
