President Bola Tinubu has commended the commencement of full operations at Nigeria’s first indigenous Methanol and Ammonium Bicarbonate plant, located in Ondo State. He described the development as a major breakthrough in local chemical and fertilizer production, marking a new phase in the country’s industrial and energy sector growth.
The multi-million-dollar facility, owned by the Chinese firm SuperTech Chemical Industry Limited, is situated within the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, Omotosho, in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, announced the milestone during an inspection tour of the facility on Sunday. The minister was accompanied by senior officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and other key industry stakeholders.
Ekpo noted that the project aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the use of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources as a catalyst for industrialization, innovation, and sustainable job creation.
According to him, the plant has the capacity to produce 100,000 metric tonnes of methanol and 160,000 metric tonnes of ammonium bicarbonate annually—representing a historic leap for Nigeria’s gas-based industrial sector.
“Seeing the scale of investment here is truly inspiring,” Ekpo said. “They are utilizing our natural gas resources to produce methanol and ammonium bicarbonate, and I have directed NNPC representatives to ensure upstream production supports this company to reach its full potential.”
He added that the Federal Government remains committed to supporting SuperTech to scale its annual production to 500,000 metric tonnes by 2026.
Ekpo also praised the complete relocation of the factory’s machinery from China to Nigeria, describing the project’s 100% mechanical completion as of March 2025 as “a testament to the technical competence and determination of its promoters.”
“The relocation of this entire plant from China to Nigeria shows what is possible when government policy aligns with private sector initiative,” he said. “This facility is not just the first of its kind in Nigeria; it’s a vital addition to our downstream gas value chain, unlocking new opportunities in chemical production, fertilizer, and manufacturing.”
Speaking during the inspection, Mr. Yang Jijiang, Chairman of SuperTech Chemical Industry Limited, said the successful take-off of the plant demonstrates the company’s confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms and industrialization drive.
He noted that the company has already achieved its daily and monthly production targets since commissioning, with plans to expand further to serve both domestic and export markets.
“With strong backing from the Federal and Ondo State Governments, NNPC Ltd, GACN, and NMDPRA, we have turned vision into reality,” Jijiang said.
Also speaking, Dr. Alexander Ajipe, Principal Consultant to the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, lauded the minister’s visit, calling it a major morale booster for the investors. “This project is a great achievement for Ondo State and Nigeria. We are now producing fertilizer and methanol locally, cutting down on imports and boosting local jobs,” he said
