Tinubu commissions WAGL’s 40,000 CBM LPG vessel in South Korea

… lauds Company’s partners for expanding Africa’s role in clean energy

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, commissioned a 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, christened “MT Iyaloja (Lagos),” in Ulsan, South Korea.

Tinubu also said Nigeria is poised to deliver clean and sustainable energy solutions not just in-country but also across Africa and beyond.

The vessel owned by WAGL Energy Limited (an NNPC Ltd/Sahara Group Joint Venture) is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier and the latest addition brings WAGL’s total LPG vessel capacity to 162,000 CBM. Other vessels in the fleet include MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.

Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, President Tinubu commended WAGL Energy Limited, NNPC Limited and Sahara Group, for their strategic foresight, technical excellence and unwavering dedication to expanding Africa’s role in the global clean energy value-chain.

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, in his remarks at the event, described WAGL’s LPG Vessel as a great addition to gas development efforts in Nigeria.

Represented by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, Ojulari said the vessel will be crucial in realising the impact of gas in Nigeria’s economic development.

According to him, NNPCL is deepening its commitment to ensure LPG affordability, availability and access, nationwide.

“NNPC Ltd is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous Company, which, in addition to the newly commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), owns four (4) other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last 5 years,” he said.

Also speaking, WAGL’s Chairman/Executive Director at Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi, noted that the company’s expansion demonstrates its vision of responsibly driving efforts aimed at bridging the continent’s critical energy infrastructure gap.

He said, “The addition of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honour. Sahara Group is proud of its partnership with NNPC Ltd. and reaffirms its commitment to partnerships that drive energy access in Africa.”

WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Sani Bello, said the company is dedicated to expanding its integrated supply network across the entire energy value chain.

“WAGL already has plans to further expand the fleet within the next two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC),” Sani Bello said.

The symbolic ribbon cutting of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) named in honour of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji (the late mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), was performed by her grand-daughter, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo.

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