The Federal Government has declared its strong backing for Nigeria's pioneering methanol and ammonium bicarbonate manufacturing facility in Ondo State, describing the project as a transformative industrial investment with significant potential for national economic growth.
Historic Industrial Achievement
During a recent site inspection tour, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, emphasized that the plant represents a major milestone in Nigeria's industrial development. The facility, owned by Chinese company Supertech Chemical Industry, is located within the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub in Omotosho, Okitipupa Local Council Area.
The minister confirmed that the plant has achieved 100% mechanical completion as of March 2025 and is now operational, producing 100,000 metric tonnes of methanol and 160,000 metric tonnes of ammonium bicarbonate annually. This production capacity is expected to expand to 500,000 metric tonnes by 2026.
Alignment with National Energy Policy
Minister Ekpo stressed that the initiative directly supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive to leverage Nigeria's abundant natural gas resources for economic transformation and industrial advancement. "I believe Mr President will be happy with what is going on here, that people are taking advantage of our natural gas resources to develop the economy of the nation," the minister stated.
He expressed particular admiration for the relocation of the entire plant from China to Nigeria, noting that this demonstrates remarkable determination, resilience, and technical capability from the project promoters. The minister was accompanied during the inspection by senior officials from the NNPCL and other key stakeholders in the gas industry.
Investor Confidence and State Support
The Chairman of Supertech Chemical Industry, Mr. Yang Jijiang, affirmed the Chinese investors' commitment to Nigeria's industrial development. "As a Chinese investor in Nigeria, we at Supertech are proud to contribute to Ondo State's industrialisation drive and the broader economic development of Nigeria," Jijiang stated.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa welcomed the minister's visit and praised the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) for eliminating bureaucratic obstacles that typically discourage investors. The governor highlighted several ongoing industrial projects facilitated through ONDIPA, including:
- A 500,000-barrel-per-day modular refinery
- A petrochemical plant for fertilizer production in Ilaje Local Government Area
- The proposed Deep Seaport project
- The cassava-to-ethanol processing facility at the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub
Governor Aiyedatiwa identified the Southern Senatorial District as the state's economic hub, rich in oil, gas, and mineral resources. "We have to do that because that is the only way we can grow the economy of the state and provide jobs for our people," the governor explained, emphasizing the importance of creating an enabling environment for private investment.
The successful establishment of Nigeria's first methanol and ammonium bicarbonate plant marks a significant step forward in the country's industrial diversification efforts and represents a concrete example of international partnership driving local economic development.
