Strategic Partnership: NNPCL Invests in Starzs Gas CNG Project

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), through its subsidiary NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), has secured a 15% equity stake in Starzs Gas Limited’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mother station, located in Iwhrekan, Ugheli South Local Government Area of Delta State. The facility has a capacity of 2 million standard cubic feet per day.

Under the agreement, NNPCL will ensure a steady gas supply at competitive rates and allow its logo to be displayed alongside Starzs Gas, reinforcing the collaboration.

The partnership was officially unveiled during a groundbreaking ceremony led by NGML Managing Director Justin Ezeala, who represented the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo. The facility is slated for commissioning in the first quarter of 2026, with an expansion plan to 5mmscf/d within 18 months.

Vice Chairman of Starzs Gas Limited, Iroghama Ogbeifun, emphasized, “This facility embodies our strong commitment to lowering carbon emissions, increasing energy access, and driving economic growth—not only in Delta State or the South-South region but across Nigeria.”

She further announced the strategic alliance with NNPCL, stating, “NNPC, via its subsidiary NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd, has accepted a 15% equity share in this initiative. This will not only ensure a reliable gas supply at competitive pricing but also provide access to NNPC’s extensive expertise in the gas value chain.”

Ezeala reaffirmed the collaboration, saying, “We believe in the vision of Starzs Gas. It has been guided by a visionary leader who has now passed the baton to a remarkable successor.”

Chairman of Starzs Gas Limited, Greg Ogbeifun, described the establishment of the company as “a generational shift,” explaining that the venture evolved from the Starzs Group, which has historically focused on the maritime sector. “I embraced this transition and provided the necessary resources for the new company, which specializes in gas for industrial applications, gas-to-power solutions, and automotive fuel,” he said.

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Ogbe, represented by the board’s General Manager for Corporate Communication and Stakeholder Coordination, Dan Kikile, commended Starzs Gas for its investment in the CNG sector, emphasizing its role in fostering power generation, industrial development, and economic growth.