NNPC, Sahara Commission New 40,000-Cubic Metre LPG Vessel, Iyaloja in South Korea
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), in collaboration with Sahara Group, has taken delivery of a new 40,000 cubic-metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier in Ulsan, South Korea, marking a major step in Nigeria’s efforts to expand access to cleaner energy and strengthen its position in the regional LPG market.
The vessel, named MT Iyaloja (Lagos), was officially commissioned at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. It was built for West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL Energy Ltd.), a joint venture established by NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group to develop infrastructure for LPG transportation and distribution.
At the unveiling, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who represented President Bola Tinubu, described the development as a crucial milestone in the country’s clean energy drive.
He stressed that the addition of the vessel to Nigeria’s fleet would not only boost local supply but also position the country to play a stronger role in supplying LPG to other African markets.
“This project reflects our administration’s commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s gas potential to meet domestic needs and support regional growth. With this vessel, we are taking another bold step towards ensuring affordable, accessible, and sustainable energy for our people,” Ekpo said.
The naming ceremony was performed by Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, in line with maritime tradition.
The MT Iyaloja (Lagos) joins four other carriers in WAGL’s fleet—Africa Gas, Sahara Gas, BaruMK, and Sapet—raising the joint venture’s total LPG fleet capacity to 162,000 CBM.
According to industry analysts, this expansion is expected to ease distribution challenges, stabilise supply, and help reduce the cost of cooking gas in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of NNPCL’s Group Managing Director, Bayo Ojulari, the Executive Vice President for Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, said the vessel demonstrates NNPC’s resolve to drive Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
“MT Iyaloja (Lagos) will play a critical role in improving our capacity to deliver LPG to Nigerian homes and businesses. It represents a practical investment in Nigeria’s cleaner energy future,” Ogunleye stated.
Also commenting, Sahara Group’s Executive Director, Temitope Shonubi, described the commissioning as another step in the group’s mission to close Africa’s energy infrastructure gap. He noted that Sahara remains committed to partnering with NNPC on projects that expand energy access and promote sustainable growth.
The vessel, completed in 2025, is registered under the Marshall Islands flag with IMO number 1026661. As a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated mid-size gas carrier, it is designed to transport LPG efficiently across coastal and international routes.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the development, pointing out that Nigeria’s rising LPG demand—driven by government efforts to replace kerosene, firewood, and other carbon-heavy fuels—requires consistent investments in logistics and distribution infrastructure.
With this latest addition, NNPC and Sahara say they are confident Nigeria is better positioned to meet growing domestic demand and establish itself as a hub for LPG supply in Africa.
