Consumers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, may soon experience some relief as major offtakers with purchase agreements from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited have ramped up product loading to address recent shortages and price hikes. Findings by our correspondent revealed that NIPCO Gas and 11 Plc Gas resumed LPG offtake from the NLNG last Friday, with loading operations expected to intensify from Monday night to restore adequate distribution across the country. However, uncertainty still looms over how soon the market will stabilise, according to key operators in the LPG sector who spoke to our correspondent under condition of anonymity. A senior official of a major LPG marketing association disclosed that depot operators involved in LPG importation incurred heavy losses following the commencement of LPG production by the Dangote Refinery, which initially caused a price drop. He noted that the refinery was forced to suspend LPG production after a brief protest by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), adding that Dangote’s limited storage capacity for LPG further complicated supply. “The refinery focuses more on petrol and aviation fuel. So once production stopped, there was no buffer to sustain supply,” the source said. Another industry source revealed that normalisation of supply could take until the coming weekend.“LPG loading is not like petrol. We can’t load more than 25 trucks overnight because of safety protocols and documentation. But since loading has resumed, prices across Lagos and other Southwest states should start dropping soon,” the source explained. Meanwhile, several consumers have lamented the soaring cost of cooking gas.“My husband bought cooking gas at ₦2,000 per kilogramme,” one consumer told our correspondent.Another, who travelled from Agege to Ikeja to purchase gas, said: “In Agege, gas costs ₦2,500 per kilogramme. Here near Oba-Akran, it’s ₦1,500. Before now, it used to be ₦1,100.” Ajayi Abayomi, a senior official at a gas station in the Anifowoshe area of Oba-Akran, Ikeja, confirmed their current price of ₦1,500 per kilogramme, attributing the surge to supply disruptions. “There’s no other reason than limited supply,” he said. “The gas we’re selling now was diverted from our Port Harcourt operations to ensure our customers don’t run out. Normally, we source from Dangote Refinery or Apapa, but recent disruptions have made that difficult.” Abayomi also linked the hike to the PENGASSAN–Dangote Refinery dispute, which disrupted gas discharge operations in Apapa. “Once Dangote stopped selling, other suppliers increased prices. We just pass the cost to consumers,” he explained. LEADERSHIP recalls that in January 2022, NLNG committed to supplying 100 per cent of its Butane (cooking gas) and Propane production to the Nigerian domestic market to enhance availability and affordability. This commitment, part of the company’s Domestic LPG (DLPG) scheme, supports the federal government’s “Decade of Gas” initiative and reduces dependence on imported LPG. The NLNG remains Nigeria’s largest single supplier of LPG and has reaffirmed its collaboration with stakeholders to stabilise pricing and ensure long-term market sustainability.
