President Bola Tinubu has applauded the commencement of full operations at Nigeria’s first indigenous Methanol and Ammonium Bicarbonate plant in Ondo State, describing it as a milestone in the nation’s chemical and fertilizer production sector.
The facility, operated by Chinese-owned SuperTech Chemical Industry Limited, is located at the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, Omotosho, in Ore-Odigbo Local Government Area. The plant relocation from China to Nigeria and its 100% mechanical completion in March 2025 highlights the technical capacity and resilience of the project promoters.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, during a site tour on Sunday, said the plant aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which envisions natural gas as a driver of industrial growth, innovation, and sustainable job creation.
“Moving around and seeing the kind of investment that has come into this place is encouraging. They are taking advantage of our natural gas resources to produce methanol and ammonium bicarbonate,” Ekpo said.
“The Federal Government will give all necessary support to scale production from the current 100,000 metric tons to the projected 500,000 metric tons by 2026.”
The plant has an annual production capacity of 100,000 metric tons of methanol and 160,000 metric tons of ammonium bicarbonate, marking a historic leap for Nigeria’s gas-based industrialization.
Project Significance and Impact
- It is the first methanol and ammonium bicarbonate facility in Nigeria, strengthening the downstream gas value chain.
- The project supports fertilizer production, chemicals manufacturing, and industrial inputs crucial to agriculture and manufacturing.
- The facility contributes to job creation, technology transfer, and China-Nigeria industrial cooperation.
Mr. Yang Jijiang, Chairman of SuperTech Chemical Industry, highlighted the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s industrialization and energy transition agenda, stating that the plant has consistently met its daily and monthly production targets.
Dr. Alexander Ajipe, Principal Consultant to the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, described the project as a major achievement for Ondo State and Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of local production in reducing import dependence.
“This facility is a shining example of what’s possible when government policy aligns with private sector initiative,” Ekpo added.
The Ondo methanol and ammonium bicarbonate plant is expected to boost Nigeria’s gas-based industrialization, create jobs, and diversify exports, cementing the country’s position in the global chemical industry.
