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PANDEF Commends President Tinubu Over Landmark 15-Year Gas Deal for UTM FLNG Project

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1 hour ago

August 7, 2026

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has joined key energy stakeholders in praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the signing of a historic 15-year gas supply agreement for the UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project.

The deal, widely viewed as a major breakthrough for Nigeria’s energy sector, guarantees a steady supply of 200 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscf/d) to the facility. PANDEF described the presidential intervention as a definitive step toward boosting local participation, creating jobs, and industrializing the Niger Delta region.

A Critical Milestone for Indigenous Energy

Signed during the NOG Energy Week in Abuja, the Wet Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement was executed by the NNPC/Seplat Energy Joint Venture and UTM FLNG Limited. This long-term commitment clears the single largest hurdle blocking the project’s Final Investment Decision (FID).

The milestone secures the critical feedstock needed to power Nigeria’s very first indigenous floating LNG plant. It also positions the nation to significantly reduce gas flaring, lower local energy costs, and cleaner cooking gas (LPG) access for millions of households.

Stakeholders Applaud Presidential Will

Expressing deep gratitude to the administration, the Group Managing Director of UTM FLNG, Julius Rone, noted that the achievement was made possible by President Tinubu’s aggressive implementation of the “Decade of Gas” initiative. Rone emphasized that the project stands as a testament to what indigenous companies can achieve when backed by deliberate government policy and political will.

PANDEF, echoing these sentiments, lauded the presidency for creating an enabling environment that attracts multi-billion-dollar investments into regional infrastructure. The forum noted that empowering indigenous operators remains the most sustainable path to ensuring long-term peace and economic stability in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Driving Economic Growth

Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) highlighted that the agreement aligns perfectly with the federal government’s broader economic reforms. Beyond national pride, the facility is projected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, drastically cut carbon emissions, and generate substantial foreign exchange through future energy exports.

With the 15-year gas supply firmly secured, project developers are now accelerating timelines to bring the facility online, marking a historic leap forward for Nigeria’s domestic gas utilization strategy.

See the letter of appreciation below: