NLNG denies involvement in illegal export of gas
By Nnamdi Okosieme
The Nigeria LNG, has dismissed reports of the involvement of its top management staff in the illegal exportation of Liquified Natural Gas(LNG) or related products.
The company made the clarification on Thursday via statement signed by Mr. Andy Odeh, its General Manager, External Relations.
Odeh said the clarification became necessary against the backdrop of insinuations in the media that top officials of the company were illegally shipping LNG to the US and South American countries.
”These are made under various term and spot sales contracts to destinations not limited to Europe, the Far East, Greater Middle East, North America and South America,” the NLNG spokesman said.
He said the NLNG is a responsible corporate citizen operating its business according to strong business principles and ethics in accordance with requirements of relevant Nigerian and global laws and regulations.
“From the start operations in October 1999, the NLNG has never, and does not, engage in illegal or backdoor exportation of LNG or any of its products, nor is NLNG involved in any international cartel, as alleged.
“It is simply not true that the illegal exportation is still ongoing with the backing of some players in NLNG”, he said.
He said the LNG trade undertaken by the company is bound by strict protocols and controls, hence not amenable to the kind of illegitimate schemes alleged in the report.
The NLNG spokesman said the company also had full accurate accounts of destinations, quantities loaded and unloaded and related earnings on each cargo, adding that these are demonstrable.
“For each of the past financial years, including the periods alluded to in the report, the Shareholders of NLNG, which includes NNPC and three International Oil Companies never reported that any cargo or product of the company was lost or unaccounted for.
” Indeed, the possibility of such happening is beyond comprehension. For the avoidance of doubt, NLNG restates that the report paints a very incorrect picture of the company’s business and its LNG trade”, he stated.
He said engaging in illegal exportation of products is at complete variance with the company’s vision as a globally competitive LNG company helping to build a better Nigeria.
