By leveraging floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG), Africa is racing to meet a projected 60% surge in gas demand by 2050: faster, safer, and smarter. At the heart of this shift is Nigeria’s UTM Offshore, advancing a landmark $5 billion FLNG project toward Final Investment Decision (FID).
Segun Atanda, NewsmakersNG Special Report/
CAPE TOWN, South Africa/
As Africa prepares for a steep rise in natural gas demand, a flexible technology once seen as niche is now taking center stage. Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) is rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of the continent’s energy strategy, unlocking offshore reserves at speed, reducing onshore risks, and reshaping the economics of LNG development.
According to the State of African Energy 2026 Outlook by the African Energy Chamber, Africa’s gas demand is expected to climb 60% by 2050. Meeting that demand will require not just new discoveries, but faster routes to market. FLNG, already more concentrated in Africa than anywhere else in the world, is increasingly seen as the answer.
Nigeria in Focus: UTM Offshore’s $5bn FLNG Push
Among the continent’s most closely watched projects is Nigeria’s offshore FLNG development by UTM Offshore. Planned for the deepwater Yoho field, the $5 billion project is progressing steadily toward FID, marking one of Nigeria’s most ambitious offshore gas plays in years.
Industry watchers see the project as a potential inflection point for Nigeria’s gas narrative. Unlike traditional onshore LNG, often slowed by land acquisition, community issues, and long construction timelines, UTM Offshore’s FLNG facility is designed to monetize offshore gas directly at sea, compressing timelines and lowering execution risk. If sanctioned on schedule, the project could reinforce Nigeria’s position as a global gas supplier while demonstrating how indigenous players can lead capital-intensive offshore developments.
From Proof of Concept to Continental Momentum
Africa’s confidence in FLNG is rooted in hard results. Cameroon’s Hilli Episeyo became the continent’s first operational FLNG facility, delivering gas exports in record time and proving that floating solutions could commercialize even modest reserves efficiently.
Momentum has since accelerated. On the Senegal–Mauritania maritime border, the Gimi FLNG vessel, operated by Golar LNG at the bp-led Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development, reached commercial operations in 2025, unlocking up to 15 trillion cubic feet of gas under a 20-year lease-and-operate model.
In Gabon, Perenco’s Cap Lopez FLNG project is set to start in 2026, adding 700,000 tons per year to regional LNG supply.
Yet, Nigeria’s UTM Offshore project stands out for its scale and timing. At $5 billion, it signals growing investor confidence in FLNG as a long-term solution, not just a stopgap, especially in deepwater environments where speed and security matter.
Why FLNG Is Winning
The appeal of FLNG lies in scalability and resilience. Facilities can be deployed in phases, aligned with reservoir performance and market demand, cutting upfront capital exposure while accelerating first gas. The Congo LNG project illustrates this advantage: after starting phase one in 2023, operator Eni delivered phase two in just 35 months, ahead of schedule.
Security considerations further strengthen the case. In Mozambique, onshore LNG projects faced repeated delays due to unrest in Cabo Delgado.
Offshore FLNG, however, proved more resilient. Eni’s Coral Sul FLNG came online in 2022, while Coral Norte FLNG reached a $7.2 billion FID in 2025—underscoring how floating solutions can bypass onshore vulnerabilities.
Beyond Exports: Tackling Energy Poverty
FLNG’s impact extends beyond export revenues. By shortening development timelines and improving bankability, it attracts a broader pool of financiers and supports gas-to-power, petrochemicals, and regional energy security. For countries like Nigeria, it offers a pathway to monetize gas that might otherwise remain stranded, turning offshore molecules into domestic growth and industrialization.
Still, success is not automatic. Analysts stress the need for clear fiscal terms, robust regulation, and alignment with national gas master plans. When those pieces fall into place, FLNG can bridge the gap between discovery and development at unprecedented speed.
A Turning Point for African Gas
These themes will dominate discussions at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, where governments and industry leaders will examine how floating solutions can unlock capital and accelerate project timelines across the continent.
“FLNG is changing the game for African gas producers,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “It allows countries to monetize resources faster, reduce exposure to security and infrastructure risks, and generate revenues that can be reinvested into broader development.”
For Nigeria, all eyes are now on UTM Offshore’s deepwater project. As it advances toward FID, it encapsulates the promise of FLNG: faster decisions, offshore resilience, and a credible pathway to turning Africa’s vast gas resources into real economic transformation.
0Related posts:
Navigating Opportunities: Europe’s Role in Africa’s Oil and Gas Industry
Buhari Delivers 2018 Budget of Consolidation to National Assembly
Shell, Sunlink Seal Investment Decision on Nigeria’s HI Offshore Gas Project
Nigeria’s Gas Sector Attracts $18.2bn Investments, Anchors Africa’s Energy Future
Interrogating Two Years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Under President Tinubu
Renaissance Africa Energy Seeks Global Partners to Unlock Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Potential