NUPRC moves to boost domestic gas supply with NLNG push

Goli Innocent

Lagos — The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says it is stepping up reforms to deepen domestic gas supply, as Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) fully redirects its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) output to the local market in response to rising demand.

The Commission’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the ongoing reforms are aimed at removing bottlenecks in the upstream sector and improving gas availability in line with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas policy.

Speaking during a meeting with NLNG’s Managing Director, Adeleye Falade, in Abuja, Eyesan said the regulator is now focused on making the sector more efficient and investment-friendly under the Petroleum Industry Act framework.

“We are deliberately repositioning the Commission as a business enabler. Through our monthly stakeholder engagements, we X-ray industry performance and resolve issues proactively to ensure they do not escalate,” she said.

She added that recent investor confidence in the oil and gas sector is beginning to reflect improved coordination between government and industry players, leading to new investment decisions.

Eyesan stressed that Nigeria’s gas strategy is no longer just a long-term vision but an active policy direction already shaping supply patterns and domestic utilisation.

“The Decade of Gas is not aspirational; it is a practical framework for expanding domestic utilisation while strengthening export capacity,” she said.

In his remarks, NLNG Managing Director, Adeleye Falade, said the surge in domestic demand for cooking gas has significantly changed the company’s supply priorities, forcing it to channel all LPG output into Nigeria.

“Today, 100 per cent of our LPG production is dedicated to the domestic market, not due to reduced output, but because demand has expanded significantly,” he said.

Falade said the shift reflects a deliberate effort to support local consumption and stabilise supply in the domestic energy market.

He also disclosed that NLNG’s Train 7 project, expected to be completed next year, will raise production capacity by about 35 per cent, improving both domestic supply and export volumes.

“Train 7, expected to come on stream next year, will increase our production capacity by about 35 per cent, positioning us to scale both domestic supply and export volumes,” he said.