Nigeria lays labor groundwork for LNG

ABUJA, Nigeria, May 12 (UPI) -- Nigeria's efforts to reduce flaring from production tied to its natural gas reserves will empower its people, a project developer said.

State-led Nigeria LNG Ltd., though subsidiary Bonny Gas Transport Ltd., said it was sending 180 Nigerians to South Korea to learn how to build vessels used in the liquefied natural gas sector.

Last year, Bonny Gas Transport ordered six vessels to advance Nigerian efforts to build up its LNG capacity.

Nigerian LNG Ltd. Managing Director Babs Omotowa said using the local labor pool for the projects will help "Nigerianize" the country's gas sector.

"Every action we take in Nigeria LNG Limited, we seek to help build a better Nigeria," he said in a statement Sunday.

The Nigerian company will send 180 technicians to South Korea for the three-month program. Of them, 28 will be employed for LNG vessel construction.

Nigeria Ltd. says it's the "arrow-head" of the government's effort to reduce flaring and derive value from the 187 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves in the country.