President Bola Tinubu has commended the commencement of full operations at Nigeria’s first indigenous Methanol and Ammonium Bicarbonate plant in Ondo State, describing it as a milestone for local chemical and fertilizer production.

The facility, operated by the Chinese-owned SuperTech Chemical Industry Limited, is located at the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, Omotosho, Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area. It marks a historic step in Nigeria’s gas-based industrialization, with an annual capacity of 100,000 metric tons of methanol and 160,000 metric tons of ammonium bicarbonate.

Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), who led a site tour with officials from NNPC Ltd and other stakeholders, said the project aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which leverages natural gas to drive industrial growth, innovation, and job creation.

“The Federal Government will support the scaling of production from the current 100,000 metric tons to 500,000 metric tons by 2026,” Ekpo said, highlighting the strategic relocation of the facility from China to Nigeria and its 100% mechanical completion as of March 2025.

Mr. Yang Jijiang, Chairman of SuperTech Chemical Industry, noted that the plant has consistently met its daily and monthly production targets, positioning it as Nigeria’s pioneer methanol producer. The facility is expected to contribute significantly to job creation, technology transfer, and gas-based industrial growth, while reducing reliance on imports.

Dr. Alexander Ajipe, Principal Consultant to the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, described the project as a major achievement for both Ondo State and Nigeria.

“We are now producing fertilizer and methanol locally, which significantly reduces dependence on imports,” he said.

The facility is seen as a key addition to Nigeria’s downstream gas value chain, unlocking opportunities in chemicals, fertilizers, and industrial inputs vital for manufacturing and agriculture.

With strong support from the Federal and Ondo State Governments, NNPC Ltd, GACN, and NMDPRA, the SuperTech plant demonstrates the potential of public-private partnerships in advancing Nigeria’s industrialization and export diversification agenda.