NLNG: We’re Not Shutting Down Gas Production During Routine Turnaround Maintenance

Peter Uzoho

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has said it had no plan of totally shutting down operation and gas production during the yearly routine turnaround maintenance at its six-train, 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA)-capacity gas processing plant in Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State.
The liquefaction company made the clarifications yesterday, in a statement issued in response to THISDAY’s investigative report, where multiple sources had insinuated that the company would totally shut down operation and production during its routine maintenance purportedly scheduled to happen by February or March 2024.

“Our attention has been drawn to a THISDAY newspaper report on 12th November 2023 titled “Gas Supply Constraints May Worsen in Nigeria, Europe as NLNG Embarks on Plant Maintenance by February 2024.”
“The report alluded to an alleged total shutdown of Nigeria LNG Limited’s (NLNG’s) six-train plant over a proposed maintenance operation scheduled for February or March 2024.

“NLNG categorically states that this report is false. The Company’s commitment to the safe and uninterrupted functioning of its plant underscores the significance of routine turnaround maintenance, referred to technically as a “Shutdown”, the statement signed by the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, explained.

The company explained further that contrary to the assertions, a routine turnaround maintenance, while temporarily taking a specific train or unit offline for maintenance purposes did not entail a complete shutdown of the entire plant.
It said the meticulous planning and execution of the essential activity allows for the seamless transfer of production loads to unaffected trains, resulting in minimal impact on overall production.

“The ‘shutdown’ alluded to in the report is a routine turnaround maintenance and is part of NLNG’s production calendar.
“NLNG takes exception to the disconcerting lack of factual accuracy in the report, highlighting the evident absence of discretion. The company emphasises its track record of global achievements during turnaround maintenance, consistently setting high standards in safety and project management to ensure the continued operational efficiency of its assets,” the statement stated.

It noted that a classic example of NLNG’s achievements was the deployment of the Add-On Gate Valve (AOGV) technology in 2022 which involved the replacement of a critical valve while the plant remained online and active.
According to the statement, the NLNG plant was the first in Africa to implement the technology and its 36” line was the largest pipe size across the globe that the AOGV has ever been deployed on.

“It is this kind of engineering excellence and unparalleled maintenance execution discipline that NLNG is known for”, it added.