Nigeria's first methanol and ammonium bicarbonate plant recently completed mechanical acceptance at the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Center in ondo State. This plant, which was jointly constructed by Chinese investors, is regarded by the local federal government as a "milestone in natural gas-driven industrialization". It not only fills the gap in related industries in Nigeria, but also promotes the upgrading of the chemical and agricultural industry chains, reducing dependence on imports.
Project positioning: The leap from "resource" to "value"
On November 10th, Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Natural Gas Affairs), made it clear during a factory inspection that this plant represents a crucial step for the country to "transform abundant natural gas into economic dividends". As Nigeria's first integrated production facility for methanol and ammonium bicarbonate, the project was jointly constructed by a Chinese-funded enterprise and the local Supertech Chemicals Limited. It achieved 100% mechanical completion in March 2025. Currently, the factory has an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of methanol and 1.6 million tons of ammonium bicarbonate. The products will directly meet the demand for chemical manufacturing and agricultural fertilization in Nigeria, filling the domestic production gap.
Capacity planning: Production capacity will jump to 500,000 tons in 2026
During the inspection, Minister Ekpo revealed that the federal government will fully support the factory's expansion plan - aiming to increase the annual production capacity of methanol from the current 100,000 tons to 500,000 tons by 2026, representing a five-fold increase. "This is not just a factory, but also the implementation of President Tinubu's 'New Hope Agenda'," Ekpo emphasized. The core of the project is to promote the transformation of key industries "from resource extraction to value addition" through the utilization of natural gas resources and attracting private investment. It is expected to drive the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Center to attract more upstream and downstream enterprises to settle in.
Voices from various sides: The "win-win signal" of China-Nepal cooperation
Nigerian government: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stated that the state government has provided a "comprehensive supportive environment" for the project. This collaboration underscores Nigeria's appeal to foreign investors and aligns with the federal government's strategy of "attracting foreign investment to develop industries".
Chinese-funded enterprise: Yang Jijiang, Chairman of Supertech Chemical, stated that the project's implementation is "a result of China-Nepal cooperation" - the team will continue to invest in technology transfer and local employment. Currently, the factory has achieved stable operation of its core production processes.
Industry expert: Alexander Ajipe, Chief Consultant of the Linyi Industrial Center in Ondo, bluntly stated that the commissioning of the factory marks Nigeria's "farewell to dependence on methanol and fertilizer imports". In the future, the cost of local agricultural production will decrease, and the self-reliance capability of the chemical industry chain will also be greatly enhanced.
Long-term significance: activating the natural gas industry chain and creating employment dividends
In addition to direct production capacity contribution, the project will also bring multiple chain effects:
Industry chain extension: Supply raw materials to downstream industries such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, driving the development of related manufacturing sectors;
Technology and Employment: The Chinese-funded team will enhance the skills of local employees through technical training, and is expected to directly create hundreds of jobs;
Energy transformation: The production model using natural gas as the raw material is lower in carbon emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels, aligning with Nigeria's goal of "green industrialization".
Currently, the factory has entered the pre-production preparation phase. The federal government requires all parties to strictly adhere to safety and environmental standards, ensuring that the project "becomes a benchmark for similar factories in Africa." In the future, with increased production capacity and improved industrial chain, ondo State is expected to become an important hub for the chemical industry in West Africa.
