Nigeria's West Africa Gas orders ammonia-powered VLGCs from Korean builder

West Africa Gas (WAGL), a Nigeria-based joint venture company formed by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation LNG and British Virgin Islands-based Ocean Bed Trading, has entered into an agreement with HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) for the construction of two new very large gas carriers (VLGCs) in a series.

The transaction marks the first order of VLGCs by the Sahara Group, the UAE-based parent company of Ocean Bed Trading.

The contract has a total value of US$250 million. Construction of the ships will be undertaken at the facilities of KSOE subsidiary HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The VLGCs will be capable of transporting both LPG and ammonia and will be powered by dual-fuel engines that can also operate on ammonia.

The ships are scheduled to be delivered to WAGL by the middle of 2028. Their acquisition is in line with the joint venture's goal of expanding its fleet of gas carriers to ensure the stable supply of LPG to customers in West Africa.