Segun Atanda/
Shell plc has intensified efforts to deepen natural gas adoption in Nigeria’s industrial sector as rising energy costs and the demand for cleaner alternatives continue to pressure manufacturers across the country.
At a Business and Investment Forum hosted by Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) in Port Harcourt, industry leaders, investors, regulators and manufacturers converged to explore how natural gas can cut operational costs, improve productivity and unlock fresh investment opportunities in the Niger Delta and beyond.
The forum coincided with the onboarding of two new industrial customers in Agbara, Ogun State, Intercontinental Distillers Limited II (IDL) and Rumbu Industries Limited, into SNG’s growing gas distribution network, pushing the number of companies currently using Shell’s gas solutions to over 150.
Speaking at the event, SNG Managing Director, Ralph Gbobo, represented by the company’s Head of Gas Distribution, Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi, said industries switching to gas were already recording major operational and financial gains.
“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.
According to him, SNG’s strategy is focused on delivering immediate economic value to businesses while supporting long-term industrial growth and sustainability.
Participants at the forum included representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Bank of Industry, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, and the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture.
SNG officials used the occasion to showcase the company’s expanding gas infrastructure and investment opportunities in industrial supply, power generation and gas distribution, particularly across Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta region.
Industry stakeholders hailed the initiative as a potential game-changer for businesses grappling with energy instability and rising production costs.
Board Chairman of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, Idaere Gogo Ogan, represented by Board Secretary Chief Solomon Edebiri, said gas utilisation could help revive industrial activity in the region, revealing that more than 500 companies in the Niger Delta had shut down operations in recent years.
“Effective utilization of gas can significantly reshape industrial practices and revive business activity in the region,” he said.
The event also witnessed the signing of Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements with Boskel Nigeria Limited and Bluefinn Global Resource Limited in Rivers and Bayelsa states, further expanding SNG’s footprint in the Niger Delta.
SNG disclosed that the gas supply to the newly connected facilities in Ogun State is equivalent to about 4 megawatts of electricity, a development expected to significantly improve production efficiency while reducing operating costs.
The company said the milestone was achieved through collaboration with NNPC Limited subsidiary NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) and the customers.
Gbobo described the development as a strong demonstration of SNG’s commitment to expanding gas access and supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.
Executives of the newly connected firms also applauded Shell Nigeria Gas for providing reliable and affordable energy solutions that are already strengthening their operational capacity and competitiveness.
Founded in 1998 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell, SNG currently supplies gas to industrial customers across Abia, Bayelsa, Ogun and Rivers states.
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