By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

Experts at the 25th edition of the NOG Energy Week 2026 have disclosed that Africa is becoming the global epicentre of Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) projects, with industry leaders describing the technology as a game-changer for monetising stranded offshore gas, strengthening energy security, and accelerating the continent’s energy transition.

Speaking during a panel session on “Strengthening Supply Security: Accelerating the FLNG Frontier,” Transition Fuels Lead, Tony Regan, said five of the world’s nine operational FLNG facilities are located in Africa, positioning the continent at the forefront of the rapidly expanding sector.

Regan explained that FLNG involves placing a liquefaction plant on a floating vessel positioned directly above offshore gas fields, where gas is processed, liquefied, stored and exported without the need for conventional onshore LNG facilities.

He noted that the technology offers a faster and more cost-effective solution for commercialising offshore gas resources, particularly in areas where traditional infrastructure would be difficult or expensive to build.

According to him, Africa’s growing offshore gas production and vast stranded gas reserves make the continent the natural destination for future FLNG investments.

Providing a global energy outlook, Senior Energy Forecast Analyst Dr. Abubakar Jibrin said worldwide energy demand will continue rising as population growth, industrialisation, digitalisation and economic expansion increase consumption over the next three decades.

He disclosed that global energy consumption has risen from about 400 exajoules to 640 exajoules over the past three decades and is expected to increase significantly as the global population grows by another 1.8 billion people and world GDP more than doubles.

Jibrin said natural gas and renewable energy will remain the world’s fastest-growing energy sources through 2055, stressing that Africa’s energy deficit requires expansion of supply before pursuing a full energy transition.

According to him, Africa currently consumes only about one-third of the global average energy per capita, making increased energy access an urgent development priority.

He noted that offshore gas production across Africa is projected to rise significantly by 2055, making FLNG an essential technology because of its flexibility, scalability and ability to rapidly deliver gas to international markets.

Jibrin further observed that Africa already accounts for more than half of global FLNG production capacity, reinforcing its strategic position in future LNG trade and global energy security.

Similarly, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UTM FLNG, Julius Rone, said Nigeria’s first floating LNG project was conceived to unlock the country’s vast stranded offshore gas resources that have remained undeveloped for decades.

Rone lamented that enormous quantities of gas are still being flared or re-injected despite their commercial value, stressing that FLNG offers Nigeria an opportunity to convert wasted resources into economic wealth while reducing environmental pollution.

He revealed that once construction of Nigeria’s first FLNG project begins next year, the company intends to immediately commence work on additional floating LNG facilities, following successful models already being implemented in Mozambique.

Regan, while concluding the session, predicted a major boom in the global FLNG industry, noting that more than nine additional projects are currently under construction or at advanced proposal stages across several countries, including Argentina and Suriname.

He said growing industry confidence has demonstrated that FLNG provides quicker project delivery, lower development costs and greater operational flexibility than conventional LNG infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s energy transition through long-term investments, technology transfer, workforce development and climate cooperation.

Speaking during a session on “Deepening Bilateral Relations: Achieving Mutual Energy Objectives,” German Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Annett Günther, described energy transition as a journey that must remain socially inclusive.

She said the German-Nigerian energy partnership has evolved steadily since its establishment in 2008 through several collaborative initiatives, including the Nigerian Energy Support Programme, the Hydrogen Diplomacy Office and the Joint Declaration of Intent signed in 2025.

According to Günther, Germany is supporting Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan by promoting renewable energy, low-carbon hydrogen, gas infrastructure development and climate financing while strengthening institutional cooperation.

She disclosed that Nigeria flared about 5.3 billion cubic metres of gas in 2024, representing an estimated economic loss of approximately $1.5 billion, adding that a new bilateral programme aims to convert flare gas into valuable energy resources for households, industries and hydrogen production.

The ambassador also highlighted Germany’s collaboration with Siemens Energy, the German development agency GIZ and the European Union to train about 6,000 Nigerian energy professionals for both on-grid and off-grid electricity projects.

She stressed that energy transition must create jobs, strengthen local capacity and promote social development, insisting that technology deployment must go hand-in-hand with skills acquisition.

According to her, Germany remains committed to supporting Nigeria through technical assistance, private sector mobilisation, low-carbon investments and financing mechanisms designed to de-risk energy projects.

Industry experts also identified technology integration, artificial intelligence, local capacity development and cybersecurity as essential drivers of future competitiveness in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Speaking during a panel on “Driving Energy Innovation: Technology-Powered Pathways for Oil and Gas,” speakers said organisations would only realise value from technology when digital tools are fully integrated into operational processes.

Technology strategist Tosin Joel said companies must focus on measurable returns on investment rather than adopting artificial intelligence as a trend.

SHe cited examples where AI-driven predictive models increased production by thousands of barrels per day, recovered previously abandoned reserves and significantly improved field development planning.

Joel argued that future competitiveness would depend on companies’ ability to transform operational data into real-time decision-making tools that reduce analysis time from months to minutes.

General Manager, Group Commercial and Business Development at Oilserv, Engr. Cheta Okwuosa, stressed that successful technology deployment begins with developing indigenous technical capacity.

According to him, building competent local engineers and specialists remains critical to ensuring that advanced technologies are effectively deployed and sustained.

Managing Director of GIL Group, Engr. Gbolahan Lawal, urged operators to prioritise technologies capable of delivering immediate operational savings, recommending digital twins as practical tools for simulation, workforce training and project validation before full-scale deployment.

He also warned that as digital technologies become more integrated into operations, companies must invest heavily in cybersecurity to protect critical operational data and infrastructure.

Participants agreed that while digital innovation continues to reshape the global energy industry, successful adoption would depend on strategic integration, local expertise and long-term investment in human capital.