Seplat Energy Plc, leading Nigerian independent energy company, has disclosed why itis investing heavy in gas processing capacity, including the ANOH gas plant which is expected to come on stream before the end of the year.
The indigenous energy giant noted that domestic gas remains the engine of prosperity for Nigeria and Africa in general – from powering homes,to fuelling industry and providing a cleaner alternative for cooking and transportation.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa Energy Week (AEW) held in Cape Town, South Africa, the Director, New Energy at Seplat, Mr. Okechukwu Mba, said stakeholders need to ensure that the challenges in the gas to power value chainfrom molecules at the wellhead to electrons in homes are addressed for Nigeriato realize the goal of increased power supply to Nigerians.
Mba, who spoke during a panel discussion titled “Beyond Exports: Developing Commercially Viable Domestic Gas Markets,” also emphasized the importance of a commercially viable power sector which is critical to achieving growth in the domestic gas market.
He said: “Bankable anchor customers are needed to underpin the development of newgas projects whilst identifying infrastructural challenges in power transmission and distribution as well as the liquidity crises in the power sector as two areas that require urgent attention in order to unlock new gas projects.
Seplat, in a statement on Sunday said Mba highlighted that Seplat Energy currently supplies gasto five (5) power stations in Nigeria which underscores its commitment to thepower sector, noting that gas is well positioned to provide reliable and affordable base load energy to drive to economic growth.
Accordingto Mba, Seplat Energy adopts a comprehensive approach to growing the domestic gas market.
“Beside investments in pipeline gas projects, Seplatis also investing in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) facilities,” he added.
Inaddition to the significant volumes of butane now supplied to the domestic market from its NGL plant in Bonny River Terminal, Seplat Energy also intendsto commence delivery of LPG from its Sapele and ANOH gas plants before the endof the year.
This, Mba said, will make Seplat Energy one of the leadingsuppliers of LPG, displacing biomass and providing a cleaner cooking fuel thatwill improve the health and living conditions of Nigerians.
He added that Seplat Energy’s investment into CNG was to make gas available tocustomers not currently connected to the domestic gas pipeline network.
TheNew Energy boss at Seplat stated that the company plans to take its operatedgas production to over 1 Bcf/d by 2030, while noting that the recent incentives granted by government to the gas sector will aid the achievement of this goal.
In arelated development, the Director External Affairs & Social Performance, Seplat Energy, Chioma Afe, who featured in a panel discussed dubbed “Bureaucracy or Bridge? Tailoring Global ESG Approaches for African Realities”, said in all the company’s moves in driving to drive access to reliable and affordable energy for Nigerians, ESG fundamentals are strongly upheld and practicalised.
According to her, the peculiarities of the Nigerian people and Africa at large remainvery germane in implementing Seplat Energy’s ESG framework and affirming its commitments.
She said: “For a truly successful and impactful ESG implementation, it is highlyimperative to move from a “one size fits all” mindset, to a co-createdframework and implementation that is focused on value creation and empowers African nations to define their own sustainable growth plan. One that ensures ESG principles become a bridge across industries and countries driving growthand not a bureaucratic exercise.”
“AdaptingESG to local needs is key. Therefore, we should explore customizing global ESG frameworks to address the unique socio-economic conditions, developmental challenges, including infrastructure, education and healthcare, as well as vulnerabilities to climate change and economic empowerment, across the continent.”
Speakingto the company’s model, she noted that: “At Seplat Energy, our approach hasbeen a regular and systematic process of identifying and analyzing the development ‘gaps’ in our areas of operation and partnering with our communities to define project goals, prioritize resources and develop effective strategies to achieve them.”
