The Federal Government has restated its commitment to fast-tracking the completion of the multi-billion-dollar Brass Gas Projects in Bayelsa State as part of ongoing efforts to industrialise Nigeria through the strategic utilisation of natural gas.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made this known on Thursday at a two-day All-Party Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Brass Gas Projects held in Abuja.
A statement signed by the Minister’s spokesman, Louis Ibah, quoted Ekpo as saying that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to make natural gas the backbone of Nigeria’s energy transition, economic diversification, and industrial growth.
According to him, the projects, including the Brass Methanol Plant, Gas Processing Plant, and the Brass Free Zone Infrastructure, will collectively form the nucleus of the proposed Brass Oil and Gas City, designed to serve as a model for gas-based industrial development across the country.
“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) remains fully committed to supporting the Brass Projects through policy facilitation, regulatory coordination, and stakeholder engagement,” Ekpo said.
“We are particularly focused on ensuring that frameworks such as gas supply and offtake agreements, licensing, and infrastructure integration are streamlined and bankable.”
The minister explained that the workshop was convened to align stakeholder interests, resolve lingering issues, and agree on a clear roadmap towards achieving financial close and project take-off.
He added that the successful execution of the Brass Gas Projects would deliver tangible economic and social benefits to the Niger Delta region through job creation, infrastructure development, and community empowerment, while also strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global gas and petrochemical markets.
Ekpo commended the partnership between the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company Limited, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Renaissance Joint Venture, and Afreximbank, describing their sustained collaboration as a model for public-private sector synergy.
“The Federal Government, through my ministry, will continue to provide all necessary policy and regulatory support to bring the Brass Projects to fruition,” he assured.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company Limited, Ben Okoye, hailed the government’s renewed commitment, saying the Brass Methanol and Gas Processing Plants would create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, foster technology transfer, and stimulate ancillary industries in the Niger Delta.
“These projects symbolise the productive collaboration between government, investors, and host communities. We must remain focused on achieving a timely financial close,” Okoye said.
The Brass Methanol Project, initially conceived over a decade ago, is a $3.6bn gas monetisation and industrialisation initiative designed to convert Nigeria’s abundant natural gas into methanol and other petrochemical products. Located on Brass Island, Bayelsa State, the project aims to process over 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) into 10,000 metric tonnes of methanol daily.
Once completed, the facility is expected to significantly boost Nigeria’s domestic gas utilisation, reduce flaring, and enhance non-oil exports. The project had suffered several delays due to funding constraints and investor uncertainties but has gained renewed momentum under the Tinubu administration’s Decade of Gas policy framework.
