The West African Gas Ltd (WAGL), a joint venture company of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Sahara Energy, has taken delivery of two LPG vessels from the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in Ulsan, South Korea.

The two vessels with a combined capacity of 38,000 cubic meters (cbm) were named “MT Africa Gas” and “MT Sahara Gas” by the wives of the Group Managing Director of NNPC and the Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, Mrs Hajja Maikanti Baru and Mrs. Jamila Saidu Mohammed.

This was in keeping with maritime custom that spouses of the sponsors of the ships perform those aspects of the ceremony.

Mrs Baru — Hajja Baru with one of the ship’s officials

Maikanti Baru — NNPC GMD speaks at the ceremony

The wife of Baru and another pose with the vessel Africa Gas — Mrs. Hajja Baru & Mrs. Jamila Mohammed pose with one of the vessels

It is expected the vessels will ensure stability in the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as domestic cooking gas in Nigeria.

At a brief naming ceremony to inaugurate the vessels, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, expressed gratitude to all the partners who helped to actualize the ship acquisition vision of the parent companies and the management of WAGL.

“I am particularly delighted that the venture we started a few years ago has achieved this enviable milestone today as we take delivery of these vessels”, Dr. Baru enthused.

According to the GMD, WAGL was established in March 2013 while the shipbuilding contract for the two LPG carriers was entered into in May 2014.

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Y. S. Han, said the naming ceremony was the first at HMD this year, upbeat that it was with its new customer, WAGL.

Han thanked the managements of NNPC, Sahara Energy and WAGL for their cooperation and support throughout the period of construction of the vessels and prayed that the vessels would perform their intended services successfully and bring good fortune to WAGL and their parent companies.

In her address as the godmother of the vessels, Mrs Hajja Maikanti lauded HMD for its shipbuilding expertise which helped in translating the vision into the two magnificent LPG carriers.

She expressed the confidence that the carriers would be a great asset to West African Gas Ltd., NNPC and Sahara Energy.

Mrs. Maikanti said she looked forward to a day when Nigerians would possess the expertise and build such carriers within the shores of her Country.

NAN