Why UTM Offshore’s FLNG Project Earned Global Recognition

UTM Offshore Limited’s ambitious Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project has been ranked among the Top 20 Oil and Gas Construction Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, earning global recognition for its potential to reshape Nigeria’s gas industry and boost the country’s standing in the international energy market.

The recognition came from Adron Mason, a Washington DC–based lead policy analyst and programme administrator, who praised the project’s scale, innovation, and expected economic impact.

Located offshore in Akwa Ibom State, the facility is designed to process 324 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF/D) of natural gas, producing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), condensate, and an impressive 2.8 million tonnes of LNG annually.

Originally licensed in 2019 for a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum, the project’s scale was expanded due to rising global demand for LNG. This expansion aligns with Nigeria’s strategy to diversify from crude oil and exploit its vast, largely untapped 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves—much of which is currently flared or re-injected.

The FLNG plant, Nigeria’s first of its kind, is estimated to cost over $2 billion and is scheduled for commissioning in 2028, with first gas expected in 2029. It will not only be a milestone for UTM Offshore but also a landmark in Africa’s LNG infrastructure development.

UTM Offshore, incorporated in July 2012 by its founder Julius Rone, has grown into a major force in Nigeria’s energy sector, pioneering this groundbreaking offshore gas solution. The company’s mission is to provide sustainable and innovative LNG solutions that meet global energy needs while minimizing environmental impact.

Other major projects sharing the Top 20 spotlight include ExxonMobil’s LNG Hub Development, the Mauritania-Morocco Hydrogen Pipeline, NLNG Bonny Island, the Calabar–Kano Gas Pipeline, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.

With this recognition, UTM Offshore’s FLNG project is not just a Nigerian achievement—it is now firmly on the global energy map.