Nigeria LNG exports delayed over levy dispute

Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports have been delayed after Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) blocked ships from accessing the Bonny terminal from May 3 to May 5, the state-LNG firm said on Monday, reports Reuters.

NIMASA stopped the ships from entering or leaving the 22 million tons-a-year terminal because it said Nigeria LNG was not paying its freight levies.

“Nigeria LNG is a law-abiding corporate citizen and pays all its lawful dues and taxes … NLNG’s position had been that it was exempted from the levies”, Nigeria LNG said in a statement.

Access was denied from 1600 GMT on Friday until an unspecified time on Sunday, said Nigeria LNG.

One ship loaded with LNG was prevented from exiting the terminal during the blockade and two ships for loading could not enter, an LNG industry source said.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owns 49 percent of Nigeria LNG with Shell holding 25.6 percent, Total 15 percent and Eni 10.4 percent.

Nigeria ships over 250 cargoes of LNG a year, contributing around 7 percent of global supply and accounting for 4 percent of GDP, according to NLNG.

Buyers of Nigeria’s LNG include Spain’s Repsol, Italy’s Enel, Britain’s BG Group France’s GDF Suez and Portugal’s Galp.