Energy
FG Signs MOU With Chinese Firm On Coal Energy
ABUJA – The Nigerian Federal Government, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with a Chinese energy firm, HTG/Pacific Energy Co. Ltd, for a $3.7 billion coal to power project.
The signing of the MoU took place at the Banquette Hall of the Presidential Villa, FCT Abuja at the end of a one day workshop on Solid Minerals sector at the villa.
After signing the MoU, the Chairman of Pacific Energy, Co. ltd, Adedeji Adeleke, said the MoU represents the first step to building plants that will generate additional 1200 mega watts of electricity to the national grid.
He also disclosed that a greater part of the funds required to carry out the project will be sourced from foreign banks.
“For this particular project, almost all the fund are going to be borrowed from outside the country. The local banks have the capacity to fund, but there are certain things they need to see in place to make sure that their money will come back” he said.
He said with the signing of the MoU, the nation can expect additional power generated into the grid within the next 48 months.
“This MoU is the first step towards our proposed 1200 mega watts power plant to be built in Enugu state, using the coal we are going to mine from the Ezima coal mine. The MoU is actually for the allocation of the coal mine,” he said,
Mr. Adeleke further stated that with the signing of the MoU, the company can now move into the Ezima coal complex to commence exploitation of the abundant coal deposit within the area.
” There is estimated reserve and confirmed reserve, but we are going to do our own work to confirm the actual reserve to make sure that we have enough to power the 1200 mega watts within the next say 50 years.
“This MoU now allows us to move in to start the exploration immediately,” he said.
He declared that the investment will be in two parts, one part involving the development of the coal mine and the construction of the power plant.
“If everything goes well with the exploration, we are expecting to start generating power within the next 48 months.”
President Goodluck Jonathan earlier in his speech had pointed that Nigeria’s Coal reserve which is put at about 360 metric tonnes if properly utilized can generate 30 percent of the nation’s electricity needs.
Speaking on the likely challenges, ahead of the resumption of activities in the coal mine, Mr. Adeleke also said the company envisages peaceful operation in the area but does not totally rule out possible conflict with the community.
“We do not know the community issues we are going to face. You know, you heard some of the issues raised here earlier; we also have issues like the power purchase agreement as well as ensuring that it is a bankable power purchase agreement because most of the money is going to be borrowed.
“Okay, it is not that somebody has the money somewhere. So we need bankable PPA, we need cooperation from the communities and we are going to do our part as corporate entity to make sure that the communities are taken care of as well as have the technology to check pollution,” he said.
The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has completed the turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, leading to resumption of production at Nigeria’s premier deepwater field on March 6, 2026.
Biztellers reports that the project was delivered 11 days ahead of schedule and without any safety incident, reinforcing SNEPCo’s longstanding commitment to operational excellence and asset integrity.
“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the helpful support of our partners,” SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams said. “The achievement not only secures the long‑term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions us strongly for the successful delivery of the Bonga North project, which will leverage the improved reliability of the FPSO.”
The exercise which began on February 1, 2026, highlights SNEPCo’s leading role in advancing deep‑water expertise in Nigeria. Of the 55 companies involved in the execution, 43 were wholly Nigerian. Additionally, eight of the 12 international service providers maintain operational bases in Nigeria, contributing to knowledge transfer and increased local investments.
More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the turnaround, with over 95% being Nigerians involved in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection and construction. Thousands more supported activities from onshore locations, reflecting the depth of Nigerian capability in offshore oil and gas operations.
Adams added: “We acknowledge the support of several stakeholders towards the successful execution of the exercise, including the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and our partners.”
Modupe Asudo
Sahara Group, a leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has commissioned MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000‑cubic‑metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, expanding its fleet capacity, while strengthening Ghana’s clean energy supply chain and LPG distribution network.
The dual‑fuel vessel improves operational efficiency, enhances supply reliability, and supports lower‑emission LPG logistics as consumption grows across Ghana and the wider sub‑region.
Ghanaian President Mahama and Sahara Executive Directors
Speaking at the commissioning in Ulsan, South Korea, President John Dramani Mahama described the vessel as “a significant milestone in strengthening the infrastructure that underpins the global LPG supply chain,” noting that expanded shipping capacity is critical to improving supply security, reliability and efficiency for countries that rely partly on LPG imports.
He commended Sahara Group, WAGL Energy and all partners involved for their “leadership, technical expertise and strategic foresight,” adding that the project reflects “the power of partnership” in advancing safe, efficient, and responsible energy distribution.
President Mahama wished the MT Asharami Ghana safe sails, expressing confidence that the vessel would inspire further investment and collaboration across Africa’s energy value chain.
According to Wale Ajibade, Executive Director, Sahara Group, the vessel supports Ghana’s clean energy ambitions through integrated infrastructure.
“MT Asharami Ghana is more than a vessel; it is part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen LPG supply security and support Ghana’s clean energy ambitions. It secures an additional 25,000-Metric-tonne stock security for the Ghana economy, alongside the soon to be commissioned 6000-metric-tonee of 12.000-metric-tonne land storage in Tema,” he said.
With the addition of Asharami Ghana, Sahara Group’s LPG carrier fleet now comprises six delivered vessels with a combined capacity of 202,000 cubic metres. Supported by partnerships with WAGL Energy, NNPC Limited and other stakeholders, an additional 270,000 cubic metres of capacity is under construction and due for delivery by September 2028.
Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, said Asharami Ghana is part of Sahara’s integrated LPG infrastructure strategy spanning shipping, storage, and downstream distribution globally, including the development of a 12,000‑metric‑tonne land‑based LPG storage terminal in Tema, with a 6,000‑metric‑tonne first phase scheduled for completion in May 2026.
He thanked Yaa Serwaa Alifo, MD of Asharami Ghana, for her resilience and insistence to dedicate a ship of “this magnitude solely to the Ghana Market and its landlocked neighbours.”
Ghana is targeting LPG adoption of 50 per cent of households by 2030, up from about 30 per cent today. Sahara’s investments will support clean energy access for more than 35 million people, while strengthening Ghana’s role in regional LPG trade to neighbouring and landlocked West African markets.
The commissioning comes in Sahara Group’s 30th anniversary year, guided by the Sahara Beyond XXX milestone, underscoring Sahara’s focus on building an enduring enterprise that delivers responsible growth, shared prosperity and long‑term impact across its markets.
Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped to 1.31 million barrels per day in February, even as local refineries continue to grapple with inadequate domestic crude supply needed to sustain operations.
The development shows that Nigeria again failed to meet its crude oil production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day approved by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as output declined sharply in February 2026.
Data from OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report, based on direct communication from member countries, showed that Nigeria produced 1.314 million barrels per day in February, down from 1.459 mbpd recorded in January.
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The figures indicate a month-on-month decline of 146,000 barrels per day, widening the country’s shortfall from its OPEC production allocation.
Nigeria’s inability to meet its OPEC production quota is not only affecting its oil export earnings but also adversely impacting domestic refineries that are starved of feedstock for their operations.
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