Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company aims to significantly scale its production, with plans to take its operated gas output to over 1bcf/d by 2030.
The Energy company has firmly linked Africa’s prosperity to the robust development of its domestic gas market, arguing that gas is critical for powering homes, fueling industry, and providing a cleaner alternative for cooking and transportation.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town, the company confirmed its commitment to this vision, highlighting its heavy investment in domestic gas processing capacity, including the imminent launch of the ANOH gas plant before the end of the year.
During a panel discussion titled “Beyond Exports: Developing Commercially Viable Domestic Gas Markets,” Mr. Okechukwu Mba, Seplat’s Director of New Energy, stressed that Nigeria must urgently resolve bottlenecks in the entire gas-to-power value chain.
“Stakeholders need to ensure that the challenges… from molecules at the wellhead to electrons in homes are addressed for Nigeria to realize the goal of increased power supply,” Mba stated.
He identified two areas requiring immediate attention to unlock new gas projects including infrastructural challenges and liquidity crisis.
Mba underscored the need for “bankable anchor customers” to underpin the development of new gas projects.
He highlighted Seplat’s current commitment, noting the company supplies gas to five power stations in Nigeria, positioning gas as the reliable base load energy source needed to drive economic growth.
Mba noted that recent government incentives for the gas sector will be instrumental in achieving this goal.
Seplat is adopting a comprehensive strategy to grow the domestic market that extends beyond pipeline gas, investing heavily in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) facilities.
“Beside investments in pipeline gas projects, Seplat is also investing in LPG and CNG facilities,” Mba said.
In addition to significant butane volumes already supplied from its NGL plant at Bonny River Terminal, Seplat intends to commence delivery of LPG from its Sapele and ANOH gas plants before the end of the year. This move is designed to make Seplat one of the leading suppliers of LPG, displacing biomass and providing a cleaner cooking fuel to improve health and living conditions for Nigerians.
Furthermore, the investment into CNG is targeted at making gas available to customers currently not connected to the domestic gas pipeline network.
ESG: Tailoring Global Principles to African Realities
In a related panel focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, Seplat’s Director of External Affairs & Social Performance, Chioma Afe, argued that successful ESG implementation in Africa requires moving past a “one size fits all” approach.
Afe emphasized that the unique needs of Nigerian and African people are central to Seplat Energy’s ESG framework.
“For a truly successful and impactful ESG implementation, it is highly imperative to move from a ‘one size fits all’ mindset, to a co-created framework that empowers African nations to define their own sustainable growth plan,” Afe said.
She added that ESG principles should be a “bridge across industries…driving growth, and not a bureaucratic exercise.”
The company’s model involves a systematic process of identifying development gaps in its operating areas and partnering with communities to define project goals and prioritize resources to achieve them.