The Nigeria LNG Limited has announced that its $10bn Train-7 gas project, located on Bonny Island in Rivers State, is now 80 per cent completed. The completion rate is an improvement from 67 per cent in 2024, announced in June 2024.
The company said the project, which incorporates cutting-edge engineering and complex liquefaction technology, would require highly skilled technical manpower as it approaches the final phase of construction.
The NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall, disclosed this in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of 140 trainees for a three-month advanced human capital development programme for the Bonny Island project, organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and NLNG Limited.
She said, “The construction of the $10bn NLNG Train 7 Project, which involves very advanced technology, has reached 80 per cent completion, and highly skilled technical manpower is still being required.”
She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to building a pipeline of skilled Nigerian professionals for the oil and gas industry through a collaborative human capital development initiative with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
Horsfall said the support of the NCDMB had been instrumental in enabling the NLNG to execute a robust capacity-building programme aimed at grooming a strong, professional, and technically skilled workforce to support Nigeria’s energy transition and long-term competitiveness.
“The inauguration of this batch is a reaffirmation of NLNG’s unwavering commitment to human capital development,” she said, describing the on-the-job training component as a “robust and advanced hands-on programme” that would immerse participants in real-time operational experience at the NLNG’s Bonny Island facilities.
She explained that the 140 graduates had earlier undergone a 12-month Basic Training Programme in oil and gas industry-related skill sets and would now proceed to the practical phase, which includes Turn Around Maintenance, commissioning activities, and technical desktop assignments across NLNG’s plants.
Horsfall added that the initiative aligns with the company’s broader goal of deepening local capacity and creating a ready workforce that can meet the evolving needs of the energy sector.
The newly inducted participants form part of a broader training initiative that kicked off in November 2024, when 331 trainees under Batch A began intensive instruction in facility management, engineering, ICT, health and safety, QA/QC, and welding and fabrication. A separate cohort of 77 trainees under Batch B commenced training in areas such as data analytics and supply chain management.
Also speaking at the event, the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, described the programme as a landmark effort toward building a resilient and globally competitive oil and gas workforce.
Represented by the Board’s Manager of Human Capital Development, Tarilate Teide-Bribena, Ogbe said the training was not just another milestone but “a clear expression of our shared commitment to nurturing world-class Nigerian professionals who will shape the future of our oil and gas industry.”
He noted that over 400 Nigerians had already completed the basic phase of the training, acquiring technical and vocational skills aligned with current industry needs.
Ogbe said, “We are now advancing even further by formally launching the on-the-job component of the NLNG Train 7 NC-HCD Programme, which will give 140 bright and promising Nigerians direct, practical exposure within NLNG’s operational facilities.”
He praised the NLNG as “a trusted and forward-looking partner” for its consistency in not just meeting Nigerian Content requirements but also leading the way in national capacity building.
The NCDMB boss also commended the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria for aligning training content and delivery standards with real industry needs. He said OGTAN’s role had been critical in bridging the gap between classroom instruction and workplace readiness.
“Through this partnership,” Ogbe added, “we are ensuring that trainees are not only educated but are industry-ready, capable of delivering value from day one.”
The PUNCH reports that the Train 7 project is expected to increase NLNG’s production capacity by 35 per cent from the current 22 million tonnes per annum to 30mtpa.
On December 27, 2019, NLNG’s shareholders made the final investment decision for the project and on May 13, 2020, awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contracts for the project to SCD JV Consortium, comprising affiliates of Saipem, Chiyoda, and Daewoo.
On June 15, 2021, former President Muhammadu Buhari virtually flagged off the construction of the project during the groundbreaking ceremony at the company’s plant site on Bonny Island, Rivers.
“Over $10bn is expected to be invested in Train 7 and the upstream scope of the LNG value chain, which will open up new development opportunities in the industry and boost Nigeria’s Foreign Direct Investment profile as well as the confidence of foreign investors,” the NLNG said on its website.